davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

a regular army of 100000 troops and
another 100000 or more partisans
in their territory who are tying up
about half the Japanese expedit-
ionary force In China.
However, as result of the anti
peple's policy of the reactionary
elements in the ruling circles, the
communists found themselves out
lawed and get no help from the
central government, but are block
AIDED by units commanded by re-
actiorary generals" the government
organ said. >4
Izvestia asked pointedly why the
Chinese still wese retreating in view
of the large Japanese forces drained
off by the American offensive in
the Pacific, and suggested that lack
of national unity rather than a
shortage of equipment was the actual
reason for the Chinese army's re-
verses.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Allied Advance
Nears Faenza
In Italy Drive

ROME, Dec. 2. CUP Eighth Army
forces closing in around Faenza
advanced nearly a third of a mile
along a broad front and captured
the strongly defended village of AL
beretto, six miles northeast of the
city, headquarters announced Sat-
urday.
Indian troops of the Eighth Army
moved into the village which had
been the scene of bitter fighting
for the last three days.
Germans maintained the Often
sive for the third straight day south
of Mount Castellaro, 10 miles south
east of Bologna, but Fifth Army
troops beat off local attacks all
along their front.
Fifth Army units on the right
flank occupied Mount Giornetto
ncrth of the Lamone river, II miles
southwest of Faenza, with opposi-
ton.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Jops End Danger
u. s. Nationals

ened areas, and United Press dis
patch from Chungking said the
Chinese government had comman-
deered number of trucks to help
remove them from the danger zone.
Word of the swift japanese ad-
vance touched off an outburst Of
alarmed comment in the Chungking
press and the Chinese army news
paper Sac Tang Pao called for an
Allied landing on the east China
coast to divert the enemy.
There is no denying that the
situation is most urgent" the army
organ said.
The Japanese, who already have
overrun most OF the American air
bases in southeastern China. ad-
mittedly were pushing rapidly into
the interior against weak opposi-
tiCn.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

fttdT huIIllTdl f1uSUdllu T.. hliiilIlc'
Gn Dallas Short issued state
ment saying that when the entire
story is unfolded I am certain of
complete vincication in the eyes of
the American people" Charles B.
Rugg, counsel for Kimmel, declared
in Boston that the army-navy find
ings meant "Kimmel has been clear
ed.D
REACTION IMMEDIATE
Congressional reaction was i'm
mediate and largely partisan. House
Republican Leader Joseph w. Mar
tin, Jr., (R), Massachusetts, said
the people would want more de-
tails than the departments made
public.
Senator Lister Hill CD Alabama:
''I am satisfied"
Chairman Andrew 81. May CD
Kentucky. of the house military
affairs committee: 1T looks like
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Drunk Charges
Top List in
E. {. Police Court

Drunkenness is accounting for
most CT the current arrests in Ell
Centre. Eleven out of Ia defendants
in the Ell Centre police court dur
ing the week ended December 2
were charged with drunkenness.
Some of these also were charged
with disturbing the peace or
drunken driving.
Two CT these offenders were SEN
fenced TO six months in Jail, One,
Frank Lopez, who also was accused
of attempting to start fight with
Italian prisoners of war. The other
was Camelio Lujon.
Others were:
Johnnie T Bell was fined 500 for
drunken driving.
Robert l.. Grover, C. c. Dean and
G. r. Baker. charged with drunken
ness and failing to appear, forfeited
bonds of $25, $50 and $40, respec-
lively
Homer Gray. sentenced to 30 days.
Franquelino Jaimes, fined $40 and
James G. Freeman, $40,
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
By UNITED PRESS

The United States embassy in
Chungking Saturday advised all
American nationals to evacuate
northern Yunnan province. includ-
ing Kumming, headquarters of the
U. S. l4th Air Force, because of the
growing threat of the Japanese adj
vance through southeastern China.
American civilians in western
Kwanksi and eastern Kweichow
provinces also were urged to leave
Immediately to escape capture by
the fast-moving Japanese who al
ready were reported across the
southeastern border of Kewichow,
about 315 miles east of Running
and 300 miles south CT Chungking
An estimated so Americans were
believed still living in the threat
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Russians Crack
kazi Defenses
Toward Austria
BY ROBERT MUSEL

