davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
S SPECIAL ELECTI0N
 TOMORROW
Light Vote Generally Is Ex- peeted in First
 Division

A general lack of interest is the basis for a forecast of a light vote in tomorrow's special election to name a Senator to fill the First Divisions vacant seat in the Terri torial Legislature, which convenes here in less than a month.
 While a fairly large vote is ex- pected in Juneau, where two of the three candidates make their homes, and in Sitka where the other re- sides. Lack of local interest is ex- pected to account for sparse bal loting in other Southeast Alaska communities, however.
 Announced candidates are Allen Shattuck of Juneau, F. F. Dick Davis of Juneau, and Frank Price of Sitka.
 Shattuck has served four sessions in the Legislature previously but the other two candidates have had no previous legislative experience. Davis is said to have the support of various labor groups, and Price is being supported by the Alaska Native Brotherhood.
 The polls will open at.8 a.. m. to- morrow and will close at ' p. m. Precinct One will vote in the Fire Hall; Precinct Three at the Juneau Diaries, Inc, building, and Precinct Two in the Pan American Air ways office.
 No official ballots have been fur nished, since the law does not re- quire these and neither do candi- dates file for the office. The can- didates name, written on piece of paper, or ballots supplied by the candidates, are legal.
 This is the first time a special election has been called to fill a vacancy in the Legislature. The vacancy was created by the death of Senator Arthur P Walker.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
JAP ATTACKS
 WON'T HALT
 TANK PLANS
Damage Done to American Ships Fails 10 Spoil Sthed-
 uIe for U. ,. 0ffensives

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Secre- tary of the Navy James V. Forrestal said today that Jap air attacks have failed to disrupt American plans for continued heavy offensives, while acknowledging that naval forces in the Philippines have suffered some damage.
 He said the announcements were delayed because i've don't wish the Japs to know what ships they hit nor to what extent the vessels were injured nor how soon they may be back in action This necessary silence" Forrestal continued in his statement, left the field clear for the Japs to make fantastic claims while perhaps fishing for informa- tion.
 Perhaps the best way to assess the results of the Jap air attacks against our fleet since the second battle of the Philippines Sea- he said, lis to ask whether those attacks have disrupted our plans for future action. They have not. The fall of Leyte and our landings on Min doro are concrete demonstration that they have not"
 Forrestal denied what he described as ''rumors" that the Navy has not announced all the losses in the bat tie of the Philippines last October when the Jap fleet was routed.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
E GERMAN
 PRISONERS
 SKIP CAMP

PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 26r-A Nazi celebration of western front victories was broken up by clubs in the Papago Park war prisoner camp near here, shortly before 25 Germans escaped, Col. William Holden, Commandant, disclosed to- day.
 Holden said that Army guards had to resort to force in ending the demonstration Saturday by "a couple of hundred" prisoners in one of the camps compounds.
 Only six escapees, all submarine officers and men, were apprehend- ed. The ranking member of the group was It. Col. Jurgen Watten- berg, 43
 Many of those at large speak several languages
 The escape served to make public a rumor long current in Phoenix that Gunther Prien, famed Ger man U-boat commander, is pris- oner here. Prien was decorated by Hitler for the sinking of the British battleship, Royal Ark. in Scapa Flow in '39. He didn't es- cape" said Major Eugene Tays, in answering an inquiry.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
GERMANS ARE TRAPPED IN
 BUDAPE5T I
But One Narrow Corridor Left Now by Which
 Enemy May Escape

