davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
|PENDER MERCHANT
CRITICALLY HURT

WALLACE, Dec. 81. - Stedman
Carr, prominent hardware mer-
chant here, was critically wounded
this afternoon about 5 o'clock by
an unidentified assailant near
Coastal Plain test farm. Three
suspects, Richard Setter, Clifton
Piner, and Carl Piner, are being
held by Sheriff's officer of Fender
county without bond pending fur
Their investigation.
Carr received a telephone call
earlier in the afternoon from Mrs.
Stevens, who had received a note
delivered by two small boys. sign
ed by Carl Piner, which asked her
to telephone the victim and notify
him that if he went to a certain
old house in the vicinity he would
be able to buy some furs, the
Fender county sheriff's office re-
ported tonight.
The three suspects now being
held in jail at Burgaw live near
the Coastal Plains test farm, where
the attack on Carr occurred. Sher-
ifs of Fender and Duplin counties
are investigating the case in close
cooperation with Mayor Harrel OF
Wallace and his officers.
The wounded nan drove his car
back to a doctor in Wallace when
he was Immediately sent to James
Walker Memorial hospital in Will
naington in critical condition.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01

challenge in approaching the all
important invasion of Europe 81
siad Murray. The United Steel
workers of America does not in.
tend to fail its nation"
About half million steel work.
ers will he without contracts Mon.
day when the present ones expire.
Included are 100000 U. S. steel
employees.
Murray limited in his telegram
that negotiations conducted the
past week with U. S. steel rep
sentatives had struck a snag
when he said:
1.-THE representatives of your
union insist that the Contrast ex-
tension agreements should contain
only the directive OF the National
War Labor Board However, the
employers have insisted upon the
incorporation of extraneous
matter which if accepted by the
union would only lead to confusion
and misunderstanding
This was the first indication
from any Of the conferees of the
nature of the contract discussions,
which recessed today until next
Tuesday. Any agreement reached
by the union and big STEEL would
be generally regarded as model
for the industry.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
GERMANY READY.
HITLER BOASTS

LONDON, Dec. 31-tR-Adolph
Hitler, in grim New Years mes
sage to the, German people today
offered them only hope of logged
resistance for thei1 very lives and,
anticipating invasion from the
west boosted that wherever they
land the Allies will receive an ap-
propriate welcome.
In a long written message dis
tributed by DNF to German news
papers and recorded from Ber-
lin broadcast by the Associated
Press, Hitle, again sounded the
German propaganda note that lin
this war there will be no victors
and losers, but merely survivors
and annihilated."
A separate New Year order OF
the day to TIE army called 1913
"a second year of great crisis
initiated by toe Russian winter Of
fensive of 1941-42.
Even as the Russians, in one OF
their greatest victories Of the war,
were driving toward pre-War Po-
lands borders and drawing near
Rumania's frontiers, Hitler said
"a Napoleonic catastrophe seemed
imminent for the German front,
yet we were able to master the
situation
Germany, he said. was fighting
with fanatical hatred" and in
spired by ''the old Biblical saying:
lCantinued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01

Doctor Time, pressing his
stethoscope to the heart of
Wilmington in 1913, determined
that the sustained beat was the
fastest in the municipalities
history.
War was again assigned as
the stimulus for the quickened
thrOb.
Observers say they watched
the two-century old town climb
to the peak in this current
period of accelerated activity:
that in latter months Of the
year the city's pace began to
level.
Here is the chart Of prog
ress:
Although there may have been
mild fluctuations of population.
by the best ration-board count
there were some 100000 indi-
viduals in the city and its SUBJ
urbs in the late fall. four times
the number of the 1910 census.
The new element was largely
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01

composed If warworkers and
military personnel and their
families.
The principal cause of Will
mington's pounding industrial
pressure - the North Carolina
Shipbuilding company-set new
records: 10 vessels for Victory;
converted from Liberty ships
to the sleeker. faster "C-2"
ships; contemplated even more
radical changes in design; won
stars for it's I'M" flag; was
awarded the Treasury's Minute
Man flag, indicating War bond
purchase by 80 per cent Of the
personnel: voted emo union:
contributed literally as a plant
and through its individual
workers, to every civic need.
Surrounding military installa-
lions maintained their brisk
defense, and trained their men
for duty beyond the seas. Ma
chine-gun mounted trucks es-
corted enormous payrOllS from
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01

