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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1941)
People Do Read Why low time In waiting for a tenant for that vacant bona, apartment, or room? OIt the Want Ada a chant to help you. They are InexpraalTe and Ihry ara effective. People So rea4 the Ada, Weather Beport and tonca. Slacked at" by order of military utborttlr. at giving poMlbly vital Information to tba enemjr. Medford Tribune Full Associated Praae United Pre m Thirty-sixth Year MEDFORD, OREGON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, NO. 230. mi i V mm sa iJ41. hew m IM0M . i Kelly's Comment From Washington Western Defense Now Questioned Senators Race to Cast War Ballot Mild Strike Ban Not Expected -3 Br John W. Kelly Washington, D. C Dec. 16. Having been repeatedly assured by Secretary Knox that "the navy is ready," west coast mem bers of congress are demanding an explanation of the debacle at Pearl Harbor; questioning al so the defense of the northwest from Alaska to Mexico. Expos ure of the entire coast line to attack by enemy planes when the navy was supposed to be a bulwark has disturbed the con gressional delegations; army, too, is under suspicion. No ex- . planation so far has satisfied the westerners in congress. The first line of defense, as one rep resentative asserts, is not the great naval base in the Hawai ian islands, but it is Alaska, British Columbia, the cities on Puget sound, the Columbia riv er, San Francisco and Los An geles. Secretary Knox had giv en assurances that no enemy ship could come within 2000 miles of the west coast. Secre tary Knox is now very much subdued. General assumption la that the high command has been over-confident and never for a moment believed the Japanese would attack Pearl Harbor, and because of this over-confidence possibly the usual precautions were neglected. War vessels, congressmen have heard, were not anchored at various places in the harbor but bunched to J gether so a bomb could scarce ly miss them. Bombers and fighter . planes were anchored out in the open, instead of be ing concealed. There appears to have been lax discipline with regards to watches on the ships - and guards on shore. Presum ably there were surface and air patrols, but a carrier traveled hundreds of miles without be ing observed. In theoretical de fense of Pearl Harbor the de fending forces have beaten off attackers from all directions, but when the enemy did attack (Continued on Pag four) ROSEBURG HOLDS SUSPECTED ALIEN Roseburg, Ore., Dec. 16. (IP) Henry Poda, 40, was in custo dy in the county Jail here today, under a sentence of sixty days for vagrancy, while an investi gation into his citizenship is be ing made. Sheriff Cliff Thorn ton reported. A suitcase In which Poda shipped clothes to Reedsport, where he was arrested Monday, contained several Pacific coast maps, Thornton said. Poda, who speaks very brok en English, first claimed to be a native of Denmark, later said he was Polish and finally a Czech, Thornton reported, the contradictions occurring each time Poda was confronted with a person able to speak one of those lnnRiisueri. SIDE GLANCES BT TRIBUNE REPORTERS Friends still Joshing head mounted posseman, Sherf Syd Brown, on account of the com plaint made that his county Jail was all lit up during one of the blackouts. Frank Perl wondering how he could get back the bridge table and four chairs he lent out about six weeks ago. Jerry Clark putting his whole artistic soul into a Christmas window decoration. Many wondering who owns . the beautiful Irish setter that 4 has been camping In the Mail Iribune alley for three days appajeaUjr kttt. CONGRESS VOTES VAST AUTHORITY Taft and Vandenberg Get in Restrictions On Power to Change Defense Contracts Washington. Dec. 18. (IP) Responding to an appeal by President Roosevelt, the sen ate military committee voted without dissent late today to make all able-bodied men from 19 through 44 liable for military service. Under the legislation, men from 18 to 64, inclusive, would have to register, but only the 19-44 age group act ually could be drafted for military service. Washington, Dec. 16. (IP) Congress gave quick approval today to legislation granting President Roosevelt broad ad ditional powers to prosecute the government's war efforts. Among other things, the bill, passed first by the house and minutes later by the