davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
General Assembly
 To Open Tomorrow

Waterburys four Democratic state legislators will attend tomor- rows opening of the 1945 General Assembly slated for II a. m. on Capitol Hill, Hartford. At noon these same legislators will be pres ent at the inauguration of Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin to be held be- fore the joint session of Senate and House at which time Supreme Court Chief Justice William M. Maltbie will administer the oath.
 Representing Waterbury in the Senate will be Senator's Elect Ed ward P. Egan veteran of two terms and Patrick Wallace first-time member. Slated to sit in the House at tomorrow's opening are veteran Democratic members Representa- tives- elect Daniel J. Mahaney and John Membrino.
 It is likely that Democratic mem bers will caucus briefly around 10 a. m. tomorrow just previous to the hour-later session opening. Repub- lican members of the House are scheduled to caucus tonight in or ganization for the 1945 session and are expected to name E. Lea Marsh, Old Lyme, as speaker and Herbert E. Warner, Bethel, as Majority Leader and fill other appointive of- ficeS as well.
 The Democrats who control the Senate by a 2l-l5 majority have named Leon RiSCassi and John L, Sullivan to the top posts of the lat ter body.
 By caucus recently the Democrat ic members of the upper branch Of the General Assembly have come to agreement on an eight point pro- gram.
 The legislative program includes support of bills creating state La bor Relations Act, four-year terms for minor court judges, consolida- tion of the State Development Commission and State Postwar Planning Board, construction of g state hospital for inebriates, au- thority for the state and municipal tiles to make direct purchases oi federal surplus war properties, pro hibiting officers and employees oi the State Judicial Department from engaging in politics, and broadden- ing benefits under the State Un- employment Compensation fund.
 It is expected Governor Baldwin in his address tomorrow will touch upon that coming years critical needs to meet the war demands, the future of the state under post wal outlook and other pertinent issues,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Montgomery May Be New
 Ike Deputy
BY PHIL AULT United Press Staff Correspondent


 London, Jan. Specula- tion mounted today that Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, Britain No. war idol, may be named deputy supreme commander for the western front with jurisdiction over all seven Allied armies.
 Swedish reports that Montgomery will be given command of all ground forces soon coincided with increaS- ing criticism that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme command CT, has been Saddled with so many political and economic problems that he has been unable to devote sufficient time to coordinating ground operations.
 Military informantS said EiSen- hower'S burdens have been increaS- ing enormously in the past three months. Therefore, If Shakeup should occur 1t would not be due exclusively to the recent German counter offensive in the ArdenneS, they said.
 On D-Day last June, Montgomery was senior Allied ground commander under Eisenhower and all American invasion troops were under his com- mand. When American troops sub sequently increased greatly in pro- portion to the British and Cana dians, they were incorporated in the l2th army group under It. Gen. Omar N. Bradley and Montgomery became commander solely of the British Canadian Fist Army group.
 Montgomery and Bradley then shared equal rank under Eisenhow- CT, and later It. Gen. Jacob l.. Dev- CTS joined their number as com mander of the Sixth Army group consisting of the American Seventh ana the French First Armies.
 Eisenhower already has one depu- ty supreme commander. air chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, but he is an airman, not a ground soldier, Maj Gen. Bedell Smith, EiSenhow- CTS chief Of staff, is concerned with executing Eisenhower's decisions in all spheres, political and economic as well as military,
 It was believed the fact that Am erican troops now outnumber Brit
 Continued on Page A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Tanker ExpIodes
 Killing Crewmon

Leonardo, N. J., Jan. 2-(UP)- A blazing oil tanker exploded behind a tow vessel in Sandy Hook Bay early today, killing one of the crew and critically inJuring at least two others.
 The Navy announced that the tanker was a Sun oil Co. craft of the coastal type. The vessel caught fire at her berth. was cut loose and to9ed into tn eBay. An. explosion rocked the tanker while it was under tow.
 A rubber life raft picked up near the stricken ship carried one dead and two seriously burned creWmen' Ons survivor was il, the Naval dis- pensary here. but 1t was not im- Inediately determinable whether he was one of the passengers on the life raft.
 The tanker was last reported burning itself ont in Sandy Hook Bay about a mile off shore.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
22 Prison Convicts Were Confirmed