LONDON, Dec. 2. CUP)--Hard-
driving Russian troops plunged
westward within 35 miles or less of
the Austrian gate at Lake Balatoh
Saturday, ripping through the Ger
man and Hungarian defenSeS at a
pace that threatened to reach that
fateful battle-ground in the next 48
hours.
All along front of more than 20
miles west, and northwest of cap
tured PEGS the Axis lines were wilt
ing before the furious Russian on
slaught Berlin and Moscow dis
patches indicated the enemy was
pulling back hurriedly to the
marshy southern shores of Lake
Balaton. where German strategists
have predicted the decisive battle
of central Europe would be fought.
ON TO AUSTRIA
Once around the southeastern
corner of the lake, little more than
40 miles of open country would
separate the Red army from the
borders of Austria.
An unconfirmed report issued by
the Yugoslav Telegraph agency said
Marshal Jcsip Tito's Partisans had
crossed the frontier into Austria
about leo miles west-northwest of
the oncoming Soviets, but informed
observers were inclined to doubt its
veracity.
Meanwhile, other Red army forces
to the ncrth pressed steadily in on
the defenses of Budapest. where the
Germans ordered all civilians from
the city's eastern section and began
throwing up street barricades for a
house toulouse stand in the Hun
garian capital.
But the spotlight of battle again
held on the western Hungarian
front where Marshal Feodor I. Tel
bukhin's Third Ukrainian army ad-
vanced as much as Is miles Friday,
captured more than go towns and
villages, widened its Danube, bridge
head to 1913 miles and killed at least
1900 more enemy troops.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Big Cargo Plane
Feared Lost

FRESNO, Cal. Dec. 2. (UP)-Army
officials announced here Saturday
that a concentrated search was un-
der way for Csc army cargo plane
carrying a complement of nine per-
sons, which was thought lost and
possibly crash-landed in the heavy
fog blanketing the Minter field area
last Friday night.
The plane, en- route from Hondo,
Texas, to Hammer field army air
base, messaged Minter field at 7:3O
p. m. revealing about 40 minutes OF
gas left Officials said the transport
appeared to be somewhat off the di-
rect airline course, and east of Min
ter field when the distress signal
was received.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Barriers CrumbIe
As Climax Nears
yanks Battle Hip-Deep in Mud in
Terrific Thrus+s Along Front;
Circle Tish+ens on Saarbrucken

PARIS, Dec g (UP)-Amercan armies Saturday seized
another fveme stretch of the ROer river barrier to the
Cologne plain with smash into the west bank fortress
of Lnnch and to the south peared to within miles
of the great industrial center of Saarbrucken.
The bloody battles of the Roer and Saar valleys
roaring toward blazing climax German civilians in the
Saar basn fearful of the approaching Allied tide already
fleeing along cogged roads reminiscent of France
in the dark days of 1910.
From the northern end of the 4OOmie offensive front
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

before it went into effect last Aug
ust-was for all practical purposes
temporarily scrapped Frioay night
to satisfy military officials who
maintained 1t was interfering with
manufacture of munitions for Gen.
eral Dwight D. Eisenhower's current
offensive.
The so-called spot" authoriza-
ton plan, whereby regional govern
ment officials were to be allowed to
permit specific firms in their areas
to convert to peacetime production,
became a casualty in carefully
worded statement which was de-
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Industrial Reconversion
Bows to Military Edict

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.
(UP)-Limited industrial re-
conversion appeared Satur-
day to have been virtually
shelved until the defeat of
Germany in a climax to a
long behind-the-scenes bat
tie between military and pro-
ductiun officials.
Former War Production Board
Chairman Donald NJ Nelson's pro-
gram for limited civilian output
bitterly opposed by the army even
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 2. OUP) -
Attorney General Robert w. Kenny
Saturday disclosed plans to hire 10
new state narcotics agents in an
attempt to cope with an increased
flow of drugs into California in
submitting "a l945-47 budget for his
office to the state finance depart
ment.
Both federal and state narcotic
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
WEATHER FORECAST

Clear Saturday night and Sun
day. Sli ightly cooler Sunday with
maximum temperature around 68
degrees. Light winds Saturday
night will keep temperatures
above freezing. Light local frosts
indicated for Sunday night with
the lowest temperatures around
81 degrees in the cold spots.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Germans Ready v-3Rocket
For New York Attack

LONDON, Dec. 2. (UP)-
German munitions and arma-
ments Minister Albert Speer
has informed the Reich war
production board that giant
V-3 rockets will be ready "for
firing against New York" by
the end of this month, the
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
New Trap Faces
Japs on Leyte
BY WILLIAM b. DICKINSON
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS Phil.


