davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Decorated

Maj. Gen. James Z. Fechet, of
2230 California street NV, former
chief of the Army Air Corps, was one
of seven Army officers in the Wash
ington area to whom award of the
Legion of Merit was announced by
the War Department last night. All
but one served in the Army Air
Forces
The award to Gen. Fechet was for
services as president of the AAF
Promotion Board from April, 1912,
and as president of the Awards
Board from April. 1943. to october,
1915. His innate fairness made
possible a clear evaluation of serv-
ices rendered by the Army Air
Forces personnel" the citation said,
One of the War Department. IS
pioneer aviators. Gen. Fechet served
as second chief of the Army Air
Corps in 1927. He retired in 1881,
but was recalled to active duty
in 1942.
1t. Col. William B. Arthur, chief
of the press section, Bureau of Pub
lie Relations, was presented the
medal yesterday afternoon by Maj.
Gen. A. D. Surles, former director
Of information, who is now assigned
to the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Referring to Col. Arthur'S services
in the bureau from September, 1912,
to his release from the service
Wednesday, the citation added: He
made material contribution to the
war effort by his sound, intelligent
supervision Of War Department
press releases, and by his unfailing
tact in his contacts with newspaper
correspondents"
Col. Arthur, who resides at 1882
South Thirty-sixth street, Fairling-
ton, Va, is former Louisville (Ky.)
newspaperman and a graduate of
the University of Kentucky. He be-
came chief Of the press section last
April 26. His wife and 3-year -old
son, William, jr, attended the pres
entation ceremony at the Pentagon.
Col. John N. Douglas, of 3529
South Utah street, Harrington, Va,
received the award for services from
February 10, 1914, to November /,
l945, in developing the Office Evalu-
alton Report for the AAF. His plan
provided information concerning
the desires of temporary air officers
for retention in the postwar estab-
lishment.
Col. Cornelius ]. Mara, u Belfield
road, Alexandria, was cited for
duties performed when, as air in
spector, he established the Admin
istrative Inspectors School from
June, 1912, to July, 1914. The school
trained more than 5000 inspectors.
1t. Col. John D. Kay, of 2420
North Sixteenth street, Arlington,
Va, received his decoration for fur
nishing valuable information cover
ing air routes, air fields and fight
facilities on worldwide basis.
From February, l94l, to May, 1945.
he was successfully chief of the Air
Movements Branch and of the
Photograph Division at AAF Head
quarters.
1t. Col. Edward J. flanagan, of
1000 Cathedral avenue NV, served
as recorder of the AAF Promotion
Board from April, 1914, to october,
l945. He was assigned to matters
Evening star., 1946-01-11
News of District Area Men
In the Armed Forces :,

relating to the promotion of officers
returned to the War Department
from a prisoner of war basis.
Major Alfred Friendly, of 1645
Thirty first street NV, who has re-
sumed reportorial work on the
Washington Post after his recent
discharge, was cited for his services
in London from March to Septem-
Der, 1945. and thereafter in Wash
ington with the Military Intelligence
Service.
In London he made reports on
the German air forces and after
his return to Washington, until "
j day, performed similar services
In connection with the japanese
air forces.
lnduetees
Twenty Washington men have
been ordered to report for induction
into the armed forces. Names oi
the men follow:
Robert skousaard, Joshua Atkins
George Banks. James Clay. David Dupree
;Iss SsSse Lawson, Francis TAYLOR. samua
william cinotti, Eugene ioss Gould. fPshds Philir
Grifith, Charles Koss, Daniel Miller. Ber.
nard Sharp, Joseph Weakley, Franci.
Wrenn, Joseph Paul and Charles Cordner
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Elements Of 84th Infantry
Leave lie Havre for U. 5.
ks the Associated Press.

