davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
The Literary Guidepost

Baron van der Elst is an en-
tnusiast who has had the good
sense to look at his enthusiasm
from the outside. A few people
might read his book if it were
written in the high jargon of art
criticism, but apparently that does
not suffice for the Baron. He has
decided to introduce the public to
his Flemish painters as he might
introduce them to a family. There
fore he starts with an event, which
is the casually managed marriage
of Margaret of York and the Duke
of Burgundy. This was an event,
and the Duke brought in the best
painters of the time to help with
the decorations, although he ap-
ears not to nave thought it worth
while to have one of them paint a
good portrait of the bride.
From there van de Elst goes
on to description of Flemish
painting in the day of Manning,
van Eyck, van der Goes, PETER
Bruegel and their contemporaries.
like the story of Flanders thus
illustrated by her great painters
as a whole and particularly the
story of the guilds, and the way in
which they enforced their stan
dards of workmanship. We might
use a few today.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
QUOTATIONS
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1914 by King Features Syndicate)

When the Russians reach Hitler's capital I
nominate for chairman of the welcoming COM
mittee our own General Eisenhower. War
Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes.
The japanese pilots are worse now than
they used to be. They haven't any formations
and don't press their attacks any more.-Capt.
Harlan Morrison Jr., of Dallas, Tex, at Min
doro INVASION
It is very simple. We need everything, es-
pecially raw material to get industry and
our harbors repaired.-Jean Monnet, French
government agent in the U. S.
A Japanese victory and the domination by
the japanese barbarians-as they have proved
themselves-of the land masses of ASIA
the East Indies, and the Pacific, containing
over one-half of the population of the world,
would utterly destroy world civilization as we
know it-Navy Undersecretary Ralph A. Bard.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Daily Prayer
FOR CHRISTMAS

Above the roar of the guns OF
the worldwide battlefield, we hear
the music of the Christmas an
gels; and we know, o patient
Father, that Thy promise Of peace
is drawing ever nearer to fulfil
men. We thank Thee for Christ
mas, with all it holds Of hope
for hungry hearts, and for all the
happiness it brings to little chill
dren. We pray, especially this
year, that all of our thoughts may
be conferred upon Thy precious
Gift, whose coming makes Christ
mas. Draw us close to the man.
ger, wherein, in uttermost hui
;nility, Thy love was revealed. Let
us 60 all the way with Jesus,
through His life of ministry. to
His supreme sacrifice on Calvary
and to His triumphant resurrec-
ton. May Divine love for all the
world fill our hearts. Grant we
beseech Thee, Christmas memo
ries and hopes to all Of our far
scattered service men and worn-
en-; and speed the coming Of the
promised Christmas peace by the
coronation of Christ. AL this we
ask for the glory Of God in the
highest, for peace on earth among
men of Good Will. Amen.-W.T.E.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
so THEY SAY

For decades to come, the nations entire
economy-and that means jobs and money in
the bank, and chance to send your son to
college-depends upon the outcome of There
conversion job we have ahead OF U.S. - 1t.
Gen. william S. Knudsen, director, Air Tech
nical Service Command.
Peace cannot be grasped as an end in ITSELF
~or can it be superimposed upon man or
society by an external agency. 1t must be
grown into. - Episcopal Bishop James P. De
Wolfe of Long Island, N Y.
Too often in the past we have tended to
think of college education as, at best,
polite establishment, and, at worst, four
year series of unrelated studies to which we
resigned ourselves with the secret determine
ton to let them interfere as little as possible
with the real and vital concerns of college
life - DR.. Everett Case, president Colgate U.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Four Persons Killed
By Fire In Detroit

DETROIT Dec. 24.-tRHFour
persons, including two sisters,
were suffocated and burned to
death today in a fire that swept
through a rooming house. Five
others were injured in the blaze.
The dead were Miss Jewell
Walls, "a, and her sister, Miss
Joyce Shelton, II; Miss Laverne
Crittendon, 10, and John Kinney,
IS, the janitor.
The three women, who died from
suffocation, were trapped in a
bedroom. They were severely
burned. Kinney's charred body
was found in the basement where
he apparently had attempted to
fight the fire.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
BY JOHN SELBY