ippines, Dec. 2. tUP)-Two Ameri-
can columns, forging a new trap in
muddy northwest Leyte, drove
through drenching rains Saturday
to within a little more than a mile
of junction that would encircle
japanese troops in the northern
tip of the Ormoc corridor.
"a Japanese communique said a
Japanese air commando" had land
ed on American airfields at Dulag
and Bureauen in eastern Leyte
last Sunday and was believed to
have scored great war results" The
communique indicated that none OF
the commando returned.
MAKES PROGRESS
One column pushing down the
western side of the Limon-O Ormoc
road below the Leyte river was
nearing TolibaW, two and a half
miles southeast of Limon and II
miles north of Ormoc, while the
other was approaching BOnbonbon,
about "a mile to the east on the op-
posite side of the road.
AMERICAN lOTCcS COIllJlctcu d SliIl-
liar development and encirclement
last month around Limon itself and
killed thousands of trapped Japan
ese in liquidating the pocket.
Some IL miles south of the enemy
stronghold of Ormoc, units of the
American Seventh division bloodily
repulsed a series of suicidal Japan
eSe charges near palanas Tuesday
and Wednesday night. but tropical
rains generally stalemated ground
activity.
BOMB SUPPLY DUMPS
American fighters bombed enemy
supply dumps and communications
routes around Ormoc and attacked
barge center in the Camotes is
lands while Liberators dropped AZ
tons of bombs on Matina sirdrome
on Mindanao, south of Leyte, deS-
troying two parked planes.
American planes searched without
success for further japanese ships
attempting to reinforce the Leyte
garrison, but sank or damaged three
vessels and four barges in Dutch
East Indies waters. Australia based
LiberatorS also started fires visi-
BILE for 45 miles and destroyed three
parked planes in an attack on
CelebeS.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
.sF---f --=s.'. --.s-7rv
y AMBlINe
EpoRTER
Mystery Explained

A recent farm meeting was called
for 7:3C p. m. but it didn't start then.
Lots CT farmers and businessmen
waited and waited.
Argyle McLachlan at last ap-
peared, somewhat disheveled and
harried in appearance.
He had been entrusted with i'm
portant documents to be considered
at the meeting and had left them
locked in his office in Imperial
When he realized he didn't have
them with him, he hurried back TO
his office. But woe was he
His office was locked and he did
not have his key with him. But he
got in.
Could he possibly have heap of
yegg or seCOnd-story man bones in
his closet?
Too, Too. Too
AT that same farm meeting there
Continued on Page g. Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

final decision. There seems nothing
further for congress to do about 1t.
Senator Homer Ferguson (R0
author of resolution now pending
for a senate investigation of Pearl
Harbor: I'D like the evidence and
conclusions forwarded to the senate
military affairs committee to aid
us in determining whether there
should be a. senate investigation.
The people want to know how this
thing at Pearl Harbor could possibly
happen and yet NJ body be to
blame" ..,
War Secretary Stimson and Navy
Secretary Forrestal issued state
ments simultaneously summing up
conclusions of the two boards, but
said the reports themselves could
not, for reasons of military security,
be released until after the war.
Each said, too, that he intended
to continue personal investigation,
gathering the stories of witnesses
rot available now because they are
engaged in combat, and when all
tie evidence was in would review
he present tentative decisions
against disciplinary action.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

London Daily Express said
Saturday.
A Stockholm dispatch TO the Daily
Express said Speer reported to the
board on the progress of experiments
with V-3 Friday. but gave no details
of his threat to unleash 1t against
the United States.
Neutral reports have said that
V-3 is a larger brother of the so
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

foot V-2 which the Germans have
been firing through the stratogphere
at southern England for nearly two
months.
Estimates OF the weight Of va
ranged up TO so or 20 tons. the maj
ority of which. however. was taken
up by propellant apparatus and
fuel. Both vi and W.. and possibly
also V-3. have a warhead OF one
ton of e.rlleiyes
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Army q; Navy 7
Tells Story

BALTIMORE. Md. Dec. 2. CUP)
Army. displaying all the power
and deception that made it point
a-minute team, defeated Navy 90
to 7 Saturday to win the mythical
national football championship.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
ERRORS IN JUDGMENT

On the point of fault. the Navy's
statement said: "The Secretary in
his finoings upon the evidence be-
fore the court of inquiry and all
the other proceedings in the matter
to date, has found that there were
errors of judgment on the part of
certain officers m The naval service,
Continued on Page 2. Column o
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
Officials Rule
Out Trial Of
kimmeI, Short
S+imson and Forres+aI Admit
Errors at Washington and
Pearl Harbor" and "CIose Case"

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. (UP)-Barring congressional
investigation the and navy departments practically
closed the book Pearl Harbor Friday The departments
announced results of service Investigations and the concu
of the that further action should
against either Major General Walter c. Short
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03
WEATHER