MOSCOW, Dec. 26--Eight to 10 divisions of Germans and Hum garians are reported to be trapped today as Budapest was cut off and escape, except by air or possibly by one road. usable only by night, is impossible.
 As the Red Army drove to the western city limits in 15-mile advance the encirclement of the Hungarian capital is virtually com- pleted. Front dispatches said So- viet guns began a systematic she'll ing of the two airports still held by the enemy, while Stormoviks, medium bombers, flew in incessant sorties over the strife torn capital. The greatest panic was reported inside the city, in full view of the Russian Units which yesterday drove to the lofty hills of Buda- kesz, adjoining the city limits of Buda on the western half of the Danube straddling the city.
 The Germans are reported to have grabbed all available auto mobiles and buses and have put them under strict military eaul- mand, ordering Hungarian drivers to stand by with blankets and all warm clothing possible. This led to speculation that large enemy units might try to make a break The last narrow escape corridor that appeared still open extended 19 miles northwest from the capital to Erstergrom on the southern bank of the big Danube bend.
 Today's communique disclosed a continuing Red Army surge vest ward in Southern Czechslovakia and also along the Hron River in the vicinity of Leva in a drive along the routes to Vienna and Bratislaya. They are now less than 98 miles and 65 miles distant, re- spectiyely.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
MIDNIGHT SERVICES
 ARE WELL ATTENDED

Many Juneauites went devotional as the clock struck the hour of l2 Sunday midnight, and attended services in three of the city's churches
 Pontifical mass was said at the Church of the Nativity, where worshippers gathered in such large numbers many were unable to gain admittance.
 Standing room only was to be found at Resurrection Lutheran Church, where a special musical service was given; and at the Church of Holy Trinity, where a Choral Eucharist with special music was the offering for the Yuletide worshippers.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
PRINTED BALLOTS LEGAL

Answering a question which has arisen in the minds of many voters. Attorney General Henry Roden said today that the printed ballots which candidates for the Senate in tomor- rows special election have distribut- ed will be "legals ballots if turned in by qualified voters.
 Voters need not mark an K" in front of the candidates name print cd on the ballot to make it legal. just so the ballot contains only one name, Roden stated.
 Voters who do not have the print ed ballots may vote simply by writ ing the name of their choice on a blank piece of paper and turning this in to be dropped in the ballot box.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
CHRISTMAS BLOW SEALS
 ENEMY FATE
Nipponese Destruction in Philippines Seldom Par
 aIIeIed in War History
By c. YATES MCDANIEL "A. P. War COrrespondent)

GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD QUARTERS IN THE PHILIP PINES, Dec 26 = Gen. Douglas Macarthur today declared that the Leyte-Samar campaign, closed ex- cept for mopping up,' yesterday after American Doughboys captured Palompon in a water borne assault which sealed the Japanese fate and closed their last escape port on northwestern Leyte Island.
 Asserting that Gen. Yamashita "has sustained perhaps the great est defeat in military annals of the Japanese Army" Gen: Mac Arthur's communique said the Japanese lost an estimated ll2,72o killed, and 493 captured in the 67- day campaign.
 The completeness of this de- struction has seldom been parall- eled in the history of modern war fare" MacArthur said.
 Magnitude Of Victory
 The magnitude of the American victory in the first phase of the campaign to liberate the Philip pines was further borne out by MacArthur's assertion that 2,748 enemy planes were destroyed in the islands since the Leyte landing on October 28 by Third and Seventh Fleet carrier planes, the Army's Fifth Air Force, Marine units, and American shore and ship antiair- craft batteries.
 A total of 27 warships and Al transports were sunk during the destruction of 10 Leyte-bound Japanese conveys. This does not include enemy losses in naval battles in Leyte Gulf, october 25
 American casualties are 2,623 killed, 8,422 wounded, and 172 missing. This covered only Ameri- can ground force losses
 The coupe de grace was given the Nipponese on Leyte Christmas morning, Philippine time, when the 77th Division forces entered Pal ompon Bay and stormed ashore while escorting U. s. Seventh Fleet PIT boats beat a tattoo against the beach and divisions of their own artillery laid down heavy bom- bardment from advanced positions inland against Palompon.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
,eyte Carnpu;gn Ends Ln Decisiue Jap Defeat
Lonely 0utposfsin Boring Sea Gel Christmas Mail
 Dropped by Army Plane