Boston, Jan. 2-(UP)-Arch- bishop Richard ). Cushing of Boston, in a dramatic visit to CharlestOwn State prison, con- firmed g cOnvicts and be- slowed his blessing on 300 Oth- CTS including two men in the death house.
 In the first visit of such a high ranking churchman to the prison, the Archbishop yesterday addressed the men Informally and spoke to many of them individually. In the death house he visited AttOr- ney John F. NOxOn Jr. of Pitts field, a former Episcopal church warden, awaiting cleo trOcutiOn for the murder of his mentally defective son and Francis J. Gricus of Waltham, former soldier condemned to die for the staying of Wal tham woman.
 Before he left the prison. the Archbishop was presented a crucifix made by one of the cOnvicts.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Draft
 Plan Favored By yCongress
By JOHN l.. CUTTER

United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 Washington, Jan. 2-(UP)-Early congressional reaction was favor able today to an administration re- quest for legislation to tighten fed eral controls on manpower, includ~ ing draft of 4-F's for essential war work.
 The request, along with other proposals for stiffening the home fronts war effort. was made yes- terday by War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes in a 20000-Word report to the 18th Congress, which conVeres at noon tomorrow
 President Roosevelt met with ad- ministration leaders of the house and senate to complete the pro- gram for the beginning days of the session.
 Chairman Andrew J. May, D., Ky of the House Military Affairs Com mittee whole-heartedly approved Byrnes' recommendation for 4-Fs.
 I'm for law" he said, that will mean Work or fight"
 May said his committee would meet soon to consider such legisla- tion. Rep. Clare Boothe Luce, R., Conn, offered a bill late in 1943 to put 4-F's into essential industry but no hearings have been held on it.
 Rep Robert Ramspeck, Ga. Dem- ocratic whip, said he hoped congress would act promptly on a recom- mendation by Byrnes that War La- Dor Board powers be strengthened to enable the government to treat the Petrollis and Ayerys alike"
 Chairman Robert l.. Doughton,
 (Continued on Page 4l
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
US Down 2O5 Enemy Planes Over Reich
BY LEO S. DISHER

(OnlCeO FreSS war COfreSpOn0cntD
 London, Jan. 23.-(UP)-Ameri- can heavy bombers and fighters thundered over Germany for the 11th straight day today as Allied flyers counted 8 toll of at least POS enemy planes shot down yesterday in furious air combats reminiscent of the Battle of Britain.
 A brief announcement from U. s. strategic air forces headquarters re- vealed that the big bombers Of the 8th Air Force, with escorting fight CTS, again were blasting objectives behind the western front, but none were identified immediately.
 A three-hour parade of RAF bombers last night raided the Voh- winkel freight yards near the vest ern front railway bottleneck of Dus- seldorf and the minister Stein Ben zol plant near Dortmund in the Ruhr. Numerous fires and at least one violent explosion were observed at the Bezol plant, one of Ger many'S dWindling sources of fuel.
 Tine Berlin radio claimed thatt he Allies lost APT planes yesterday, in- cluding 327 destroyed on air fields in Belgium and Holland.
 The night blow came as the AL lied Air Forces were talying the score of one Of their greatest day light victories of the western war, a triumph stemming from an abortive attempt by the Luftwaffe to knock out a cluster of RAP and USAAF air bases in France and the low countries.
 The Germans threw 250 to 300 planes into their sneak punch and admittedly caught some of the Al lied bases off guard, inflicting dam age and casualties. At most points however, the American and British flyers were waiting and gave the raiders resounding battle.
 At least l88 German planes were destroyed in a series of doglights over the Allied airfields and the front lines, including 84 shot down
 Continued on Page A.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Man-Induced Earthquakes
 On Japan Considered Once

would take tremendous amounts ol explosives, many ships, many men, and involve risks since the opera tions would have to be carried out ih waters very close to Japan. And with it all the outcome was nn- certain. IL was for these reasons that the plan was pleeon'holed'
 Al the time of the big Japanese earthquake of Dee, T. less than a month ago, there were suggestions that because it came on the third anniversary of the Pearl Harbor at. tack it may have been handmade affair, Hut high authority said that quake was strictly . voluntary con. tributlon by nature to the United Nations war effort,
 One of the most energetic spon- sorS of the quake weapon" idea WIS Leo Ranney, internationally known American engineer who designed and built the worlds largest water well and the worlds first horizontal oil well
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Nozis Murder 2 Red Envoys
BY NJ. $. HANDLER Limited Press War Correspondent

