davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
GERMANS ARE
 HURLED BACK
 AT 5TAvEL0T.
Four Furious Nazi Attacks Repulsed by U. 5.
 Doughboys
By HAL BOYLE Associated Press War
Corresnnndentl

WITH AMERICAN FORCES HOLDING STAVELOT, Dec. 20.- American doughboys, backed by antitank guns. repulsed four heavy German attacks today as the Nazis tried with armor and infantry to punch this key Belgian town, one of the chief tunnels of Belgium.
 Their offensive horde and their repeated thrusts climaXed a three day battle in which Americans were thrown into the line to stem breach torn by German armor. Tanks drove the occupying Nazis from the village street by street in a bitter struggle.
 Surprised themselves by the speed and power of the American counter blow, the Germans have been trying ever since with every bullet and shell they can throw to gain control of Stavelot, 25 miles southwest of Aachen. Four times they have struck this foggy day through clinging white mists which filled the whole valley and four times were hurled back.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
MINISTER E INDICTED FOR
 5AB0TAGE NOW

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 = The Justice Department announced to- day the indictment of former minister, who the department said was instructed to establish him. self in this country as contact for German spies.
 The indictments, returned at Newark, N. J., charged Carl Emil Ludwig Krepper, Newark, with violation of the sabotage, censor ship and foreign agents statutes.
 The Justice Department said the indictments were returned Decem- Der Is but were impounded until today by order of the court.
 This action climaxes more than two years of investigation by the FBI. The original announcement said the clue was supplied by one of the eight German saboteurs who landed on the Atlantic Coast from submarines in June, 1942.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
JAp5 LOSE 28 VESSELS
 OFF LUz0N
Enemy Suffers Heavy Loss. es in Big Three -day
 Assault
By MORRIE LANDSBERG "A. P. War COrrespOndent)

U. s. PACIFIC FLEET HEAD QUARTERS, AT PEARL HARBOR, Dec. 20-Three days of sustained naval and aerial assault on Luzon Island in the Philippines cost the Japanese at least 28 ships sunk and 66 others damaged and 462 planes destroyed or damaged, Ad- miral Chester w. Nimitz announced today.
 He told of the widespread de- struction on Japanese facilities in the key Philippines Island as he gave complete reports on the strikes of December 13 and 14, and pre- liminary account of those on De- cember Is.
 The announcement Saturday said three Japanese ships were sunk ano Is damaged The attacks were car ried out by carrier based aircraft in and around Luzon on December l13.
 Today's communique listed these ships sunk during the three-day period of operations supporting the invasion of Mindoro: three medium oilers, large transport, 10 cargo ships, two landing vessels, and l. smaller ships. The following were damaged. two destroyer escorts, 1t cargo ships, 25 cargo vessels, ane 25 landing barges.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20

 ADJ0URN5
 UNTIL 1945

WAS HIN GTON, Dec. 20 = The Seventy Eighth Congres S d urned last night as the gavel dropped in the House at 659 o'clock and the Senate quit at 8:22 o'clock. Less than two dozen House members were in their seats when the adjournment resolution was adopted.
 The House spent the entire day marking time, waiting for the Senate to clear business.
 The last business in the House was the adoption of a resolution expressing the assemblys thanks to Speaker Sam Rayburn for his able, impartial and dignified man. her" in which he presided over Congress.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
PACIFIC WAR MAY HAMPER
 '45 FISHING
Association Meets in Seat. tle-CaIvert Re- -eIeCt-
 ed President

SEATTLE, Dec. 20-Fear that the full-scale offensive in the Pacific will seriously hamper the Alaska Salmon industry was expressed to- day as 200 representatives from Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California gathered for the annual meeting of the Association of Pa cific Fisheries.
 Maurice Rattray and M. w. Wal Ter, War Food Administration rep resentatives, told the meeting that the government-requisitioned DOT tion of the 1945 salmon pack would be rather high" but did not say whether it would be more or less than the 70 per cent taken from the l944 pack by the government.
 Lawrence Calvert of Seattle was reelected President, and Frank Lloyd of Ketchikan, was named to the board of electors.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
SCHOOL CONCERT
 I5 TONIGHT; ALSO THURSDAY NIGHT