HEADQUARTERS, ALA s K AN DEPARTMENT, Dec. 26.7-Four dots in Boring Sea, St. Paul, St. George, St. Matthew and Ninivak islands, had their Christmas right on the day because of special flight made through bitter weather by Lieut.. ]. J. Trevisani, of San Francisco.
 rrevisani and his crew of six made flight to deliver 2400 pounds of Christmas mail and packages.
 The Christmas mail and packages, in l00-pound lots, were placed in boxes on parachutes and strapped to the plane and then released over destinations.
 The plane met temperatures aver aging 13 below and lower and battled powerful winds.
 The crewmen worked for 24 hours without food or water as the water taken along froze solid.
 Tt was necessary to circle Ninivak Island three times before we could drop our Christmas cargo on the spot designated as the target which was overflowing with shouting mob all with their hands upstretched wait ing for the mail from the sky said one of the crewmen.
 The soldiers manning the lonely outposts did not expect their Christ mas mail before next May or June, Headquarters reported.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
COLD WAVE AGAIN
 HITS NATION AS
 MERCURY pLUNCE5
lBy Associated Pressl

A new cold wave with bitter below zero temperatures hit the Midwest and the mercury plunged far below zero.
 Readings in the Dakotas, upper Michigan, portions of Ohio and Rockford, Illinois CTS miles north west of Chicago, were reported at 9 below.
 The coldest recorded on the Chi cago Weather Bureaus map for Chicago was seven below, the mini mum coldest for the season, at 8 a. m.
 Miami continued to be the na- tion's balmy spot, the maximum being 66. San Diego was 47 and Los Angeles, 40
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26

PARIS, Dec. 2e-Two German armored columns were, by Sunday night, plunged 50 miles into Bell gium, reaching to within four miles of the Mouse River. The enemy wiped out the American St. With salient and formed a solid front 35 miles wide.
 Supreme Headquarters disclosed that two, and possibly three, Nazi Armies were flung into the batter ing ter-offensive which is be- lieved by Supreme Headquarters to have been planned by Hitler him. self in an effort to shatter the Allied forces in the west.
 Twin Tank Pushes
 Backed up by infantry, twin German tank pushes careencd Il more miles into Belgiuin since the last previous headquarters report. They pinched out the American stand west of St. With. The jutting salient was split by the German offensive and the prongs formed q single bulge 35 miles wide and now 50 miles or more deep.
 Punching due west, one Nazi tank column neared Celles, only four miles from Meaetat and Dinant, which is just eight miles north of the French border.
 10 Mile Gain
 Another column, hitting west and north, reached Ciney in a 10-miie gain. Ciney lies nine miles from the Mouse and IA from the jutting northeast corner of France. Ciney and Celles are six miles apart.
 A security news cloak covered any further progress of these tiIrusts, made since Saturday night. Latest reports of the battle raging in this general area is that the Germans are building up their forces west of Rochefort.
 48-Hour StandstilI
 South of Marche the deep Sum- day gains were made after the invaders were held almost to a standstill for 48 hours. In the heart of this bulge, a surrounded American force of several thous- and fought doggedly to hold the important Belgian road hub of Bastogne after rejecting a surrcn- der ultimatum. The force was under incessant Nazi armor and infantry attacks.
 The whole hope of this isolated force was focused to the south where Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's counter assault had beaten back up the Arlon Road to within five miles of Bastogne.
 It is still gaining ground.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
DATE OF REAL DAY BANQUETI5
 TO BE FRIDAY

The Filipino Community Club announced today that the date for their invitational Rizal Day Cele- bration has been changed from Saturday, December 30, to Friday. December 29, because it was found impossible to reserve the Baranof Hotel Gold Room on Saturday.
 Mayor A. B. Hayes is to be guest speaker, and following the banquet and program, public dance will be held afterward
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
WARNING E SENT OUT ON ROBOT BOMBS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.--The Office of Civilian Defense today issued instructions for defense against rocket bomb and robot bomb attacks.
 The instructions were sent to State Defense Councils to be passed on to the public. OCD pointed out that little or no ad- vance warning was possible, ad- ding the public should realize the danger and be constantly alert, especially along the coastal areas"
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
Uso PARTIES