1.-THE Last Flowering of the Mid
Ole Ages" by Baron Joseph van
der Elst Doubleday, Doran; $780,
Until he reached the United
STATES about three years ago,
Baron Joseph v2s-a.sss 4sss4s LIST, late
of Bruges, was forever being driv-
en- out of places by the Germans.
He is now in the service of the
Belgian government in exile and
besides that, he is in considerable
demand as a lecturer and expert
in his special field. That is Elem
ish art.
The title of his new book, 1.-THE
Last FloWering of the Middle
Ages" may be a little cumber-
some, and the book itself is both
handsome and OUTSIDE, so that it
isabetter read at table. But there
is nothing at all awkward in the
text, which reads better than 80
per cent of art books, and the
illustrations are beautifully done.
Of these 16 are in color and 96 in
black and white; prospective in
vestors may also be glad to know
that the wide pages Of text are
set in two columns, which elimi-
mates a little of the eyestrain
needed to follow a tWo-long type
line.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
81 peaee On Earth .Gnod Wilt Q,n gllen |
WITH THE AEF
Walking Christmas Trees

a hill, silhouetting themselves
against the cloudless blue sky.
The most disillusioned group of
individuals on this front this Christ
mas Eve were a bunch of Tazi
grenadiers captured during the
day. When Marshal Won Rundstedt
got ambitious, they started for the
front 10 days ago, as one captive
explained, ito clean up the sham
bles of a defeated American ar
my"
Instead of a defeated army, they
ran into a blazing counterattack
launched by fresh Doughboys.
Those not captured were seen head
ing back in the general direction
from which they came.
There was little Christmas spirit
shown on either side today. On
this swaying front our boys were
too busy attacking or beating off
countless enem, counterattacks to
give much thought to the holiday.
In kitchens toward the rear, tur-
keys were roasting and some mess
halls had Christmas trees with red
and green paper decorations. But
this is grim business and the
thoughts of all were back home
and there was no effort by anyone
to hide his feelings.
The one home touch will be the
home grown turkeys. And the
boys up front will get all the white
meat they want said Cpl. Fred
Cook of Yakima, Wash, who was
working with Pvt. James Lazaris
of Lewiston, Me, in getting them
ready to be carted up to the fox
holes.
Close behind the front, native
children were going into the woods
and chopping down Christmas
trees, just as children do in Wash
ington or down in Carolina. And
they managed to call out a CHEEKY
Merry Christmas"
Farther back, peasants also man
aged "Joyeuse Noel' as they
grubbed potatoes and rutabaga
from the frozen ground, but there
was little joy for these people OF
the war-scarred villages. All that
many had left were gaunt chin
neys down which Santa Claus used
to come.
Even the dead found no peace
this Yule Eve. One cemetery where
the Germans made a stand behind
stone walls was filled with broken
headstones and toppled vaults.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
OPERATIONS HALTED
in NAZI OIL PLANTS

MEDITERRANEAN AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS, Rome, Dec. "a.
-(P)-A total of more than $500
tons of bombs dropped by the 18th
Air Force from December II to u
has restricted operations OF the
synthetic oil plants of Austria md
Poland which produce an estimat-
ed one-third of the gasoline used
by the German war machine, it
was reported here today.
The Blechhammer, Germany,
plant has shown no sign of actlv-
ity at its norta refinery since the
last raid there and the south re-
finery was severely damaged. The
plant at Oswiecum, Poland. is Off
cially described as probably rem
dered inactive.''
The operations against oil pro-
ducing plants cost the 18th Air
Force 81 bombe1s and five fig t.
ers. On Dec. II, 48 enemy craft
were shot down
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
CANNED GOODS
MAY RETURN TO
RATIONING LIST
Continued from Page One)

return of point-free foods to ration.
ing for some time, disclosure that
supplies of canned vegetables are
at such a low level came as
surprise.
When, on the advice Of the War
Food Administration, all vegetables
except tomatoes were taken Oft he
list last September, the announce
ment said very good supplies made
the move possible
The Sep etembratcn -t,ufollow-,
The September action was taken
despite protests by OPA, VIII. h
several times subsequently sought
to have point values re-establish-
ed. That agency contendel that
while plenty of vegetables were
available for current needs, lie
stock was selling too fast and
would be exhausted before tie
start of the new pack year next
summer.
It pointed out, too, that with more
processed foods going to the arm
ed forces, there was less available
for civilians thar in 1884 when
point values were kept high.
VIA rejected the recommends
lions and prevailed unit. STABILIZE
'tion Director Virson overruled
food agency and sided with OPA.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Gamblers Plead Guilty
After Due Consideration