This evening at o'clock, the first performance of the Juneau High School annual Christmas Concert will be held in the High School gymnasium. The concert, free to the public, will be presented both tonight and Thursday night, under the direction of Mrs. For rest M. Pitts. Those taking part in the concert will be the Girls Glee Club, Boys Glee Club, Mixed Chorus, Singing Debs and the Eight Balls, all High School singing groups, and the entire sixth, sev- enth and eighth grades from the Juneau Elementary Schools.
 A different note to the concert this year will be the tableaux Tradition of Christmas"
 The tradition features will be 7: Bringing in the yule log; bringing in the boar's head under the mis- tletoe; decorating the tree and Santa Claus.
 These will be acted out by chil- dren from grades one to eight, dressed in costumes of the era which they represent. This part of the program will be directed by Mrs. Alice Johnson and Miss Ruth Holbrook.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
AN(H0R0F NAzILINE
 ATTACKED
Red Army Columns Con. 'verging on CihYnkwssd,
 Key Defense Town

MOSCOW, Dec. 20-Red Army columns are today converging in heavy attacks on Cihynkwssa, an- chor of the entire German defense system in the mountains of eastern Czechoslovakia. Advance forces are already reported within easy ar tillery range of the old highland provincial center whose mixed Slo- yak and Hungarian population be- fore the war totaled about 84,000
 A communique last night an- nounced the fall of the village of Senya, only nine miles south. Other Soviet columns are boring in from the southwest and southeast. Field dispatches reported steady progress on the southwest. The main Ger man highway and rail escape route has been cut and other routes, leading through the mountains of middle Slovakia, are reported to be continually harassed by Patriot bands.
 The drive, converging on the town, coordinated the effort of two powerful Russian forces, Marshal Malinovsky's Second Ukranian and Gen. Petrov's Fourth Ukranian armies. The converging columns oaiped as mich as eight miles yeS- terday, battering their way through German Qualifications set up in the forested mountains.
 The drive on Kassa is part of the general advance on front of more than 80 miles above the southern borders of Slovakia and in northern Hungary.
 The communique made no men, tion of the continuing siege of Budapest.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
NAZIS FIGHTING LIFE OR DEATH BATTL]
KODIAK VICTORY
 SHIP LAUNCHED,
 PORTLAND YARDS

PORTLAND, Oregon, Dec. 20 - Parka-clad visitors from Alaska added color to the launching of the Kodiak, Victory Ship, at the Ore gon Shipbuilding Corporation yards yesterday afternoon.
 Mrs. Emil Knudsen, wife of Ko- diaks mayor, was sponsor, and their little daughter, Joann Jean was flower girl, at the launching of the 10th Victory Freighter here, and the 392nd ship built by the yard.
 A cold rain made all but Mrs. Knudsen and her daughter shiver and the ceremonies were hurried through.
 Glenn Robinson, formerly of the War Manpower Commission, was the official Kodiak Victory speaker and he told the shipyard workers and other spectators of Alaska s resources.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
MANYJApS TRAppED0N
 WE5TLEYTE
Largest Enemy Force Sill in Action Caught in
 Yank PinCers
By MURLIN SPENCER IA. P. War Correspondent

GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD QUARTERS IN THE PHILIP PINES, Dec. 20-The largest Nip ponese orgar lzed force still in ac- ton on west Leyte has been caught in trap 'onverging on Yanku, within six .iles of snapping shut on the enemy, is an even larger trap.
 No organized resistance on newly invaded Mindoro has been encoun- tered in the twin Philippine battles.
 Headquarters announced that Gen. Sosaki Suzuki's headquarters in the town of Valencia and it's airfield were captured Monday on West Leyte by 77th Division troops which moved eight miles north of Or1noc
 Meanwhile, dismounted First Cav airy troops, driving south from the direction of Carigara Bay, seized Lonoy, six miles north of Valencia, and in so doing cut the rear forces pinned down by another element of 32nd Division troops.
 The enemy troops caught between the First Cavalry and 32nd Divi- sion are believed to comprise the largest organized Nipponese force still in action on Leyte, Macarthur said
 MacArthur said that the 77th is rolling up remnants of the Yama- shita line"
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
FRANCO ECApE5
 REPRESENTATION

PARIS, Nee. 20-The newspaper Aurore reported a dispatch from Diyvalch, on the Spanish frontier today, saying Franco and his Min ister of Justice, Eduardo Aunos narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Madrid last Sunday.
 The paper said two persons who just left Spain reported shots were fired at Franco's car and that his chauffeur was wounded The ac- count said that Franco and the minister escaped harm
 The assailants fled.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
MANYJAp
 WILL NOT
 COME BACK