hy tLS ASS0CldteQ FIeSSs
FRANKFURT, Germany, Jan. 10
Elements of the S4th Infantry Di-
vision have sailed from lie Havre
for the United States aboard the
liner George Washington.
Other redeployment announce
ments made yesterday were:
10Th Infantry Division - Ad-
vanced elements have arrived in
New York; main body now at sea
AID, 51st and 60th Field Hospi-
tals-at sea.
Tooth Infantry Division-Major
portion at sea; remainder awaiting
shipment at Calais staging area.
80th Infantry Division-Major
portion at sea; remainder await
ing shipment from lie Havre.
I'd Armored Division-Now in
Calais staging area.
Gath Infantry Division Postal De-
tachment-at sea; remainder of di-
vision en- route to Camp Philip
Morris.
333d Regiment, Special Troops Di-
vision Headquarters, Band Division
Headquarters. Band Division Med
les, 326th Field Artillery and 278th
Field Artillery Battalion sailed yes
terday aboard the George Wash
ington.
244th Engineer Combat Battalion
Sailed yesterday from lie Havre
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Paving Sought 70 Extend
Boiling Field Bus Line

The Congress Heights Citizens
Association reiterated its plea for
improvements on Eleventh place
between Alabama avenue and Con-
gress street Sc, at their meeting
last night in the Congress Heights
school, Fifth and Nichols avenue Sc
Mark Hetrick, co-chairman of the
special Bus Committee, told men,
bers the Improvements were neces-
sary before the Boiling Field bus
service would be extended into a
housing project at Eleventh and
Trenton places Sc.
The association asked that written
confirmation from the bus company
be forwarded to District officials
The group last September petitioned
for paving and installation of curbs
and cutters and the District replied
that 1t would investigate.
The association also voted to sup
port the newspaper to be published
by the Federation Of Citizens Asso-
Citations, and recommended the
group contribute money for refresh
ments at the weekly Congress
Heighs Teen Ayers Association
dances in the Congress Heights
playground.
Harry A. Leibrand, president, an
nounced that the associations an
nual banquet would be held in
March.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Former Federal Judqe
Demands Old Post
Under Service Act

What lawyers consider the most
interesting case to arise under pro-
visions of the Selective Service Act
requiring the reinstatement of en-
ployes who left their jobs to enter
the armed forces was before the
Justice Department today.
William Clark of Princeton. N. j.,
former judge of the Third Circuit
Court of Appeals. who left the bench
to serve under Gen. Macarthur in
the Pacific, has demanded his re-
appointment under the Selective
Service Act. His appeal has been
denied in an opinion drafted by
Assistant Solicitor General Harold
Judson. 1t is understood Judge
Clark is considering a suit to regain
his lifetime Federal judiciary status.
Judge Clark has engaged the serv-
ices OF Lloyd Paul Stryker, New
York attorney, who has discussed
the case informally with Attorney
General Clark, it was learned.
Attacked Dry Law.
A well known figure on the bench.
Judge Clark attracted national at
tention in 1880 when he declared the
Prohibition Act unconstitutional.
He again was in the news when he
issued a civil liberties injunction
against Mayor Frank Hague of Jer-
sey City in case involving the Con-
gress Of Industrial Organizations.
According to Judge Clark's petit
ton, he decided to enter the armed
forces in March, 1912, and offered
his resignation from the Federal
bench to President Roosevelt, who
declined to accept it and said he
would authorize the judge to take
a leave of absence "for the dura-
ton" However, a few days later
the President, after discussing the
matter with former Attorney Cen
eral Francis Biddle, decided that he
must accept the proffered resigna-
ton.
Judge Clark contends that the
President, having once declined his
resignation, could not accept 1t sub
sequently unless the jurist again had
offered to quit.
Interpretation Backs Him.
An Interpretation of the Selec-
tive Service Act, prepared under the
direction of Maj. Gen. Lewis D.
Hershey, provides that "the fact
that veteran signed a quit slip
or resignation at the time of leav-
ing employment for entrance into
the armed forces does not operate
to defeat the legal right of rein
statement"
In his opinion, Mr.. Judson held
that the reinstatement provisions
Of the Selective Service Act do not
apply to Federal judges inasmuch as
the act specifically excepted them
from the operations of the draft.
He pointed out further that Judge
Clark had offered his resignation to
the President, and that the latter
had the right to accept it at any
time.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Action on Loan 10 Britain
Seen as Setting Precedent