Wilmington banks. From Fort
Fisher, Carolina Beach, the
Wrightsville and Wilmington
Coast Guard stations, Camp
Davis, the Engineer office,
Camp Lejeune, Bluethenthal
airbase poured the servicemen
who spent their coin on Front
street, on buses, trains-every-
where a dollar was eligible.
All business responded. Will
mington's war money enabled
it to build, even in emergency;
and more, it furnished the
community this year, financial
basis for dreams of lively
future In forthcoming days Of
peace. F..
The city government, led by
Edgar L. Vow, as mayor, for
the first six months and Bruce
B. Cameron for the last six,
with A. c., Nichols as city
manager, was not still min
ute. 1t fought a losing battle
for expansion in the State As
sembly (but was only girded
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
CITY RECREATION
PROGRAM LAUDED

The recreation program initiated
by the City of Wilmington some
six months ago, and which has
been progressing under the gui-
dance of Jesse A. Reynolds, has
already won national and state
recognition, it was revealed here
Friday.
Public Management" pub
LEGATION issued by the International
City Managers association, and
which reaches the desks of most
officials in city governments,
featured in its December number
an article explaining the local re-
creational setup. It had been SUBJ
mitted to the International associa-
ton as routine statement of ac-
tivity-not as proposed article
for publication-by local officials.
AS consequence, General
Mecklenburg," writing in the Char
lotte Observer, has commended
the Wilmington program as outlin-
ed in the Public Management"
story to the city governments
throughout the Carolinas. High
praise of the local activities was
accorded.
The city's recreational program
operates under $38,810 Lanham act
funds granted by the federal gov
eminent, and the $4,000 approp-
rated by the City council.
Mr.. Reynolds and his co-workers
are introducing all types of re.
creational activity to both young
people and adults in the city.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
: War Boom Activity Reached New Peak Here In 1914

for a second try. 1t lowered
the tax rate; boosted its high
est income; put aside a $780,
900 capital reserve; built
new water plant; started a
pipeline toward Kings Bluff
and a never-failing supply Of
fresh water (arguing with WPB
for every inch); bought the
old Marine hospital tract;
built new fire station; toyed
with the idea of purchasing the
Tide Water Power company;
initiated a broad recreation
program; introduced uniform
personnel standards; began a
retirement system; planned
for a city wholesale market;
converted the historic Corn
wallis House into a useful
landmark, an officers club;
named a planning board to be
ready with postwar projects.
Much federal money aided
the city with its work.
Continued on Page Three Col. 4
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
San VITT0RE'S
FALL REPORTED

ALGIERS, Dec. 81 Allied
troops, attacking at the western
extremity of tie Italian battle line
for the first time in over a month
jumped the estuary of tho Carl
gliano river yesterday to strike be-
hind German Inns n thu y
area, headquarters announced to-
day.
A broadcast German commun.
ique said a battalioh Of seaborne
troops landed behind Nazi out.
posts southeast OF Minturno, but
was dislodged by counterattack.
The Naz1 announcement did not
say the expedition had been forced
back into its boats and there was
no additional information here on
the progress of the fight. Allied
spokesmer descrlber the operation
as large RAID. perhaps indicating
there was no intention of estab-
fishing a permanent beachhead.
The Bari radio. controlled by
the Italian government of Marshal
Badoglio, reported that American
troops had capturec the demolish-
ed fortress. village Of San Vittore,
six miles from Casino on the
main inland highway to Rome.
Edward Kennedy of the Associ-
ated Press, in a Thursday dis
patch from the front, described
bitter fighting through the rubble-
strewn streets o. San Vittore,
which American infantry entered
the previous day after an artil-
lery barrage virtually had levelled
the village.
Kennedy said that the Nazis
were barricaded in scores of deep
wine cellars from which it was
impossible to BIAS them by artil-
lery fire, and that American
doughboys were going about the
grim business Of tearing the enc
Continued on Page Three; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01