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20-The West Coast today prepared for the return of the Japanese, excluded from this area for nearly three years, as members of that race ex- pressed doubt that many will come back for a long time.
 Others said the exile had stripped them of economic means of sup porting themselves in the West. Older Japanese business men, who let go lifelong small businesses, said they felt there was no starting over again"
 Yoshito Fujii, chairman of the Minidoka Relocation Center Con- munity Council, Hunt, Idaho, said he hoped Pacific Coast residents would exhibit the same tolerance towards the returning Japanese Americans as was desplayed in Idaho.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
(0MM0NSIN IN DEBATE ON
 POLICY NOW
Both Churchill and Ede n Under Bitter Attack
 by Opposition

LONDON, Dec. 20-Under bitter attack, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary An thony Eden today stood pat in the House of Commons on Britain's armed intervention in Greece but Eden urged quick establishment of face to face contact among the foreign ministers of Britain, Russia and the United States to deal with such problems.
 Churchill, opening the debate, ad- mitted whether there was complete agreement on every aspect of these matters is another question alto gether," after declaring there was complete harmony on the general aims" among Britain, Russia and the United States.
 The Commons chamber was thrown into confusion as shouts came from all side attacking King George of Greece. Dr. Hayden Guest, Laborite, asserted it is not worth spending the life, or the wounding of one British soldier to defend kings prerogative." Reply ing with vitriolic criticisms, one of which was shouted by a Laborite, there may be civil war in Britain" !" Eden said Britain's only error in Greece was not taking the troops of her Allies into that country along with her.
 He said there was no question that Britain's armed intervention was started without consulting our All lies"
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
MRS. GEORGE SHAW AWARDED GIFT BOX
 AT AUXILIARY MEET

Mrs. George Shaw was awarded the gift chest last evening at the weekly meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary, while the lovely mat set went to Mrs A. F. Bixby.
 During the meeting it was de- 'cided to accept the invitation ex- tended by the Legion to Christ mas party on December 30.
 Members were also asked to take donations of cookies for the USO Ito the Empire office by Saturday noon, or to phone Silva Zenger for other arrangements.
 Following the business session, cards were played and refreshments were served by President Dorothy Manthey and Beth Nordling.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
17 PASSENGERS VIA
 PAN AMERICAN TODAY

A PAA plane arrived from Seattle today with three passengers, as fol- lows: Sgt John Grove, Constance Wallheiser and Kelly Westfall.
 On the return flight to Seattle were: Mrs. Lenore Wise, Mrs. Le- titia Erven, Miss Mabel L. Morgan, Warren Sutherland, Kenneth Ben sen, Ralph Dye, Merv in Tiegs, Marvin Peckham, Lottie Gritman and Agnes Van Wettering.
 Passengers for Whitehorse this morning included: Richard c. Johnson and James Moscrip.
 Fairbanks-bound passengers were Wesley E. Dunkle and Stanley McCutcheon.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
LARGE BRITISH
 FLEET NOW IN PACIFIC WATERS

UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS, PEARI HARBOR, Dec. 20 = Admiral Sii Bruce Fraser, Commander-in-C -Chiei of the British Pacific Fleet, has conferred with Admiral Chester w Nimitz, five-star Commander of the U. s. Pacific Fleet, on plans to extend the sea and air blockade 'of Japan.
 The conferences began several days ago but have just been dis closed.
 It was recently reported from Melbourne, Australia, that Fraser's fleet is alone capable of meeting the Japanese fleet.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
PETE GILMORE IS
 FULL LIEUTENANT

Pete Gilmore, formerly with the Attorney Generals office in Juneau, has been promoted to the rank of full lieutenant in the Navy, accord ing to word received here today.
 Lieut.. Gilmore is in command of a new Navy landing craft and has been assigned to the South Pacific theatre of operations.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20