By tne Associated Press.
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat, OF
Arkansas, suggested today that the
United States gather in all requests
for foreign loans before acting on
the British application for $780,
900 900.
To approve loan to Great Brit
ain now, he said, would establish
precedent which might prove
embarrassing.
Would we want to affront Rus
sia, for instance. by denying her
a loan after England had foated
one here?" he asked a reporter.
Senator Mcclellan said the loan
applications from all foreign coun-
tries seeking assistance might total
SIC, ,00o, 100000 or $4,000, ,0O0,0
Senator George, Democrat, OF
Georgia, told a reporter he thought
there was considerable merit in the
Arkansas Senator's suggestion.
An increase in the lending power
of the Export-Import Bank as a
possible substitute for the proposed
$3,750,0 100000 British loan was dis
cussed-although not specifically in
dorsed-by Senator Taft, Repub-
lican, of Ohio.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
10000 Cheer Fay
Al New York Rally
Ey the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Jan. 11.-A CROWD
estimated at nearly 10000 turned
out last night for Madison Square
Garden rally sponsored by friends
of Actor Frank Fay, star of the
Broadway show Harvey" who re.
Gently was censured by Actors
Equity, show peoples organization
Mr.. Fay. whose censure resulted
from his protest of the appearance
of five actors at q rally at which
the Roman Catholic Church in
Spain was criticized, received great
applause when he entered the Gar
den at 11:45 pm.
Mr.. Fay told the crowd that ''to-
night I am happier and prouder
American than I have ever been be-
fore because I am a part of this
glorious manifestation Of militant
indignation toward those who chal.
lenge our love Of God and country
Speakers at the meeting assaileo
the Soviet Union, Communism ant
Prof. Harold j. Laski, chairman oI
the British Labor party, and praised
Mr.. Fay for his stand. Theme o1
the rally was Americas Answer tt
Communism"
Judge Glare G. Fenerty of Phila.
delphia asserted that the show grour
criticized by Mr.. Fay deserved 3
febuke by that distinguished figure
Of the American theater."
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Navy Unfit 10 Fight
After Demobi|ization,
himitz Tells Editors
Ey the Associated Press.


MIAMI, Fla, Jan. 11.-Admiral
Chester w. Nimitz told Associated
Press managing editors last night
that rehabilitation had left the
Navy unfit to fight only five months
after Japan's defeat.
"The saving grace is there is no
body who threatens to fight us at
this time," the Chief of Naval Op-
erations said. ~t
"You all want your boys home as
quickly as possible, Admiral Nimitz
said. II am wholly sympathetic
with the natural desire, even if it is
more emotional than practical. The
fact remains, however, that it leaves
the Navy at this moment unfit to
fight"
The admiral also exploded as a
propaganda hoax, perpetrated by
Japan's nilitaristic hierarchy, the
reported boast by Admiral Yama-
moto that he would dictate peace
terms in the White House.
Admiral Yamamoto was reputed
to have Dragged he would dictate
peace in the White House." Admiral
Nimitz told the newspaper execu-
tives. 1--WE believed he made that
boast; more Importantly, the Jap
anese people believed he made that
boast.
But since the end of the war we
have learned from Japanese sources
that Yamamoto never said any
thing of the kind; in fact, he had
such a healthy respect for the
United State that he said quite the
opposite"
The admirals talk climaxed a day
In which editors from every section
Of the Nation heard talks on atomic
energy and themselves discussed the
problems of editing and reporting.
Howard Blakeslee, Associated Press
science editor, and Glenn Babb, the
press associations foreign news
editor, described the theory of the
atomic bomb and its practical effect
In war.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Government Rests
Case Against CurIey
In Mail Fraud Trial

