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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1941)
... , i uu L g mam. Warhfr arBorea report Quick Response There ere men? were ta reach proepecta when jea nan eome Ihlnb ta eel, trade, rest ar bur, hot there ! no way equal ta the Kant Ad Way. Theie Ada bring quick reeponM and they are InexpensUe, . UUlde Tribune Forecast: Little Chanre ta Temperature Today. (Ne Fur FORD ther data but b glrra eat.) Temperature Hlchnt Yeeterdav 4 Lowrtt Yeiterdajr.41 Full Associated Prats United Preea Thirty-sixth Year MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1941. NO. 234. mm -n rr lllf I ILJ II I i vi ii in . ii u JLYJLJL-lJL (EMK i I . News Behind The News By Paul Mallon Washington, Dec. 20. One good official source thinks Hit ler has lost one fourth of his total available man power on the plains of Russia. Total nazi casualties (killed, wound ed and missing) he estimates at 2,000,000. The long battle line required the fuehrer to keep Fanl Mallon an army of 4,- 000,000 to 5, 000,000 up front continuously. He has fed this force from his maximum man-power pool of 8,- 000,000 to 9,000,000 men (which incidentally is spread thin all around Europe in the Balkans, France and other occupied re gions.) - These estimates picture Hit ler on the verge of disaster, but unfortunately they are not fully accepted by other sources. An other authority, just as official and usually Just as accurate, thinks most of the nazl casual ties who were wounded, will be available again. The permanent nazi loss so far, he estimated at only 580.000 to 600,000 men. Everyone agrees red losses are much heavier. Estimates run between 2.000,000 and 4,000,000 men. Certainly 600,000 to 800,- 000 reds have been taken prison ers. (Nazi losses In prisoners have been relatively inconse quential). But Stalin can stand man-losses better than Hitler. His maximum available man power is more than half again as large as Hitler's between 12,- 000,000 and 14,000,000 soldiers. The differing estimates repre sent at least the best available balance which can be obtained on the widely varying claims of the Moscow and Berlin propa ganda ministries. e e TTHESE two generals who are taking over the army de fenses of Hawaii are flying gen erals not desk-sitters. Both are red-tape haters, chosen on (Continued on f Ten) 55 LOSE JOBS IN Los Angeles. Dec. 20. UP) Fifty-five welders who laid down their tools in a nation wide stop work action were dis charged today and escorted from the California Shipyards plant. General Manager John A. McCone said they were all who heeded the call out of a claimed United Welders membership of 1,200 among the plant's 1,700 welders. "The policy of the company is to dismiss any man who lays down his tools," McCone said "Such action is insubordination, We have a closed shop contract with the AFL. The welders long have been demanding autonomy within the AFL. claiming their mem bership is split among several crafts unions. NORWEGIANS FLEE FROMJZI HATE Stockholm, Dee. 20. UP) Swedish newspaper dispatches reported today that increasing numbers of Norwegians were fleeing their German-occupied homeland, slipping away to Eng land in some instances by the boatload. Only recently, according to these advices, a 200-ton ship s'ipped out of a remote harbor on the Norwegian west coast with 200 persons aboard, in cluding some accused by the Germans of political "crimes." Washington, Dec. 20. (AP) The navy department announced formally today the establish ment of "defensive sea areas" around 13 Important harbors and waterways on the east and west coasts m NAVY HEARS BUT Welders Union Urged To Call Off Strike Threat Caution On Atlantic Coast San Francisco, Dec. 20. UP) The navy received uncon firmed reports that enemy sub marines fired on two oil tankers near the California coast today, apparently scoring a hit on one, and chasing the other tanker in to port. San Francisco, Dec. 20. UP) Disclosure that enemy sub marines are destroying Ameri can shipping in waters off the California coast came from Rear Admiral John W. Green- slade today as he appealed to shipyard welders not to quit work in the war plants. San Francisco, Dec. 20. UP) The navy said tonight, it had received unconfirmed reports that two oil tankers had been attacked off the California coast, and that one had sent out an S.O.S. One report, the navy dis closed, was that the 6,912-ton tanker Emidio was fired on off Blunt's Reef, near Eureka, and that it sent out distress signals after smoke enveloped it. ' The other report was that the 