NEW YORK, Dec. "a. - ~
How do you p]ead?" Magistrate
Leonard MCGEE asked Is Negroes
charged with dis rderly conduct in
a Harlem crap game today.
mot guilty they chorused.
THAT means said the Magis-
trate, Il must hold you each in
500 bail for nearing next week.
Otherwise you would be fined ST
each.
"You didn't get US right, judge,
one defendant said. 1--WE all plead
ed guilty, didn't we, boys? Well do
it again to prove it."
Guilty." they roared in unison,
They paid tor their 81 fines and
left.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
KING HAAKON HOPES
FOR EARLY VICTORY

LONDON, Dec. "a. -(P)- King
Haakon of Norway in broadcast
to his people tonight held out he
hope of early victory and hber2-
ton before another Christmas.
The tall pokar-straight 72-year-
old sovereign in a message filled
with disappointment said he had
hoped to spend this Christmas at
home but that fate had willed 9th
erWise.
For most Wegians, particular
Iy the homeless wanderers sent into
t, Arctic cod by the ruthless
German evacuation of far northe1
Norway, he said this Christmas
would be the darkest and most
difficult of the whole occupation. -
He said all thet he could offer
lis people this Christmas was faith
and confidence IN the future and
the belief I'VE shall celebrate next
Christmas togerher in a free coun-
when it will once more be the
festival of home and peace"
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Interpreting
The War
By ELTON C. FAY
ASSOCIATED Press War Analyst


The Allies appear to have sue.
ceeded in making the first and
elementary step in dealing with .
breakthrough.
After eight black days, Allied
Supreme Headquarters is able to
say that the resurgent enemy has
been brought almost to a com.
plete halt.
But damage has been done. Won
Rundstedt' columns Of armor and
panzer grenadiers have made gains
ranging up to 40 miles in Belgium
and Luxembourg and interdicted
important Allied supply routes.
The Nazis have caused casualties
in men and material Of the Ameri.
can First Army.
The ensuing situation may depend
upon whether:
1.-The Germans want to gamble
still more forces in their VEN
ture.
2.-Flying conditions remain
7vo~able for the gigantic Allied
air force.
3.-The Allies have amassed
enough strength not only to hold
firm lines around the break.
through area but to start pinchinR
off the pocketful Of the Reich
best fighting men and machines.
The German High Command is
believed to have committed be-
tween Is and 20 divisions to tho
offensive. They are crack, veteran
outfits which had been rested and
refitted before the drive. They
probably are the best, but not all
that can be sent in. II the Nazi
command still believes there Is a
chance to attain such an ultimate
and spectacular goal as Antwerp,
if may find it worthwhile to COM
NIT more troops. The command
is in position to siphon forces from
more quiet fronts and draw upon
materiel still not committed.
The clear skies that made it
possible for the Allies to put up
at the weekend an air force prob
ably exceeding the $4,000 planes
used on D-Day was one Of the
major factors in arresting the
enemy's advance. The firepow"r
the bombs and bullets-that the
big and little planes Of the United
States and Great Britain poured
down on the Nazis made the diff
ference. The presence OF the
Allied air armada also had an.
other important bearing. 1t pro.
vided eyes for the First Army.
For a week, the First Army had
known the enemy's whereabout
only when it's ground forces could
spot him. The Germans moved
in cloud-shrouded secrecy within
the perimeters Of the breakthrough
area.
A return Of prolonged bad
weather would bring back the
same unfavorable conditions.
Whether there is sufficient Az
lied strength to continue holding the
enemy and TO close tn, jaws OF
trap, only General Eisenhower and
his advisors know. But since early
last week there have been dis
! patches telling Of roads through
France and Belgium damned with
men and guns moving from the
west.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Back To Reality