Testimony was completed toda,
IN the mail fraud trial in Distric
Court involving Representative Cur
ley, Democrat, Of Massachusetts
and two other defendants identified
with Engineers Group, Inc. MI
Curley likewise is Mayor of Boston
having been sworn in Monday.
The Government rested this morn
ing and the only defense testimony
offered was in behalf of Donald
Wakefield Smith, former member
of the National War Labor Board
Eight witnesses testified to his gooc
character. The jury then was ex.
cuSed until Tuesday.
The third defendant is James ]
Fuller.
Most of this mornings session
was devoted to the testimony or
behalf of the Government by AL.
bert P. Hill, treasurer of the Hi
bernia Savings Bank of Boston. He
testified that on August s, 1s4l
Mr.. Curley brought to the bank
So, 500 in cash to pick up a check
which had not cleared.
Check Was Replaced.
The. check, he testified, was
signed by Irving Newcomb, WASH
ington real estate man, and in.
dorsed by Fuller. This cheek, Mr.
Hill said, had been put in by Mr.
Curley to replace a previous check
which had been returned with a
notation that it had been altered =
The previous check, the witness
continued, had been indorsed BY
Fuller and Mr.. Curley. .e e. 2
The second check was given back
to Mr.. Curley, Mr.. Hill said, afte,
the $500 deposit. @% 4
Transcript Of court proceedins
in West Roxbury, Mass, was reas
into the record by william "A. Pals,
ley, special assistant to the. Attor-
ney General, over defense objections
In the transcript Mr.. Curley wa.
quoted as testifying he received
$500 from an official of Engineers
Group in Washington "for a busines,
transaction"
The transcript also quoted Mr.
Curley as testifying he was a stock.
holder in the group, and that h,
used most OF the $500 on a minins
property in Nevada and the balanc,
to pay bills in Boston. The Wes
Roxbury proceedings were for tn,
purpose of inquiring into Mr.. Cur.
ley's ability to pay an obligation t.
the city of Boston.
Defense Waves Statements.
The defendants, in the opening
their case, waived statements to the
jury, just as they had waived state.
ments at the beginning of the trial
Testifying for Mr.. Smith were
Ralph E. Kelly, recently discharged
Army major; Arthur j. Hilland and
John Lewis Smith, attorneys; Judge
Adrian Bonnelly Of Philadelphia, a
member of the State Court of Penn
sylvania; 1t. Col. James j. Malloy
Washington attorney now in the
Army; Walter M. Bauman. real es-
tate man here; James ]. Lauderdale
peoples counsel, and George p
Luce, administrative officer in the
Reconstruction Finance Corp.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
lnductees
Hahn Returns 10 Germany
After Revealing Atom Data
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Jan. 11.-Prof. Otto
Hahn, German atom scientist, has
returned to Germany, it was learned
last night, after a trip to England
during which he told of the scope
Of Nazi progress on the atom bomb.
Captured in Germany by the AL
lies in 1914, Hahn was brought to
England last year with other Ger
man scientists for questioning. His
information was more reassuring
than revealing, it was understood,
since the British Secret Service had
kept Allied scientists fully informed
on German atom research.
The whereabouts of the 66-year-
old Hahn long had been a mystery
to the public. Winner of the 1914
Nobel Prize in chemistry for dis
covering the method Of breaking the
heavy atom nucleus, Hahn was not
present at the ceremony in Stock
holm when the awards were pre-
sented last November. Although it
was not determined where he was
at the time, it was said he was at
the disposal of the Western Allies.
While current reports say he is
now at liberty in Germany, it was
said that military authorities know
where he is living and can reach
him at once.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Fire in Liquor Store
Blocks Traffic for Hour

A fire in the Ambassador Wine
and Liquor store at 3529 Connecti-
cut avenue N. W., last night resulted
in two alarms and a concentration
Of fire fighting equipment that
blocked traffic for more than an
hour.
The fire started in the basement,
where it destroyed about Is cases
of liquor.
Cause Of the fire was still unde-
termined today.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Five Top Nazis Visited
Dachau, Survivor Tells
Court at Nuremberg
By the Associated Press.