Over two dozen children had a good time at. the party at the USO Sunday afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock, when they made friends with the servicemen, gave a pro- gram of songs and recitations and had refreshments. Sunday evening, from 10 to midnight, the USO pa tronesses served a buffet luncheon of turkey sandwiches, homemade cakes and cookies for the service men.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2e-Forme

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26-Former u. s. Senator Blair Lee Of Mary land died last night at the age of 87.
 He served in the Senate Ill 1915 and was a delegate to eight Demo- cratic National Conventions. At the Baltimore convention in 1912 he was the leader of the movement resulting in the nomination of Wilson, friend of his college days.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
SHOCK QUOTATIONS

NEW YORK, Dec. 26. = Closing quotation of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 6a, American Can SIS, Anaconda 28, Beech Aircraft 1872, Bethlehem Steel 63A, Curtiss- Wright 57s, International Harvester 80h, Kennecott 36h, North Amer ican Aviation 10h, New York Gen. tral 22A, Northern Pacific 2lB, U. s. Steel 581z, Pound $4.04.
 Dow, Jones averages. today are as follows: industrials, 149.66; rails, 48.04; utilities, 25.95
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
DRIVE OF
 10 MILES
 IS MADE
Canadians in Italy Capture Rosseifa, Reported
 Near AIfOnsine

ROME, Dec. 26-Canadian troops, striking out from the bridgehead over the Canale Naviglio on the Adriatic flank of the Italian front, today captured Rosetta, 10 miles northwest of Allied -held Ravenna.
 Headquarters said the Canadians were reported to have pushed a short distance beyond Rosetta to within two miles of Alfonsine on the Ravenna-F -Ferrara Highway.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
DECORATIONS OF
 NOTE APPEAR HERE

Among the more attractive out door Yuletide decorations appear ing since Empire reporters made the rounds of the city last Friday night are the string of colored lights on the sides and front of Sgt. and Mrs. Bob Davlin's home on Sixth street, between Main and Seward, and the display of colored lights at the Basin Road site of the Hugh J. Wade home.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
sITKA COUPLE CONVICTED

Dick and Annie Johnson of Sitka were convicted on charge of family desertion Saturday and sen fenced to serve six months in Fed eral jail, according to the Office of the U. s. Marshal.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
FLETCHER IS HOST

Jack Fletcher, Baranof Hotel manager, was host to group of friends and employees at cock tail party Friday evening, from 6 to ' o'clock in the Baranof Bubble Room.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
MANY CHRISTMAS
 TREES NEVER USED

Albert Peterson, Juneau's ex- elusive refuse collector, estimates that scores of Christmas trees were cut for decorative purposes in Ju- neau and were never used. on every load his trucks took out yesterday, one third of their cargo consisted of trees never put to use.
 Peterson places the crop of trees
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
The W ashingt ion Merry Co., Round
By DREW PEARSON ct. Col. Robert S. Allen now on active
 service with the Army)

WASHINGTON-It is no secret that both sides on the Western Front know pretty much what the other side is doing behind each others lines. Observation planes fly back and forth, the Nazis having jet-propelled planes which go weul over 400 miles an hour
 U. s. observation planes, while not so fast, undoubtedly must have been good enough to note the
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
STREET GANGS OUT
 JHOvELING SUNDAY

Street crews were out early Christmas morning shoveling snow from stairways in various sections of the city in order to expedite pedestrian traffic on JuneauS cteeper thoroughfares.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
ENTERTAINED AT DINNER

Twelve were guests of Mir. and Mrs Fred Henning at a family style Christmas dinner, held last night at 8 o'clock in the Gold Room of the Baranof Hotel.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
YEP, AND GUM, TOO.