PARIS. Dec. Supreme Head quarters disclosed today that the German counter r-offensive had broken into the United States First Army lines in four places and by Monday at noon had driven five to 20 miles inside Belgium and Luxembourg.
 The Germans declared their spearheads were still advancing and that more than 10000 prisoners were taken.
 Dispatches said It. Gen. Court ney Hodges had thrown infantry and armor against the Germans. The fluid battle confused the Doughboys, who fought until the fox-holes were overrtn by enemy tanks.
 The deepest German penetration reported by Monday noon was to Stayelot, % miles southeast of Liege and 25 miles southwest of Aachen, as the Nazis threw all the power of their arsenal = tanks. planes, V-weapons and crack troops into the ter-offensive.
 Mortar fire increased and patrol activity erupted on the British. Canadian and U. s. Ninth Army fronts. The significance of this is not immediately apparent, but it is deemed likely the enemy in tended to divert any attempt of the British and Canadians to move endorsements south to the First Army sector.
 The Veteran First Army seemed to be holding it's Hanks against the German nter-offensive amid growing indications that with it, Field Marshal von Rundstedt had launched his all-out bid to crack the Allied lines. He continued to throw in planes despite heavy losses. His concentrations of armor. motor transport and his use of crack troops which are known to have been reserved for life or death defense of the Reich, all indicated his ambitious plan.
 One dispatch from Belgium said the Germans appeared unable to widen materially bases of their penetration but the points of the triangle are pushing deeper.
 Another dispatch said First Army infantry, south of Monschau, halted the Nazi advance near Northern. the end of the enemy attack zone where the Germans posed the greatest flanking threat to Aachen. Losses on both sides are appar- ently heavy.
 To the south, United States Third Army troops in the Saar Basin cleared all but the east side of the factory district in Dillingen and made progress in Saarlautern's bridgehead against stubborn op- position and on the Third Army's right the U. s. Seventh, inside Germany. threw back two strong counter-attacks northwest of Wis sembourg.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
ALASKA GOES
 OVER TOP IN
 BOND DRIVE

According to figures released to- day by the War Finance Committee, E bond sales at the close of the Sixth War Loan Drive were $l,197,- 469.50 for the Territory, well over the $1,000,000 quota. Total sales for Alaska amounted to $2,880,5 ,527; $780, 527 over the quota
 E bond sales for Juneau were $152, 2,452.50; $27,45250 above the quo amounted to $484, ,13150; $149, ,131 50 more than the quota.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
TOKYO, NAG0YA HIT AGAIN BY
 GIANT B0MBER5

SATAN, Dec. 20-Three Super forts from the Twent ty- First Bomber Command bombed Tokyo early today, starting fires, crew members said, that covered wide area.
 Headquarters also said two Su- perforts bombed Nagoya early yes- terday, 12 hours after the second major Superfort raid on the big industrial center.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
MacSPADDEN BACK FROM
 FIELD TRIP; SHOOTS WOLI

Molly MacSpadden, agent for the Fish and Wildlife Service, returned today from an inspection trip to Taku River and vicinity.
 MacSpadden reports seeing a pack of seven wolves near Canyon Island. He fired several shots into the group, but because of the darkness was able to injure only one.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
c OF c MEETS TOMORROW

At the Chamber of Commerce noon-day meeting tomorrow, col ored slides on Mining in Alaska will be shown by Robert Thorne.
 Capt. Vance Blackwell, formerly of the Public Roads Administration, will be a guest at the luncheon. He is home on furlough from the Aleutians where he has been sta- tioned for the past 27 months with the U. s. Aviation Engineers.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
GIRL FOR MORGANS

Mrs. Paul Morgan, the former Mill lie Marie Jorgenson, became the mother of a nine-pound girl this morning in Sitka. The proud father is with the armed forces and is sta- toned in that city. This is the couples first child, and she has been named Constance Rae.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
ALASKA LAUNDRY HELPED

In the list of those who con- tributed to the successful Sixth War Bond Drive, the cash donation of the Alaska Laundry and employees was unintentionally omitted, accord ing to Jack Fletcher, chairman of the drive.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
SUNK!

CHUNGKING, Dec. 20-A large Jap tanker has been sunk and an enemy destroyer and two large freighters probably sunk, in bombing attack of P-51's of Hong kong, Mai Gen. Wedemeyer's Headquarters announces.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
USO GIFTS NEEDED

Gifts for servicemen in outlying districts, especially those who are wellknown in Juneau, are solicited by the USO as these gifts are being sent by airplanes. Any gifts, 50 cents or less, is acceptable and the gifts will be Christmas wrapped at the USO.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20

 ASSAULTS
 ARE MADE
Germans Throw Everything Into 0ffensive-Al-
 lies Countering

BULLETIN-PARIS, Dec. 20- United States troops have recap tured Monschau. Germany, and checked the initial impetus of the powerful German counter offensive which bit more than 20 miles deep into Belgium. The front lines are still unstabilized tonight, however, and heavy battles are apparently raging around StaveIot.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
 SHORTEST DAY OF
 YEAR TOMORROW


 Tomorrow is the shortest day of 1914, the winter sol- stice and the beginning of winter. But no matter how short tomorrow is, it can't be much shorter than the past several days have been, and there will be several days following that will also be of short duration as re- gards daylight.
 Tomorrow, December 21, the sun is scheduled to rise for this locality at 9:45 o'clock in the morning and to set at 4:07 o'clock in the afternoon.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
ELSIE BLYTHE IN TOWN