kOubtcu IECSS war AWANSE'P
 Moscow, January z. - tUP) - Thousands of Russian cannon and rocket guns began levelling Buda- pest block by block today as the Red Army, inflamed by the murder ot two of it's emissar!es, proclaimed mo quarter" for the cornered NaHi Elite Guards fighting on in the heart Of the city,
 Death to the last man was the Soviet war cry as word spread through the rangs that the Nazls had rejected a surrender ultimatum by staying the two Russian officers who presented it.
 Half the city was in Russian hands at the start of the second week of street fighting this morn ing, and Soviet field dispatches said the narrowing pockets held by the Axis defenders on both sides Of the Danube were being pulverized by a continuous pocket and artillery bombardment,
 Throwing responsibility for the destruction of the capital Squarely on the enemy the Red Army high command ordered the German pos sitions destroyed by shellhre at whatever cost to the city and its re- maming civilian inhabitants,
 For the tough Na2i Elite guards who comprised the core of the bu- dapest garrison, the Soviet eom- manders decreed Instant death, and it was announced that the responsl-
 
 fContinued nm Pace a
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
New Greek
 Government Seen Likely
By JAMES E. ROPER

United Press Staff COrreSpOndent)
 Athens, Jan. 2-(UP)- Regent Archbishop DamaskinoS was ex- pected to announce the formation of 8 new Greek government today, clearing the way for reopening of peace negotiations in the Greek civil war.
 CA BIO broadcast from Athens said Gen. Nicholas Plastiras, for mer strong man" of Greece who recently returned co Athens from exile was considered a likely choice for premier of the new governmental
 British ELIAS discussions for an Armstice came to temporary halt yesterday over the question of dis armament of the Greek government gendarmarie and national guards men. Ramaskinos told ELIAS rep resentatives that the question should await the appointment of new Greek government.
 During the two-hour conference, left ELIAS representatives insisted they already had accepted British It. Gen. Ronald Scobie'S armistice terms, but Scobie pointed out they had not complied with them by withdrawing from Attica and lay- ing down their arms.
 When the SLAS representatives insisted that the Gendarmie and na- tional guard also should lay down their arms, Scobie referred them to Damaskinos. The ELIAS military arm of the FAM (National Libera- ton Front), regard the gendarmie and nationa lguard as a private army maintained by Greek rightists.
 Scobie made a final appeal to ELIAS delegates to permit hostili- ties to be brought to an end within a few hours by fulfillment of his two military conditions, but no de- cision was reached.
 Though no formal 'cease fire" order has been given. no large-scale fighting was reported in Athens or Piraeus. (BBC said many closed shops have reopened and that all of Athens had been cleared of ELIAS troops)
 Damaskinos issued communique in which he said an immediate ces- sation of hostilities would contrib ute greatly to the atmosphere of calm in which any discussions with the new government of Greece should take place."
 He appealed to all to lay down their arms "an entrust to the re- gency and its government a just democra tically-obtained solution for disputed questions.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Big Three PIon
 Pow w-Wow Aqain

Washington, Jan. 2 - CU.PD - Congressional leaders said today that President Roosevelt had ''in- dicated" to them that he would meet sometime soon" with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Premier Josef Stalin.
 This information was developed at the leaders first conference of the year with the president, in prep aration for the new congress which cOnyenes tomorrow.
 It was decided that the President will send his annual message to congress Saturday,
 The indication of an early meet ing of the Big Three Allied lead CTS was reported by Senate Major ity Leader Alhen w. Barkley. D, Ky, He told reporters as a sort of an afterthought:
 "T'he President indicated that sometime soon without indicating the time or place he will meet with Churchill and Stalin."
 House Democratic Leader John W. Mccormack, D., Mass. quickly interjected, probably"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02