Many little gifts handed out on Christmas Eve and Ghristmas Day, daintily wrapped in Christmas paper. contained packages of gum, of which there is a shortage in this neck of the nation.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
STREETS BANDED

Slippery streets and sidewalks were sanded this morning by the City Street Department, greatly aiding both vehicular and pedes- trian traffic.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
GO AHEAD, SEWARD

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26-Presi- dent Roosevelt has signed the bill authorizing Seward to purchase the private utilities now supplying the city with it's power and telephone service.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
FISHERS IN TOWN

MT. and Mrs. Emil B. Fisher have arrived from Hoonah for short stay. He is a Government teacher with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
rYgt FIRE ALARMS

IT 8ee uilly two alarms of fire ia3e g over the holiday seas l aud fone on Christmas Day. Ona alarm early Sunday morning, wa Ter M auso which caught fire on ASa ayset. The other alarm, I2-a Vas eeilney burning out at tfa saaer building, opposite the IF Hal
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
 MILES DEEP
 IN BELGIUM
American Salient df Sf. With Is Wiped Out
 by Latest Push

BULLETIN - LONDON, Dec. 26.-Allied planes again hit Ger man columns and up to noon today, the Ninth Tactical Air Force alone destroyed six tanks, six armorcd vehicles, 237 motor vehicles besides downing P en- emy planes.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
STEAK DINNER

J. B. Burford was host at steak dinner in the Baranof Gold Room last evening at o'clock. Places were laid for eleven.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
CALLED HOME BY ILLNESS

Mrs. Abbie Jane Wells was called home by the illness of her mother. She left this morning via PAA for Texas.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26
us. Ahea 3 OtWorIdin
 Soil caservation; Aid
 Asked Other Nations
By CHARLES C. HASLETT Substituting for Jack Stinnett,
 Who is lll.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 - The United States is ahead of the world hen it comes to soil conservation, nd other nations are calling upon
 for advice on how to preserve
 good earth.
 )r. H. H. Bennett, chief of the
 iculture Departments Soil Con-
 ation Service, is just back from a two months visit to South Africa, where he taught officials and farm CTS the U. s. way of saving the soil.
 Dr. Bennett estimates it will re- quire from Is to 20 more years for this country to accomplish the major part of it's own soil conser- vation work through gully-filling, terracing, tree planting and drain age on farm land.
 Seventy million acres of U. S lands have been put under soil conservation practices since the program began under Dr. Bennetts $ direction in 1884, but he estimates 100000, 1000 acres need attention to preserve the rich top soil which grows the nations food.
 The most difficult part of the SCS' mork is over-education of land Ew:scls. 4szle,, Issss1s.zsss. Dr. Eesf nett says the program gains mo- mentum each year.
 Plans for 1945 call for soil con- servation on from 100000 to 20,- 000,00O acres. Last year it was on 100000 acres and Bennett ex- poets this years acreage to be much larger than last.
 We are trying to use every acre of farmland" he explains.
 He estimates that l22,000,000 acres of farm land still should be
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-26

(Continued on Page Thsee)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-11
"ModmOn Of St. MoIo" Is
 Defiant Foe
GNEA relephotoD

Outside St. Malo, Aug. I0-(UP) The "Madman Of St. Malo," Col vOn Aulock, commander of the Ger man garrison, still held out in an underground citadel Of this "cap- tured" tOgn tonight, deaf to en- treaties to surrender and defiant Of American attempts to blast him out.
 The Americans had tried every thing artillery barrages, aerial D0Inhardments and numerous ap- peals. But the half-erazed veteran of Etslingrad, apparently hopeful a German counter attack would rescue him, drove his handful of hold0pts, including cooks and disbgashers, to continue the fanatieal fight.
 One last attempt was made late today to persuade hiD to surrender. A captured German chaplain who said he was y0p Aul0ek's friend agreed to return to the citadel and explain the hopelessness Of his sit- nation,
 An firing ceased while the chap lain went on the mission, A fhis writing it is upkn0wp whether the chaplain succeeded,
 When l Left the command post tonight they were wondering sheth- CT y0n Aul0ck would give tn or whether his guns would open up with 8 ney b0mbardmept, based on inf0Tmati0n the chaplain could give him of the American lines,
 Captured Witb the chaplain vas q pretty blonde German girl, said 10 be V0n Auloek's mistress. She was attending some 100 wounded
 lC0ntinned on Pare q