senate, would permit the chief execu tive to set up a censorship over outgoing communications to for eign countries, to transfer func tions from one government agency to another and to con trol alien property and alien financial transactions. Restrictions Noted At thn Miffgestinn of Senators Taft (R-Ohio) and Vandenberg (K-Mlcn.) tne senate wrote in re strictions on wide powers to the president to change defense con tracts. The limitations provided that nn evWtlns nrofit limitations ponld be disturbed and also that all such modifications should be made a "matter of public rec nrrl" it the resident deemed them not incompatible with the public Interest. The final voice vote in the ienate was taken with only a score of nays heard. The house action likewise was on a voice vote. Because of the minor differ ences between the senate and house versions, the legislation now must go to a Joint commit tee for adjustment before final enactment. Like Wilton An nmnibus affair reviving and putting into effect war au thority given rresiaeni wuson In the first world conflict, the iaUlntlon also would permit the chief executive to redistri bute the functions of govern mental agencies. And it would empower him to revise govern ment contract to obtain war material more speedily. The censorship section of the bill was aimed at "communica tions . . . passing between the United States and any foreign country." 45 DRAFTEES TO LI Tint 1042 cnntineent of se lective service men will leave here by train January 14 when local board No. 2 will send its quota of 30 to the Portland In duction center for final check-up, headquarters announced today. The next night board No. 1 will send its quota of 15. Th mmhind flunta tt 43 for the two boards is the largest to be filled in Jackson county. The previous huh total was 28. CALIFORNIA LAW MAKERS WILL CONVENE FRIDAY Sacramento. Dec. 16. (AP) Governor Olson today summoned the California legislature for a roecial. war-time session at 11 a. m. Friday to appropriate still undetermined millions of dollars for the state guard and the state emergency fund. Scotts Mills, Ore., Dec. 16 UP Mrs. Josephii.e Pickard about 60, died yesterday In the plunge of an automobile from wet pavement into a ditch near here. The driver, Mrs. Leon Stei&hart, was uninjured. Roosevelt to rrm l:-f?rffof-fe Proclaiming the start of a Red Cross war fund campaign for 150.000.000, President Roosevelt turned to look at the first drive poster. Red Cross officials with him werei L to r. Claire Hobart. nursei Mrs. Hendrich Eustis, associate director of volunteer servicei 8. Sloan Colt, campaign chairman) Norman Davis, national chairman) Mrs. Dwight Davis, volunteer service director. Admiral Yamamoto Looks Forward To Dictating Peace in Washington Tokyo, Dec. 16. (Official Radio Received by AP) The fol lowing dispatch was broadcast today by Domei: JAP TRANSPORT BY U.S. BOMBERS Washington, Dec. 16. (IP) The war department announced today that army bombers had renewed their attacks on Jap anese vessels off Legaspl on the Island of Luzon In the Philip pines, ' seriously damaging an enemy transport. Enemy air activity was of a minor character, said the de partment's 12th communique of the war, reporting on the situa tion up to 6:30 a. m. PST to day. Four Japanese fighting planes were shot down, the communi que said, without indicating whether they were bagged by anti-aircraft fire or by Ameri can fliers. No ground operations were reported in the Philippines, and the communique said there was no change In the situation re ported from other areas. The stout-hearted defenders of Wake and Midway continued first in the hearts of their coun trymen, and several senators urged that some effort be made to relieve the marines who have been battling off repeated Japanese attacks on the two tiny Island outposts. German Hangout is Seized by Treasury New York, Dec. 16. (IP) The Joint offices of the Free American and Deutscher Week rut und Beobachter, the Germ an-American bund and the German-American business league have been seized by the U. S. treasury department. Further publication of the weekly newspaper Weckruf und Beobachter, which has been published since 1935 by the A. V. Publishing Corporation, with G. Wilhelm Kunze as president, was viewed as Improbable by treasury agents. Rose Bowl Came Given Army Okeh Durham, N. C, Dec. 16. OP) The army has given the green