The two men, trained in espion- age and sabotage in Berlin, Dresden and the Hague, were equipped with $60,00O in United States currency, forged birth discharges from the U. s. Navy, secret ink and other par aphernalia. Both were carrying .32 cslibe- pistols when arrested and had assembled parts for a short wave radio tranSmitter.
 ''The landing of these two men and of the two Japanese balloons in the northwest and other matters I cannot disclose at the moment for reasons of security indicate that the German government has a very in- tersified program of training and sending agents into the western hemisphere" Hoover said.
 No Others Landed
 The FBI chief said he was con- fident that no others had been land- ed at the same time as the two now in custody. The balloons referred to by Hoover were discovered at Kalis- pell, Mont, and Portland Ore. A third balloon was reported by two youths at Tacoma, Wash, but its origin was never announced.
 Tho balloon found at KaliSpedd was made of processed paper cov- cred with Japanese characters and carried an incendiary device. Sev- cred cables indicated that it might have carried a cage for passengers. Hoover said the purpose of the bal looms had not yet been determined.
 "It is at least conceivable. how ever," he said, that they were re- leased for the purpose of smuggling enemy agents into this country"
 Hoover asked the public to alert itself against possible spies and sab- oteurS.
 "A great many people have an idea this was is over" he said. This landing should dispel that feeling. Obviously, the German government doesn't think so.
 Tt is important. think. to in- d!cate the necessity of immediate reporting to the nearest FBI office of any suspicious activities of any character noted by persons in this country"
 Hoover revealed the arrest of Colepaugh and Gimpel at a press conference last night. Their assign
 (Continued on Page 4
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02

Chicago, Jan. 2-(UPl-The goy- ernment took over two additional warehouses of Montgomery Ward x Co. in Detroit today as Maj, Gen, Joseph W. Byron. Army ofiicer as- signed to run the seized War prop critics, announced that unc0opera- tive company personnel would be rec moved 10 facilitate his assignment.
 Byron announced at the head- quarters he has set up in the Ward executive oiiices that officers he had sent to survey the Ward sltu- atlon at Detroit had recommended the government selze the additional warehouses to make the govern ment's operation in that area.
 The first company executives were removed within an hour after Byrons announcement.
 Byron said three store managers in the Detroit area were being rec placed by Army personnel. They were [. n. French. manager Of the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
'45 Greetings Sent Hitler
BY BOYD LEWIS lUnited Press War COrrespOndenO

With American Forces Inside Germany. January l. (UP) - Every Allied big gun along the wind ing 700-mile western front from Hol- land to the Swiss bcrder roared i'll a pulverizing New Years greeting to Hitler at exactly l2:0l a. m. today.
 From moon- -bathed hillside in the pit of a Long Tom which had the distinction Of being the nearest Berlin. I witnessed the stunning spectacle
 More than 400 guns joined in the greeting from this corps area. The smoke and flames leaping across the dark plain ahead indicated the null tiplied effect at the receiving end from the firing all along the line, timed to such split-hair accuracy that all the shells landed with one big bang.
 Probably more than 2,000 guns participated in what my guide, It. Col. Otis Tripp of West Lansing, Mich, termed the biggest TT O TT in history-meaning fire which IS timed on the target from a num- Der of guns of carrying ranges ana caliber at the same moment
 This was no mere salute fired at random toward Germany, Before jeeping over frost silvered roads to
 (C0ntinupd on Page D
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02

 Gets Blame
Hy Democrat Staff Writer


 Responsibility for conditions of the streets at the Warner Gardens federal projects is that Of the con- tractor and not the federal author ities" 1t was stated today to the Democrat by Michael Graske. acting manager for the FILA sites, here. IL Is understood the Bridgeport Con, struction Go, was the contractor
 Meanwhile city authorities nave rejected all claims for responsibility for accidents occurring at thesa sites following q complain registered yes, terday by William Fraley resident of the site that his car was severely damaged by dropping Into a man. hole there.
 MT, Graske declared that the streets there suffered heavily from the recent severe weather changes brought on by snow, freeze, and rainy clements
 The eitys stand on the matter IS the only feasible one to assume it was noted today in view of the fact that the federal authorities at the llme of the construction ol these pro Iects had refused to meet with the citys request that these streets be constructed at least 70 foot wide and with other features to meet with local requirements, IL was not in the cily's power then to force these measurements upon federal author ltleS.
 since we had no responsibility then,' one spokesman said.' we have none now certainly"
 The city has never assumed aus thority over any of these projects since their construction although federal authorities have urged that such Q move be adopted,
 HEN-~kts...aa ana nanA
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Allies Wreck z DeStroyers
BY WILLIAM WILSON