II is unfortunate that lives and territory and
fine must be lost to convince the Allied ma
-ons that the war isn't over. But if the Ger
man counter-a sack has the effect of concen-
rating our attention on the task at hand, then
4p price may be no heavier than that incident
% victory.
The enemy offensive launched Sunday may
rive to be the last strong thrust that the
nothing half way about it. 1t showed us point
s5v how short our war effort is of the about
variety
No bombs have dropped on our factories,
but German industry has been bombed with
mounting strenth and frequency. Our people
are safe. we'll fed and reasonably content.
du ed 10 rubble, with a tremendous loss of
|It.
No. of our business is making its biggest
profit IN years in spite Of steep taxes. In Ger
mary the government-controlled industry has
been I underground or dispersed to home
NO ogs Millions of weary, respondent Ger
Gig, Az ars, are producing German guns
and ammunition.
Allied planes have strafed Nazi troops and
communications as well as 'Nazi industry al.
most without opposition. Such first quality Ger.
men troops as remain in the west are backed
by force O.. almost unframed youngsters and
CID men who are really the last scrapinss Of
the man-poWer barrel.
And yet these German troops, supported by
V.bombS and the remnants of the Luftwaffe,
were able to attack with strength that bent
the American lines back over territory that
We had won yard by yard and street by street
in the bitter weeks just past.
Our troops have been short of several es'
antials particularly ammunition, trucks, and
tires. And these shortages have been blamed
on war workers who leave essential jobs to
seek secure peacetime employment. But thai
Is only part of the sto-y.
Oyer-optnism did not originate on the pro-
cvction line. 1t drifted down from above-from
Nme military leaders, from the political cam
paigns emphasis on postwar problems and
Promises, from industrial executives preoccu
Patton with reconversion.
Perhaps the current German move will now
Ace US to face hard reality again. And per
maps this same show of strength may help to
convince Mr. Churchill and Mr.. Stain that
heir politely suspicious start toward carving
U Europe is little premature, and help them
remember that the defea. of Germany
armies still alive and still dangerous, ~e'
mans our prime task
What world politics needs today is halt
nd breathing spell, on the chance that bet
Ter faith and better reason may prevail. Il
/ he reemphasized necessity of Germany's de-
sa provides that breathing spell, then Mar
nal Won Rundstedt can almost be said tc
lave done the Allies service.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
SCULPTOR DIES

LONDON, Dec. "a R The
noted British sculptor, Alfred
Drury, died today in his London
home. He was 80. His works
include many British war memo
rails and statues of many of Brit
aims former rulers. Drury, born
in London, studied at the New
College school at Oxford; the
Oxford School of Art, and the
National Art Training school in
South Kensington.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Jap Strategy

The enemy was forced to make the Min
'ofo landings due to the terrific pressure ex-
N'ed by cur victorious forces on Leyte island.
me enemy was just squeezed out of Leyte,
'ayS Jap Gen. Masaharu Honma.
1t appears that the Japs, by stern threat
W bury their nose in General Macarthur S
w. compelled him to kick them in the seat
VI me pants instead.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
YULE TIDINGS

STOCKHOLM, Dec. "a. - (P) -
The Swedish motorship Saivo ar
rived at Gothenburg today from
Philadelphia carrying a cargo
Christmas parcels forr Allied pis-
oners of war il. Germany. Red
Cross representatives said they ex-
pected to tranship the packets to
Germany within a few days.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
REDS CUT NAZI
ESCAPE PATHWAY
Continued from Page One)

ern edge of Hungarian-annexed
slovakia, the Russians were only
20 miles southwest of Banska
Bystrica, until a few months ago
the headquarters of a force of
$4,000 Czechoslovak patriots.
These well-organized guerrillas
now are expected to swarm down
out of the mountains in this area
and join Malinovsky's hard-fight-
ing forces.
Simultaneously Berlin announc-
ed that big Soviet winter often
sive had roared through its fifth
day in western Latvia where 30
German divisions were trapped
and German radio commentators
also told their listeners not to be
surprised if the entire Eastern
Front soon erupts into action.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25

American tankmen parked at the
edge of a fir forest saw part OF
the forest start moving and opened
fire. The moving trees halted and
soon smoke was curling from the
carcasses of German tanks which
the trees covered.
On another section of the front,
Nazi crews painted their tanks
white to blend in with the snow
fields. They were dead pigeons
when they came over the brow of
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
LANE GANG ESCAPES