corning Iran as the first appll-
cation of the principles of the At
|lantic Charter.
,(The Teheran declaration by
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stain
guaranteed the independence OF
Iran after the war and promised
to give the country all possible
economic assiStance.)
The 24-year-old Shah, who rules
a land bigger than Germany,
France and Spain combined, prais-
ed President Roosevelt as that
great character and added that
he was respectfully touched by his
kind letter inviting me to visit the
United States.' He said he would
accept the invitation at the first
opportunity.
1--WE never DOUBTED the friendly
attitude of our Allies" he contin-
ued. "Since Iran declared war on
Germany the presence of Allied
troops in our country was only
natural. We didn't declare war on
Italy because I didn't want to get
the cheap effect of declaring war
on a state at the moment of it's
collapse
I met the young ruler in his
private study, rather small room
overlooking the magnificent gar
dens of the marble palace. He
was wearing a dark grey, double
breasted suit, white shirt and plain
blue tie. He greeted me with a
handshake and began asking ques-
tons. The Shah was educated in
Switzerland and speaks E II g i S h
fluently.
Leaning back and choosing each
word carefully, he told me:
1--WE were very happy to receive
President Roosevelt, Premier Sta
(COntinued nh PAGE Two. Col a.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
PARIS BATTERED
BY u. S. B0MBERS

LONDON, Saturday, Jan. 1.-P'
"A great fleet of American heavy
bombers with strong fighter ex-
cort swept over France yesterday,
bombing industrial targets in Par
is and blasting a Nazi air base
at Chateau Bernard used by, Ger
man planes collaborating with u
boat attacks against Allied ship
ping, it was announced early to-
day.
Two vital bal-bearing plants
were struck in the Paris attack
while some of the heavy bombers
penetrated to west-central France
to reach Chateau bernard.
The air operations for the day
saw more than 1000 Allied planes
in the air over the continent bring
ing the total for a 4S-hour period
to $500. In addition to the an
nounced operations, U. S. heavy
bombers struck various enemy-oc-
cupied airbases in III h n
France, the number and names Of
which were not specified. No COM
munique was issued.
Attacks also were made along
the French invasion coast. The an
nouncement said that U. S. Ma
RAIDERS in the last five raids of
1943 against this portion of France
closest to England did not lose
single plane although the concen-
tration against the Pas De Calais
area alone totalled LOO sorties
Individual flights.
The American heavy bombers
striking at the Paris plants were
escorted by American and Allied
fighters which together shot down
six German fighters with loss
of one Of their own.
One Fortress formation was
jumped by from so to IS Naz1
fighter planes on the way home
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
DOWN
WITH THE GRIPPE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-tRLIn
a return to the customs Of peaceful
years, WARTIME Washington went
on a New Tears Eve fling tonight
for the first glimpse of the year
of invasion''-1944.
From the White House where
President Roosevelt: was reported
mildly i'll and unable to take part
in prayer services tomorrow - to
the almost vacant Capitol the
streets were filled with thousands
of servicemen and civilians out to
have one pig night in an other
wise serious year.
The President was like thousands
of others in Washington who wound
up 1913 feeling ill ard therefore
all the more inclined to see the
year end without regrets.
Rear Admiral Ross T. McIntire,
the Presidents physician, describ-
ed his illness as light grippe.
He said His temperature was nor
NAL this afternoon ard we are hop
ing it stays that way"
Entertainment prices in the city
were sky high, but this did not
stop the flow Of reservations. One
night club with a Sl5 per couple
charge advertised that the first 400
would receive a ''pirt of whisky
on the house,
Service clubs made special ar
rangements to see that soldiers,
CONTINUED on Page Two; Col. y
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
EMPLOYMENT UP
IN new HANOVER

New Hanover county was repre-
sented with SAT, 626, 500 as wages
paid in 1912, an increase of more
than six times over the 1910 figure
of ST, 1874, 261, it was announced Fri
day in statement issued by
the Unemployment Compensation
Commission of North Carolina.
A total of 20,287 workers were
listed as the labor force in New
Hanover county which was in &C
cordance with the 1910 census. At
this time 1881 of these were en-
ployed.
For the year 1913. the average
monthly employment had reached
80, 1877 in comparison with 1905
workers ir 1910 and Is, 481 work
ers in 1912.
Over 10000 employers in North
Carolina show a wartime employ
ment increase of some 10000 and
a total wartime payroll increase
of $500, 100000, as the difference
Continued on Page Two; Col. -
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
REDS RECAPTURE ZHITOlNZR
AS NAZI ARMY FALLS BACK
IN 4 FULL SCALE RETREAT
ENEMY DISORGANIZED
Vatutin's Forces Speed
Through 200 Mile
Breach In Lines