Maximum Friday 75 minimum Saturday 38; 5 Am.
Saturday So, humidity IS; noon Saturday 10, hu-
midty 81 p.m Friday 20, humidity 81.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-03

L. A. HAY-No. barley hay s36 % S29; No. 1 cat
hay, S36 00 S37; u. s. No. l alfalfa ungradcd 500
a S3i; U. S. No. 2 alfalfa, green & lcafy. S27
a S29; No. S24 90 S25.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
lupe vaIez Ends
Life in Home

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. II. UP)-
Lupe Velez, fiery Mexican actress
found dead today of an overdose of
sleeping powder, left a note saying
that she was taking her life rather
than becme an unWeC, mother.
The 33-year-old film star, who
only four days ago announced that
"all was over" between her and
her fiance, French Actor Harold
Ramona. left him note reading:
May God forgive you and forgive
me too, but I prefer to take my
life away and my babys before l
bring him with shame or kill him.
How could you, Harold. fake such
great love for me and our baby
when all the time you didn't want
us"
Dr. Ed Gourson, Beverly Hills po-
lice surgeon, said his preliminary
examination indicated Miss Velez
had been pregnant.
Ramona, who went to the Velez
house as soon as he was notified,
tolc Beverly Hills Police Capt. w.
w. White that he had never known
for sure whether Miss Velez was to
become mother.
Sometimes she said yes some
times she said no." he said.
On BEDSIDE table was a nearly
empty bottle of sleeping tabelts.
sitting neatly atop the note.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
B-2q's Strike New Blows
On Jdps in ThoiIond

WASHINGTON, Dec. ID.
(UP)--A substantial force
of India based Superfort-
resses, probably nearly 100
strong, hit military targets
in Thailand Thursday, and
the Japanese reported an
other B-29 roared over To-
kyO in a new nuisance raid
on the capital.
The India based attack on mill
tary targets" in Thailand was an
nounced by the war department in
a brief bulletin that promised fur
ther cetails as soon as infor-
nation becomes available"
Though specific targets were not
listed in the initial announcement,
the two previous Superfortress at
tacks on Thailand were directed
against Bangkok. capital of the
tiny Japanese dominated country
and an important supply base for
operations in Burma. The city first
was hit June in the first B-2a
raid of the war On Nov. 81 rail-
way yards were bombed.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
4.H Area Names
Council Heads

First of the All club area coun-
cilS was formed Wednesday night
when Alamo, Alamitos, Verde, Sum-
set, and Rose districts elected Of
ficers at a meeting in Holt/ile and
planned a far reaching program of
activities.
John S. Crismon of Verde was
elected president; J. T. Little of
Alamitos was elected vice-president.
The educational committee for
the area was elected as follows:
Mrs. M. Paul, Verde. chairman
Mrs. Rachel Willis, Sunset; Mrs.
Elton Christian, Rose; John Hi
guerra, Alamo; and Arthur Willis,
AlamitoS. This educational COM
mittee was instructed to map out
a program of activities for the Holt
vile area, such activities to include
demonstration work, community fair.
and various community improve
ment projects
Methods of All club record keep
ing were studied by the dozen lead
ers present. Instruction and discus
sions were led by Blaine Konkright,
assistant farm advisor.
Three more area councils are to
be formed including River, Brawley
and Ell Centre areas.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14

the state senate committee, the
board sets out in a letter that
there is "a definite nee6 for each
one Of the projects and that "activ-
tiles of the district cover a sub
Stantial part of our state
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
Says the letter:
Imperial Irrigation District in
Guides within its boundaries over
$4,000 acres of land of which about
100000 acres now have water serx-
ice. All cities and towns in Impe-
rial Valley are included within the
District. In addition to supplying
the irrigation and drainage require
ments of this area, the District also
distributes electric light and power
to all of Imperial County and
Coachella Valley in Riverside coun-
ty. Thus activities OF the District
cover a substantial part of our
state"
Continued on Pg. 6, Col. 81
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
Budapest Streets
Become Scene
Of Bitter Battle

LONDON, Dec. IA. UP) - Red
army troops battled through the in
ner belt of Notifications in the east
ern and northeastern suburbs of
Budapest against suddenly-stiffened
German resistance Thursday, while
unconfirmed reports said great
fires were sweeping uncontrolled
through the center of the city.
Bloody d-to-hand and house.
toulouse fighting ragged all along
the edge of Pest, on the east bank
of the Danube, with casualties rum
ming high on both sides, and the
thunder of heavy cannonading by
the massed Russian and German
guns shook the city.
Both Berlin and Moscow agreed
that the battle was mounting hour
ly in fury as the Soviet onslaught
carried deep into the final hard core
of the ... All defense system.
A graphically worded Russian
communique said the Germans were
''replenishing and reinforcing" their
troops defending the approaches TO
the city, but it did not make clear
whether they were fresh units rush.
ed down from Austria or reserves
drawn from the budapest garrison.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
Chinese
Gain In
kwon9si
ecap+ure Of
Airport Seen
In New Thrust