 United Press War Correspondent
 Allied Headquarters, Philippines, Jan. 2.-(UP)-American land-based planes, extending their offensive against Luzon nearly l50 miles north ot Manila for the first time, have wrecked two destroyers and six other ships in the Lingayen Gulf, Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced today.
 Three freighter- transports of B. 900 tons each, two smaller cargo ships, Q destroyer escort, in addition tot he two destroyers, were sunk or probably sunk by Mitchell and A-20 attack bombers Saturday in q smashing attack against one of the havens to which the Japanese had shifted their Philippines shipping from battered Manila harbor.
 It was in the Lingayen gulf that the Japanese began their invasion ot the Philippines in December. l94l. There was no word, however whether the ships hit Saturday were troops or supplies.
 Liberators hit Nelson airdrome at Manila, while 50 or more Marine Corsairs blew up an ammunition train ard seriously damaged three others in series Of dlve-bombin9 and strafing attacks south of Man ia
 In addition, the CorsAlrs destroyed at least 20 locomotives along q lS0- mile stretch of track. One loco- motive exploded and appeared to leap at least 20 feet in the air, a pilot reported
 Reconnaissance planes shot down five Japanese aircraft over Luzon.
 Over MindOro, just southwest of Manila, American night fighters ana antl-alrcrait gunners shot down thre out ol 10 enemy planes ate tempting to attack American alEs tlelyds, No damage was caused e American installations. . sp0kes. said
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Enemy Forces Now Active
 From Bitche To Rhine As Bannestin Falls To Nazis
BY J. EDWARD MURRAY United Press War COrrespOndentl

(Umteu Press war COrreSpOnuenSDI
 Paris, January 2. = UP) German forces were re- ported fleeing the western most bulge of the Belgian salient today but to the southeast they were building up an attack of considerable strength on a front of about 50 miles between the Saar- land and the upper Rhine.
 The new German push was centered in the Bitche area of northwestern france. Su- preme headquarters arl- nounced that around Bitche the Nazis gained a mile and a half, cut the road rounding five miles southeast to Ban nestin, probably captured the latter town, and still were pressing on.
 The Germans now are active throughout the border area from Bitche to the Rhine, official sources reported. A field broadcast said the Nazi aggreSsiveness was spreading westward into the Saar valley, where a heavy attack was launched in the area of Wulferdigen, 13 miles southeast of Saarbrucken.
 It. Gen. George s. Patt0n'S Third Army units chopping into the south flank of the Ardennes salient gained another couple of miles in a num- Der of sectors up to yesterday morn- ing, Shaef reported.
 They recaptured Moircy, II miles west of Bastogne and southwestern anchor post of the Nazi salient, which had changed hands repeat edly in the previous fighting. Closer to Bastogne, the doughboys seized Hubermont, six miles east of the Belgian road center; Harlange, six miles southeast, and Nefe, two miles east.
 Patton Gains
 Patton'S gains had ironed out the German bulgeS on each side of Bastogne, removing any current threat to the citadel, while his units pushed on to the north toward Houffalize, 10 miles above Rastogne on the Liege highway. A German communique said the Americans were trying to break through toward Houffalize, a possible hint that they were approaching that town.
 The steady gains of the Third Army threatened to lop of the western half of the Germant sal- tent, and it was this mounting threat which apparently prompted the NaA withdrawal from the bulge
 (Continued on Page Q
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
Ky SANDOR E, KLEIN United Press Stan C0rrespOndentl ]

Washington, Jan ?-tuPl A plan to shake" Japan's key indus trial centers into ruin with man induced earthquakes was once serl- Ously considered but never tried by military and scientific author ities here in the dark days imme- dlately following Pearl Harbor, it was learned today
 The plan called for explosion Of millions of pounds of dynamite to be dumped into the sea near the island empire al certain trigger points" in the earth's crust ll was never adopted, But It was not wholly rejected, Rather the idea was put aside while the more pro saic methods of warfare were em- ployed.
 Top-ranking scientists advised that in theory the plan might be feasible, But, they pointed out lt