LONDON, Saturday, Jan. 1.-tM
The Russian First Ukrainian army,
racing toward Poland and Ruma-
MIA today as the new year opened
on one of the great Allied victories
of the war, has captured the for
titled rail and regional center Of
Zhitomir and plunged on far be-
You'd through the rear guards of
confused, disorganized Germans
who were abandoning tanks, guns,
supplies and dead in their rout.
Gen. Nikolai Vatutin's orce
which captured Zhitomir yester.
day, were speeding west and
southwest through a 200 mile
breach in the Nazi eastWall, far
beyond territory lost to an abor-
tive German counter offensive in
November and December. After
capturing $50 more communities
yesterday, advance Soviet u nj t S
were IS miles from the pre-war
Polish border and less than 80
miles from the pre-war Rumanian
frontier.
Considerable Blows
"Our tank and motorized troops
dealt tn enemy considerable
blows, breaking through into his
rear to intercept most important
communication lines and smash
German reserves which came up
to the front lines,'' said the mid
night Moscow bulletin recorded by
the Soviet monitor.
Berlin reports to Swedish news
papers said there were many in
dications in German military cir
cles that a new large scale re-
treat would be made on the east
ern front in order to stabilize
defensive line.
In simultaneous offensives keep
ing the Nazi strength thin-spread,
Gen. Ivan S. Bagramian's Baltic
army smashed through on b o t h
sides Of Vitebsk in northern White
Russia, capturing 60 towns d
cutting the Vitebsk-Orsha highway
south of Vitebsk. Over 300 German
were killed and % tanks destroyed,
and 80 big guns captured despite
five German counterattacks in this
area. Another force was at least
II miles west of Newell in a re-
newed drive toward Latvia.
Bridgehead Extended
Far to the south Gen. Rodion
Y. Malinvosky's Third Ukrainian
army in the Dnieper bend extend
ed and deepened its bridgehead
across the Dnieper west of Zapo-
roche, capturing five more towns
on the road to Nikopol, center OF
maneanese ore production. Over
600 Germans were killed as the
Russians hammered back counter
attacks and continued their push.
New details on the Russian drive
that toppled Zhitomir were given
by the Moscow bulletin. Although
German lines had virtually disap.
peared under the Red army wave,
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
COAL and STEEL
STRIKES SCALED
sg2lEAT TRAGEDY
:ial Says They
lie Good Fuel For
.xis Propaganda
BY PAUL MILLER

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-RNA
parsonage high in the councils of
the United States and United Ma
tons tonight called the threats of
railway and steel strikes a great
tragedy, asserting they provided
fuel for the Axis propaganda mill
and thus may have delayed re-
volts in Germany and occupied
lands this winter revolts which
could spell swift collapse for the
NaZis.
Three leaders of railroad labor
Immediately replied that if the
railroad labor dispute had any eff
feet on the war. labor unions were
not to blame. They said the adj
ministration was responsible for
delay in settling the dispute.
Name Withheld
The high source. withholding use
of his name, told reporters at a
conference that German propa-
gandists are telling subject peo-
Piles everywhere in Europe that
chaos reigns in the United States;
that the Army has been forced to
take over the railroads.
AS a result, it was added, the
subjugated countries are reported
hesitating again to start the wild
resistance which was counted on
as a major factor in the overthrow
of German domination outside the
Reich.
Philip Murray, president of the
CLIO United Steel Workers Union,
could not be reached for comment
Immediately, but union execu-
tive said This is a filthy propa-
ganda story designed to arouse the
people against labor unions
The source who described as
serted German propaganda based
on the strike threats said the eff
feet on European peoples is such
that revolt there may be serious
ly delayed.
This means, it was said, that
the war could be extended months
longer and that the Allies still may
have to fight through the summer
at cost of scores of thousands
of casualties before Germany can
be brought to her knees.
German propaganda has taken
three lines in the satellite nations,
it was said.
First, it was asserted the Ger
man propaganda line was that
Britain and the United States
would split-hence that the over
Continued on Page Three Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
WEATHER