CHUNGKING, Dec. IA.
(UP)-Chinese troops drove
a beaten japanese column
more than 25 miles south
ward into Kwangsi province
Thursday and an American
a r y spokesman asserted
there was a strong possibili-
ty that the former u. S. air
base at Liuchow may be recaptured
from the invac ers.
AT the same time, .Chungking re-
vealed that Chinese forces on the
Burma front have penetrated with
in 120 miles northeast of Mandalay
in a surprise thrust menacing both
that big Japanese stronghold and
the enemy-held section of the Bur-
ma Road above Lashio
In China, reinforced Chinese
troops captured Cheho, 115 miles
west of Liuchow and continued
their drive to the southwest against
scattered opposition from Japan
eSe rear guards.
Major General Robert Mcclure,
U. S. chief of staff in the China
tneater, told a press conference
that the recapture of Liuchow is
mot impossible" if sufficient food
equipment and troops are made
available for the drive.
In Burma, a communique said,
Chinese forces advanced more than
40 miles below the Irrawaddy river
bend at Shwegu to capture Tonkwa,
100 miles northeast of Mandalay
and 10 miles northwest of Lashio,
in the deepest penetration of CEN
tral Burma since the beginning of
the current campaign in mid-Octo-
Der.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
&c. Man Wounded
In French Drive

Staff Sergeant o. P. (Dee) Evans,
e. Centran, was wounded in action
recently while serving with an army
air force bombardment squadron in
France.
He was awarded the Air Medal
and IL Oak Leaf Clusters before
he was wounded anc the Purple
Heart afterward. Sergeant Evans
is in a hospital overseas and is able
to write to his relatives. He thinks
he may be home in time for Christ
mas.
His training was taken at Tampa,
Florida, and he was sent overseas
III July OF 1913.
Mrs. Luther B. Ezeli of Ell CentrO
and Mrs. w. A. Wynn are his sis
ters. Before Sergeant Evans entered
the service he was employed at the
flax fibre mill in Ell Centro.
His mother and Step-father anC
other kin live at McAllister, Okla
homa.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
Greek LeftiSts
Hint at Peace

ATHENS, Dec. Ia. OUP) - Elias
sources reported Thursday that the
Fam had decided TO accept terms
and evacuate Athens provided the
British guarantee general amnesty
for Elias men and the inclusion of
leftists in new national govern
ment.
The report of a decision to end the
ll-day battle of Greece lacked Of
ficial confirmation.
1t emanated from the Elias armed
forces of the leftest Fam faction,
and said the central committee Of
the Fam had decided to convey its
decision to Lieutenant General
Ronald Scobie, British military COM
mander.
The peace report circulated amidst
lull in the fighting. There was
reason to believe the Elias forces
had lost their last chance of over
rung the British, who were receiv-
ing constant reinforcements, some
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14
State AIIocates
Auto Plates
Of Regular Size

Regular size motor vehicles IL
cense plates, many of them in the
coveted w series, will be available
to Imperial county motorists begin
ming January 2, Captain Mark Heb
blethwaite, head of the California
highway patrol in Imperial county,
announced Thursday.
The plates sent the highway pa
troll office include IV2l0l to 1V9999
and 2V1Ol to 2V620O for passenger
cars. Captain Hebblethwaite was not
told what disposition had been made
of the remainder of the w series.
Plates for trucks included V400l
to V5l0O. the series for trailers in
Guiding 2170Ol to 2l8200.
Motor vehicle owners may save
precious gasoline and tires by mail
ing their applications for l945 regis
Continued on Pg. 6, Col. II
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-14

LOS ANGELES, Dec. Ia. CUP)--
The work -cr-fight" edict of James
F.. Byrnes, director of war mobiliza-
ton and reconversion, is improving
the manpower situation in southern
California shipyards, survey indi-
Gated Thursday.
The California Shipbuilding Corp.
reported that 100 employees who
brought termination slips to the
personnel office Tuesday tore up the
slips when shown Byrnes' new cr-
der At Todd Shipbuilding Corp,
two men filed termination slips
Wednesday, compared with daily
average of about so.