NUREMBERG, Jan. 11.-A Czech
victim Of the Dachau camp testified
today that five of the az top Naz
defendants on trial visited the camr
at time when many of the most
horrifying experiments on human
beings were in progress.
The witness, DR.. Franz Blaha
pointed directly at Wilhelm Frick
former Minister of Interior; Alfred
Rosenberg, Nazi party philosopher
Walther Funk, former Reichsbank
president, and Fritz Sauckel, who
was in charge of slave labor, as fou,
OF the visitors. The fifth man he
accused was Ernst Kaltenbrunner
absent because of a cranial hem
orrhage.
Before Blaha testified, the Inter-
national Military Tribunal heard
the American prosecution charge
that German military successes were
made possible only by the resource
fulness, financial ruthlessness and
absolute cynicisn" Of DR.. Hjalmar
Schacht, another of the defendants.
Shock for Defendants.
Blaha said many high government
and military figures frequently
visited the determination camp near
Munich. His appearance in the
witness box produced kind of emo
tional shock among the defendants,
Many of them bolted upright, with
their hands clinching the rails be-
fore them.
Under questioning of American
Assistant Prosecutor Thomas J.
Dodd, Blaha described how some
murder victims were selected because
OF their perfect teeth and smooth
skins.
Blaha was arrested for assisting
Czechoslovakia at the time of the
Sudetenland crisis. As part of his
punishment, his wrist tendons were
cut so he could no longer follow his
career as a surgeon.
Memorandum Cited. .,
+ Schacht listened intently while his
prosecution proceeded.
Lie oae-Ilme wizard OF German
finances heard an assistant Ameri-
can prosecutor, Naval 1t. Brady O,
Bryson, cite a memorandum which
Schacht wrote Hitler in 1889 as evil
dence of Schacht's completely in the
annexation Of Austria and Czecho-
slovakia.
The memorandum hailed Ger.
many's foreign policy as successful
and pointed out to Hitler that
Schacht's financial talents had re.
armed German forces to the point
which made the Nazi foreign policy
possible.
AS the prosecution built its case
against the financier, bits of testi-
mony showed that Schacht. al
though aiding in Germany's war
effort, often declared himself out
OF sympathy with Nazi policies.
This was the first instance since
the trial began in which any de-
fendant has been pictured as any,
thing but a completely ruthless
criminal.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Bobb Heads Firemen
In Cottoqe City

w. A. Bobb has been elected pres
Eient Of the Cottage City Volunteer
Fire Department. Other officers
named are:
Frank Hunt, vice president and
sergeant; T. w. Scott, ST., treasurer;
Philip Wieman, financial secretary
T. w. Scott, jr., chief; Walker Spit.
tie, assistant chief; Harry McCor.
Tnick, captain, and Lester Alshire
lieutenant.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Police Seek New Clues
I'm Degnan kidnapping;
Two Janitors Freed
BY the Associated Press.