light to the playing of the Rose Bowl game between Duke uni versity and Oregon State here on January 1. Frank Peirson, secretary of the Durham chamber of com merce, said that he had received a telegram from the office of the adjutant general of the army In Washington. Views War Fund Poster I "The strategy of surprise which was carried out with such success by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander iri chief of the Japanese combined fleets, was planned by him earlier, ac cording to the Yomiuri (Tokyo newspaper). "The Yomiuri published a letter which Yamamoto sent a close friend, dated Jan. 24 this year. Therein Yamamoto, who said that humiliation was felt by all the Japanese navy at the time the 1934 naval disarmament con ference at London failed, made this statement: 'Any time war breaks out between Japan and the United States I shall not be content merely to capture Guam and the Philippines and occupy Hawaii and San Francisco. 'I am looking forward to dic tating peace to the United States in the White House at Washing ton'." (Yamamoto was congratulated by Emperor Hirohito for the sinking of the British battleship Prince of Wales and Repulse by his naval planes off Malaya. (He was Japan s delegate to the 1934 London naval confer ence at which the United States and Britain rejected Japan's de mands for naval parity. (Non- Japanese participants held it was Yamamoto's insist ence on the Japanese formula at the behest of his superiors in loxyo that torpedoed the con ference and ended the naval truce in the Pacific.) A.P. News Chief to Direct Censorship Washington, Dec. 16. (JP) ine establishment of govern mental censorship as soon as congress finally approves legis lation granting complete war powers to President Roosevelt was announced today by Mr. Roosevelt, who disclosed that Byron Price had been granted leave of absence as executive news editor of the Associated Press to become director of cen sorship. Schenectady, N. Y, Dee. 16 OP) Eight elderly persons. including six women, perished today in a fire which raged through a convalescent home, reducing It to ashes within an hour. Wake Defenders Want More Japs Honolulu, Dec. 16 Take It for what it's worth, but this is the story that has been circulating In Honolulu: When navy officials estab lished contact with the ma rina garrison defending tiny Wake Island they asked, 'Is there anything you want?" "Yes," came the reply, "nd tie aome more Japs." FDRCANTONINT ASKED BY ARMY At the direct suggestion of the U. S. army, the Medford cantonment civilian coordina tion board today began a hous ing survey with 20 women employed in census of all unoccupied houses, apartments and auto court units. The request for the housing survey came to the board in a telephone call yesterday after noon from zone 9 constructing quartermaster's office in San Francisco, Frank J. Van Dyke, coordinator, said. The officer calling, he said, declared that the zone office would not be surprised if authorization to start constructing the proposed Medford cantonment came any day now. Because of this ex pectation, the board was urged to make the housing survey as quickly as possible, Mr. Van Dyke said. The board reestablished an office at the tourist bureau and Oregon State Motor association headquarters at North Riverside avenue and Fifth street. Mr. Van Dyke was called back Into active service as coordinator. The board's office was closed temporarily a short time ago after all the advance planning that could be done up to then had been completed. Mr. Van Dyke carried on necessary cor respondence from his own office in Ashland. A government housing agency has supplied printed cards con taining the imoi-matlon desired in the survey. The coordination board made a similar housing survey last summer on its own Initiative but the army wants tne latest Information on avail able premises, Mr. Van Dyke said. The present survey Is be ing made in several cities of the county. The civilian coordination board is composed of officials repre senting various cities of the county, the county itself and the chambers of commerce here and In Ashland. Gestapo in Paris Blasted by Bomb New York. Dec. 16. fP Six persons, presumably Germans, were killed today when a bomb exploded In the Gestapo head quarters of a Paris suburb, the bBC said In a broadcast heard by NBC and CBS. KILLED IN ACTION Marshfleld, Ore., Dec. 