ROME, Dec. "a. - Up - Eight
members of the Lane gang'-Al
lied deserters held for crimes In
Naples and Rome - broke out of
prison during the night but two
had been caught by this event lg.
The eight seriously injured mill
tary policeman in making their es-
CAPE
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Open Season

university, where goodnight kisses by women
Students have been banned. It seems to US
~al in this day of manpower shortage any
'ed who can find man on the campus to
ass should be congratulated, not reprimanded
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
By EDWARD d. BALL )

Substituting for Kenneth L. DlXon
WITH AMERICAN FORCES ON
THE WESTERN FRONT, Dec. "a.
-P)-WallSing Christmas trees and
snowbanks that suddenly acquired
locomotion provided bizarre
touch to bloody Christmas Eve
fighting along the German bulge
on the Allied front
Both were German efforts at
camoflage and both failed.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
Fair Enough

Editors note.-Tne Star and the News
accept no responsibility for the personal
views of Mr.. Pegler, and often disagree
with them as much as many of his read
ers. His articles serve the good purpose
OF making people Think
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25
THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

"Behold, / bring you good tidings Of
GREAT 10y, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day, in the city
If David, Saviour which is Christ the
Lord" Luke 2:1O.11.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-25

Egypt has been forced to cur
tail production of cotton, its pow
cred by more than 100000 horse
power in electric motors.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-17
new ACID PLANT
IS CONSTRUCTED

Construction is underway on a
lotion per day contact s1!phuric
plant at Navassa to replace the
Virginia Carolina Chemical COM
pany's acid plant destroyed by fire
during high wind storm in De-
cember, 1912, company officials
announced Thursday.
"It is to be one of the newer
type of acid plants, the only de-
sign of it's kind in this locality, ;"
officials said.
The amount o. the building con-
tract was not disclosed by the
chemical company executives, but
it is understood from reliable
sources that it amounts to $3.50,
900. The Leonard Construction
company, of Chicago, ILL.,. is gen
eral contractor.
The War Production Board has
issued a priority rating of AA-a
for critical materials required fol
construction of the steel structure,
VIC officials disclosed.
IT materials come in as we
expect, the plant will be conplet-
ed in approximately five or six
months" said L. P Smith. con
struction firm superintendent a
the site.
The Navassa acid plant. usee
for the production of sulphurit
acid for the manufac ture CT fer
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-17
Resolution Is Adopted
By Community Hospital
Honoring DR.. Bullock

the staff OF the Community hos
pltal adopted a resolution Wed
nesdar as Of the death of DR.. Err
nest E. Bullock. The resolution
was signed by the committee on
resolutions of the medical staff.
and reads as follows:
Whereas, the Great Ruler of
the Universe has. in His infinite
wisdom, removed from our midst
our worthy and esteemed cowork-
Ell Dr. Ernest E. Bullock; and
Whereas. The intimate relation
held during ong professional life
BY him with the members of the
Staff Of the Community Hospital
IT this city makes it fitting and
right that we record our apprec-
iatlon of him, Therefore be it re-
solved
l. That the wisdom and skill
which he exercised in helping to
dev elop this hospital, by counsel
and unselfish service will be held
in grateful remembrance.
2. That the sudden removal of
such valuable and helpful man
from the Staff of the Community
Hospital, in which he for more
than twenty years, gave his serv-
ices. without any thought or de-
sire Tor monetary compensation
or sain, leaves a vacancy and
shadow that will be deeply realiz-
ed by all members of this Staff,
and Hill grove a grievous loss to
this city and the public in general.
Re i further resolved, That with
deep sympathy with the bereaved
relatives and friends of the de-
ceased we express an earnest
hope that even so great loss may
be ever ruled for their highest
good
TIE resolution was signed by
DR.. F. w. Avant, Dr. F. F. Bur.
nett, and DR.. L. w. Uppernlan
members Of the medical staff Of
, Community hospital.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-17

tilizer, was swept by tire the morn
ing of December 2. 1912. High
winds, the aftermath of tornado
the night before which wrought
destruction in several sections Of
Southeastern North Carolina spur
red the blaze which threatened at
times to destroy the entire factory
Fire damages were said to nave
amounted to thousands Of dollars.
The VIC company, one OF the
largest fertilizer plants here, IS
located at Navassa, several miles
northwest of Wilmington.
Work on the new plant consists
at present of grading and exca-
waiting the site. Actual -constfuc-
ton of the plant is scheduled to
start soon.