CHICAGO, Jan. 11.-City and
Cook County police, unsuccessful
after four days of searching for
the sadist who kidnapped 6-year-
old Suzanne Degnan and then
chopped her body to pieces,
hunted fresh clues today.
Late yesterday, Hector Verburgh
IS, janitor friend of every kid in
the block" was ordered released
from custody and the hunt centered
on suspected sex offenders.
Verburgh's wife, Mary, "a, and
Desere Smet. 35, another janitor,
all held for two days, also were re-
leased on writs of habeas corpus
when the States attorneys Office
told Chief Justice Harold Ward of
the Criminal Court the State had
no evidence to warrant filing charges
against any of the three.
Nothing From Lie Detector.
States Attorney william j. Tuohy
said nothing discriminating" had
come from lie detector tests given
Verburgh and Smet. Verburgh,
tired and shaken after two days of
questioning, said he planned to enter
hospital.
Funeral services for Suzanne were
held today at st. Gertrude's Roman
Catholic Church. The body was in
simple white casket, carried by six
boy pallbearers, schoolmates in Sa-
cred Heart School.
| The bier was met at the door. by
the pastor, the Rev. George Kearney
who celebrated "the mass of the
angels" for the little parishioner
who only few weeks ago portrayed
an angel in a school Christmas
pageant.
The mass of the angels is a fu-
neral rite reserved for children un-
der the age of 7.
Police 1t. James Schwartz placed
at 300 the number of persons gath
cred outside the church when the
funeral cortege arrived from a
near North Side undertaking parlor
several miles away.
Behind the pallbearers were the
grief-stricken parents, James and
Helen Degnan, both 36, and an
other daughter, Betty, 10. With
them were Mrs. Degnan's sister and
brother-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
ward O'Connor of Philadelphia.
Hunt Starts Over.
Meanwhile, the return to suspect
ed sex offenders, a theory expressed
almost at the outset of the investiga-
ton despite presence of a $4,000
ransom note left in the victim
room-indicated the hunt had start
ed all over from the beginning again
A 22-year-old Army veteran, with
a record of sex offense against a
young girl five years ago was seized
for questioning.
He was taken into custody at an
electrical company where he works
but the police said he at once
furnished an alibi for his where
abouts Sunday night and early Mon
day when the crime was committed
The collapse of one clue after
another brought no let-down in the
police investigation as picked
squad searched for new leads which
would trap the kidnap-killer. Police
said they had not uncovered any
new evidence definitely linking any
one person as a top suspect.
Police Commissioner John c.
Prendergast placed 1t. Philip
Brietzke, head of the homicide
squad, in charge of a special detail
OF 20 officers. They will work ex-
clusively on the case.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
AZA Chapter to Meet

Members of the Wilmer Chapter
OF AzA will be guests Of the con-
gregation at 8 o'clock tonight at
B'nai Israel Synagogue, Fourteenth
and Emerson streets NV. Rabbi
Henry Segal will speak on "The
Tragedy of Jewish Homelessness. y
An open forum will follow the
service.
Evening star., 1946-01-11

4bCF OOlAl w
Suter, dean, an
nounced today,
The Rev. Mr..
CT e a v e ! a n d
comes to the
new assignment
from the rector
ship Of the Me-
mortal Church
of the GOOD
Shepherd, Park
ersburg. A ma
tive Of Salem,
N. H., the new
appointee is a
graduate of Ra-
Evening star., 1946-01-11

ea1fe OoIleEe ana Vxhoh CIeaFeland
received his theological training in
the Virginia Theological Seminary.
He was ordained to the priesthood
in 1921, and served in numerous
parishes and missions in West Vir-
glnia. He also has been minister
to the Federal Industrial Institu-
ton for Women at Anderson, w. Va.
Canon Cleaveland will serve on
the staff of the College of Preachers
and supervise the operation OF the
libraries Of the Cathedral and COL
lege, containing more than $4,000
volumes.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
VolIonce to Address Club

William Roy Valance, secretary
general of the Inter-American Bar
Association, will address the weekly
luncheon Of the Harvard Club at
the Annapolis Hotel at pm. to-
morrow.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
B. & O. Shifts J. J. Collins

The Baltimore and Ohio railroad
today announced the appointment
of John j. Collins, formerly assist.
ant general freight agent here, as
division freight agent at Charles
ton, w. Va. Mr.. Collins will be sue
ceeded by Donald c. Hale, il.
Evening star., 1946-01-11
Parkersburg Rector Named
Cathedral Canon Librarian.

The Rev. George ]. Cleaveland of
Parkersburg, w. Va, has been ap-
pointed canon librarian of the
Washington Cathedral, the Very