16. ; (IP) Earl Gervais, 18, of Marsh field, was killed In action i aboard his ship during the at- tack on Pearl Harbor, his motn 1 er, Mrs. Faye Gervais, was noti fied today by the navy depart ment. He Is the first known J Coos county casualty of the war. Hongkong Fall Seen Near; Singapore Threat Growing " i OUTFLANKED AXIS IT TO BAY IN LIBYAJESERT British Smash to Heart of Main German, Italian Po sition Deep in Territory. Cairo, Dec. 16 (AP) British armored forces have outflanked and brought to battle all remain ing German tank forces in Libya and smashed to the heart of the main German and Italian posi tion despite terrific bomber at tacks, the British high com mand announced today. The communique said a British column carried out a wide out flanking movement which swept 30 miles past Gazala to a point 150 miles deep In Libyan terri tory, where it attacked the axis reserves and rear. (The London military com mentator said that the outflank ing movement threatened to cut off Rommel's army entirely, but tnat the coastal road northwest from the Gazala area to Tmiml and Derna was still In axis hands. The commentator said Rommel probably would attempt to withdraw very rapidly toward the road, which the British were threatening.) Back of this area, main Brit ish and axis forces were Joined in a battle that may decide the fata of the British North African campaign. Red Armies Batter Both German Flanks In Moscow Defense By the Associated Press On the Russo-German war front, Soviet dispatches today saia Gen. Gregory K. Zhukov's Red armies were furiously bat tering the Germans on both flanks of the Moscow defense arc, overrunning scores of po sitions and strewing the battle fields with Nazi dead. A special Soviet communique said more than three German divisions perhaps 45,000 troops were smashed and more than 13,000 Germans killed or wounded In the recapture of Klin. In addition, huge quan tities of Nazi equipment fell in to Russian hands, the commun ique said. The Soviet radio reported 6,- 000 Germans were killed or wounded In the smashing of the 44th Nazi Infantry division at CH", and another 8,000 Ger mans killed or wounded In ee en days of fighting In the Kalin in sector, 95 miles northwest of Moscow. AUTO BUYING HIT Salem, Dec. 19. (IP) Budget Director David Eccles advised all state departments today that because of defense priorities, the departments would not be permitted to buy new automo biles except upon direct order by Eccles. Mail Tribune Carriers Given Hoarded Pennies for Defense Exactly 529 ten-cent defense savings stamps wera delivered by Mall Tribune carriers to their customers yesterday, first day of delivery under the gov ernment's latest plan to spread the sale of the stamps among the greatest number of citizens so that all can help In the war effort to the best of their fi nancial ability. In addition to the stamp de liveries, three carriers got cred it for the sale of a 6100 bond each and three for a $23 bond each. Also several firms made arrangements to secure stamps through the boys for Christmas presents for employes. As part of the 152.90 collec ted on delivery of the 029 I war Bulletins I Washington, Dec. 18. (IP) The navy announced late today that two islands In the Hawaiian area. Johnston and Maul, have been shelled by Japanese war vessels in the past 24 hours. Wake island, west of Ha waii, has sustained two new bombing attacks, one very heavy, but both Wake and Midway "are countering the blows of the enemy," a com munique said. Bombardment of Johnston island by enemy ships was the first development of ac tion at that naval outpost since the start of the war. The shipping center of Kahulut on the Island of Maul was shell ed by an enemy submarine, the navy said. Damage In both Instances was described as slight. ManUa. Dec. 18 W) Man ila had its first experience with a time bomb tonight. A bomb dropped by a Japanese plane a few days ago ex ploded but caused no casual ties or damage. FLIER WHO SHOT ADMITS JITTERS Honolulu, Dec. 16. (AP) Lieut. George Welch, 22-year-old army flier from Wilmington, Del., told today how he shot down four Japanese planes at tacking Hawaii on Dec. 7 and landed with three bullet holes in his ship, one Just behind the pilot's seat.