FORECAST
NORTH CAROLINA: Partly cloudy
and continued rather cold Saturday,
Sunday partly cloudy and Slightly warm
er.
Eastern Standard Time)
(By U. Weather Bureau)
Meteorological data for the "a hours
ending 1880 p. M, yesterday.
Temperature
100 am, "a, 7:3O am, 80, 1 80 pm, 81,
1880 pm, As.
Maximum 50, Minimum 81, Mean H.
Normal A.
Humidity
~ am. SO, Z 80 am, 80, 1880 pm, 90
80 pm, 70.
Precipitation
Total for the "a hours ending 1880 pm,
leo inches,
Iotal since the first of the month,
100 inches.
Tides For Today
y. IRON the Tide Tables published by
v. ). Coast and Geodetic survey
High Low
Wilmington ---------- 1:48a 9:o2a
Nasonboro Inlet - 5:49a
12:11p 6:29p
Sunrise, 7:188 a., Sunset, STA p, Noon
use, :35 a., Moonset, 1885 p.
Cape Fear River stage alta Fayette-
willie, 1920 feet.
Continued on Page Two; Col. 2
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
GOVERNOR WANTS
MORE TANK CARS

RALEIGH, DEC 31.-tR-Gover'
nor Broughton today asked the Pc
troleum Administration for War tc
make available Immediately from
200 to $50 rail road tank cars for
transportation of gasoline into east.
ern North Carolina areas where
an acute shortage threatens to
close several county school sys-
tens.
The governor said that schools
in Nash county already had closed
because there was no gas to oper-
ate school buses, and that others
in Pitt, Greene, Lenh;r, Wayne and
Hartford RAY be forced to cease
operation unless gas is made avail
able.
The state office OF PAW, located
in Raleigh, also recommended the
tank car allotment, the governor
said.
Because Of war needs only truck
transportation is available for
CONTINUED on Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
RAIL UNIONS Wz7HDRAWCASE
FROM HANDS OF PRESIDENT:
BKRNESBLAMED FOREAHURX
MAY ASK CONGRESS
Call FDR's Plan For Arbi-
tration A Gross In
Justice

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81 R -
Leaders of the incorporating rail-
road unions, a ter withdrawing
their wage demands from arbitra-
ton by President Roosevelt, tonight
blamed War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes for their failure
to get a settlement satisfactory to
them.
1.-The real trouble all through
tbs dispute the Is union execu-
tives said in a statement, sis that
since early last June, j u S e
Byrnes has persisted in his effort
to thwart the President of t h e
United States in his declared pur-
nose to remove the Overtime dis
elimination against railway en-
ployes.'
Promise Level Best
AT the same time, til union
heads, leaders Of more than mil
lion workers, promised their level
best" in helping the Army run the
nations rail system, but declared
against any retreat in their wage
fight.
They limited, too, that they might
turn to Congress, saying 'the right
of petition still exists.
Refusal of the incorporating I'M
ions to arbitrate raised the pros
pect that the Army may have to
run the railroads indefinitely.
They withdrew their case from
the Presidents hands because he
proposed to arbitrate as one issue
suggested general increase OF 4
to 10 cents an hour and the CUES
ton of bonus pay for work over
40 hours week.
Gross Injustice
The unions contend they have
accepted the 4 to 10 cents, that it
is not in dispute any longer, and
therefore is not a question for ar
bitration. They are willing to SUBJ
NIT only to arbitration of the over
time question, independent of any
other consideration. Joint consid-
Grafton, they contend, might mean
trimming of the total sum they
believe is due them.
The union leaders told the Presi-
dent in a letter that the basis he
CONTINUED OH Page Two; Col. u
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-01
Ruler OF Iran Praises
Recent 7eheran Farley
Bv LEOPOLD HERMAN

TEHERAN, Dec. 31-(P-The young Shah of Iran;
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi told the Associated Press in
interview at the royal palace today that would
like to see my army cooperating much with the AL
les and described the Teheran declaration
The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-06-02
Meade

MEADE-Mr. and Mrs. Lee
Jamison and family, of Port
Huron, recently visited Mr.. and
Mrs. /. Vollen, at Meade.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Mullen
(nee Marjorie Bantle). are par
ents of a son, Joseph George,
who was born May 20, at st. Jo-
seph Hospital.
A family reunion was held
recently at the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Floyd Seifert. Represent
ing the Gurzick side OF the fam
lily were 80 present from sur
rounding communities.
Mrs. Marvin Bentley, OF East
Detroit, was given a birthday
party recently at the home Of
Mrs. Louis Bentley, near New
Haven, on Monday, May %.
Games were played and lunch
served. Guests were present
from Mount Clemens, Marine
City and New Haven.