Mrs. Elsie Blythe, with the Fish and Wildlife Service at Anchorage, has arrived in Juneau to spend the holidays with her parents, MT. and Mrs. w. c. Jensen.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
SQUARE DANCING TONIGHT

The weekly square dancing ses- sion, open to servicemen and civil ians, takes place tonight at the A. B. Hall.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
DOUGLAS
 NEWS

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
 The Douglas Public Schools Christmas program will be held to- morrow night, Thursday evening, December 21, at SIS o'clock. Every one is welcome to attend the annual affair and there IS no admission charge this year as in former years.
 The program starts with a playlet in which Jane and John, two naughty children, are carried off to Santa Land by elves. There they meet Santa. Mrs. Santa and all the toys. Santa is angry with John and Jane and he puts them to work mending the toys that they have mistreated.
 The children learn that toys and books have feelings too, and are hurt when kicked and torn. They are sorry and promise Santa to be good to their toys if only he will visit them again. The characters are John, John Jensen; Jane, Flea nor Havdahl; mother, Marilyn Isaak; Mrs. Santa. Betty Kelsey; Santa, Jimmy Sey; the elves, Lester Henkins, Donald Conley, Harlow AL len, Lewis Pusich, Donna Swift, Jean Warner, Jimmy Swift and Robert Reiss.
 Soldiers Buddy Pike, Richard Isaak, Gilbert Bennett, LeRoy Will liamson and Ray Hermann.
 Bears-Billy Andrews, John Tan ner, Sammy Wagner and Bobby AL len.
 Train-Maria Worobec, Frederick Hulse. Dickie Hulse and Oscar Niemi.
 Bells Mary Cuthbert, Louise Grant, Aleda Warner, Gloria An derson, Peggy Parsons and Elsie Niemi.
 French dolls = Beth Fleek and Tommy Cashen.
 American dolls Judy Niemi, Skipper Rustad, Vadra Fleek, Lucille Isaak, LaReece Williamson and Sharon Henkins.
 Eskimo doll-Donnie Niemi, Chin csc doll-Virgil Hulse; Jack-in-the- box, Jimmy Ruotsala; pages = Ted Estrada, Melvin Duncan, Anne Pus- ich, Mike Mcclellan and Gladys Conley.
 COvICH AND FAMILY HERE
 MT. and Mrs. Walter Covich and daughter stopped in Douglas while their steamer was in port yesterday to call on friends. They were in Douglas several years ago in con- junctionary with missionary work. For some time they have been sta tioned at Point Graham doing mis- sionary work there and are going south on furlough to spend the Christmas holidays with friends and relatives.
 ALASKA GUARD TOMORROW The Douglas Unit of the Alaska Territorial Guard will meet tomor- row night at ' o'clock at the Ma tatorium for inspection, a short drill and target practice. Guard will be dismissed in time for members to attend the Christmas program at the school, says Capt. w. E. Cahill Dress will be coveralls, leggings, am- intuition belts and rifles.
 D. I. w. CLUB MEMBERS Mrs. Glenn Rice, President of the Douglas Island Women's Club, re- minds members that tomorrow after noon at o'clock all members will meet at her home and take their l Christmas baskets.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
TIDES TOMORROW

High tide-6:l9 a. m., 15.0 feet.
 Low tide-l2:19 p. m, A feet. High tide-6:l0 p. m, l4.5 feet.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20
DIVORCE ACTION

Action for divorce was instituted today by Charles Johnson against Annie Johnson. Charges are cruelty and incompatibility.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-20

ATHENS, Dec. 20 A strong ELIAS attack on Averoff Prison today forced the British to abandon the bastion, and Quisling ex-Premier Jean Rallis, who apparently escaped during the disorder, is being sought. The attack on the prison was made late yesterday and this morning.
 The British launched counter thrust to relieve 115 policemen and 149 wardens, members of the British garrison, the communique said. The British and 130 Greeks in the prison, including some political prisoners, , were successfully withdrawn.
 The ELIAS immediately began to fortify the prison.
 It is estimated that some 205 men and 30 women prisoners out of the ATS persons held there escaped in the disorder. Most of the inmates were awaiting trial on political charges. The fate of the remainder of the Greek prison attendants and other prisoners is not immediately known. All cells were locked when the west wing of the prison caught fire from mortar shells.
 Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force Headquarters at Kifissis, 12 miles northeast of Athens, was subjected to a stiff ELIAS siege with noncombat- ant RAF clerks and base officers thus far successfully holding out against 500 ELIAS troops, seeking to halt strafing attacks and rocket firing by Beaufighters and Spitfires