- "Hell broke loose before I knew it," Welch recounted In an interview approved by the army. "The air was full of Jap planes. I picked out the nearest one and went after him. I blazed away but nothing seemed to hap pen at first, but then I got a good bead on him and the next thing I knew he was going down In flames. "I looked around for another piane, discovered I was over the Pineapple fields of Wahlawa and nearly out of ammunition, so I went back to the field. "About that time Lieut. Ken neth Taylor (of Hominy, Okla.) came In. He'd shot down a bomber, too, and was low on ammunition. "We loaded up with all the rounds we could carry and took off again. Taylor bagged one more but got shot through the arm and had to come down. I went over Barbers' point and shot down three more bombers. When I came back to the field I had three bullet holes In my ship, one In the propeller, one In the motor and another just be hind the pilot's seat." Welch said he didn't know whether he was scared. "It was a funny feeling" but he knew he was plenty mad "because they caught us on a Sunday morning. - "Maybe I could have got a dozen more If I hadn't got so ex cited." stamps, the boys brought in 1830 pennies. Ona woman who bought 134 stamps included 800 pennies In her payment, the car rier bringing them to the Mail Tribune office In two baking powder tins. The woman said she just put pennies aside as she received them In change. Others had a lot of pennies on band, too, and the carriers said "the more the merrier," since it la a steady flow of pennies, nickels and dimes that Uncle Sam wants from all his nephews and nieces. Second delivery of the stamps was to be made today. The car riers take orders one week and deliver the following Monday and Tuesday. JAPANESE INVADE ISLAND CITADEL; IS TOKYOJLAIM Land Fighting on Malay Peninsula Developing, Navy Lack Hampers- London. Dec 16. 0P) The German radio tonight said Tokyo had reported that Jap anese artillery had silenced Hongkong fortress guns. London. Dee. 16. (ff The German radio quoted Tokyo reports tonight as say ing that Japanese forces had Invaded parts of Hongkong Island. London, Dec. 16. (IP) An informed source said today that Hongkong might have to bet evacuted and that a serious threat to Singapore had devel oped In land fighting on the. Malay peninsula. "British lack of naval super iority has changed the entire situation In northern Malaya," the source said. "The British land defense was planned on the basis of naval superiority, but both the British and United States fleets have suffered hard blows. "Now the naval situation has allowed the Japanese to develop an offensive on a large scale. There definitely Is danger a real threat to Singapore by land." Several British quarters ex pressed doubt that Hongkong could hold out Indefinitely against the concentrated Japan ese attack. (A BBC broadcast heard by CBS announced withdrawal of all British forces from the main land to the Island of Hongkong. The broadcast said that on the Malay peninsula the Japanese had developed their large scale offensive through capture of air dromes at Victoria Point, south ernmost tip of Burma, and the Malayan border airdrome at Kota Bharu). Allied Coordiastisa Well Usdsr Way Is AKIsss' Revslatisa London, Dee. 16. (IP) Major Clement R. Attlee, Lord Privy Seal, announced In the house of commons today that "all neces sary steps" were being taken to coordinate the military plans of Britain, Russia and the United States. Attlee announced that a tee ret debate on the war would be held in the house of commons) before Christmas to discuss cre ation of an allied war council and other war problems. Some members had wanted a public debate to air thoroughly such questions as why the bat tleship Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulsa were al lowed to proceed against the Japanese without fighter air craft support, the reason given by Prime Minister Churchill for their destruction by Japanese planes. Navy Increase Bill Approved by Hous Washington, Dec. 16. JPh The house unanimously passed and sent to the senate today legislation to authorise con struction of an additional 1S0, 000 tons of naval fighting ships. The expansion measure was approved after brief explana tlon by Chairman Vinson (D, Ga.) of the house naval com mlttee, who said that the addi tional tonnage did not Include, any battleships. CHRISTMAS BLACKOUT Portland, Dee. 16. ") Blackout regulations resulted yesterday In the cancelling of Portland's annual Christmas il lumination contest, f':' V