6,771-ton tanker Agwiworld was attacked off Cypress Point, about 100 miles south of San Francisco. It reportedly escaped and reached a haven along the nearby coast. The navy does net deny, but it cannot confirm these reports," said Rear Admiral J. W. Green slade, commandant of the 12th naval district. At the naval district head quarters, an aide to Admiral Greenslade said it had been re ported without confirmation that the Blunt's Reef lighthouse had picked up an S.O.S. from the Emidio. Blunt's Reef Is some 200 miles north of San Francisco, and thus approximately 300 miles north of Cypress Point, where the other alleged attack was reported to have occurred. Earlier, Admiral Greenslade had disclosed that enemy sub marines were preying on ship ping off the California coast as he took quick steps to assure uninterrupted production in shipyards. - Washington, Dec. 20. (IP) Naval sources announced to night that enemy submarines have been destroying American shipping off the California coast, and have been active, as well, off the Atlantic seaboard, The news that enemy sub marines are operating off the Atlantic coast was given out In directly, by the navy in a state ment cautioning radio stations against weather forecast broad casts, even when they Involve only isolated areas far from the sea. The department related this story: A "weatherwlse" command ing officer at an Atlantic naval base recently heard a radio an nouncement of sub-f r e e z 1 n g weather in the Dakotas and a temperature of nine degrees at Duluth. From his knowledge of con tinental weather tracks, he de duced that . a few days later "his patrol area would have a clear day or two with high visibility and conditions ideal for enemy submarine attack." "Special precautions were taken in patrol work on the calculated day, which turned out as predicted, and in the course of operations It became apparent that enemy submarines had also picked up the same in formation and made the same deduction. "It was pointed out that the information so inadvertently broadcast would also have been of benefit to an enemy air at tack along any port of the 'weather route' In the North American continent" FIRE DELAYS DEFENSE Newark, N". J., Dec. 20. UP) A three-alarm fire destroyed today the plant of the Steel and Alloy Tank company and ser iously delayed f 500.000 gov ernment defense contract for I large stainless-steel tanks. Axis Forces in Defense Bond Tha traaiurv resorted that the f rfrK 03 Jgm i the outbreak of war that tha bureau of engraving and printing had baan forced to a 24-hour shift. A section of the bureau, where the pras sas roll out a million bonds a day. is shewn. WILLK1E LISTED TOSERVEONFIS By William B. Ardery Washington, , Dec. 20.- President Roosevelt was report ed on excellent authority today to be considering the creation of a supreme war council which would be subordinate only to him and would have powers even greater than those of the cabinet. Those in a position to know said that while the plan still was embryonic, the president believed the war effort could be prosecuted more efficiently if he had a small group around him which could handle many matters of policy which now require his personal attention. Informants said the proposed war council would be composed of from three to five men. They listed the following among those considered for membership on the group: Wendell L. Willkle, republi can nominee for the presidency In 1940 and now member of a New York law firm. Rear Admiral William D. Leahy, minister to Vichy, form er chief ol naval operations, former governor Puerto Rico. Vice President Henry A. Wal lace. Philip Murray, president of the Congress of Industrial Or ganizations. Washington, Dec. 20. UP) Supreme command of the United States navy, wherever its operations may take it, was given today to Admiral trnesi J. King. With the appointment went the navy's recognition of the ter rific power of the airplane in modern warfare, for King's career includes service with the air corps and he is, in his own right, a naval aviator. . In addition, he has served with submarines as well as sur face craft, has proved himself an excellent tactician, and thus Is considered an officer of un usually full and well-rounded experience. HONOR CAVEMEN LEADER Grants Pass, Dec. 20. VP) Grants Pass prepared today to suspend business In all Its stores and offices Monday morning from 10 to 10:13 to pay tribute in death to L. A. Ringuette, flamewatcher of the Oregon Cavemen. - San Francisco, D-c. 20 (AP- USDAV Butter, 92 score 36c 91 score 35c; 90 score 33 Vic; 89 score 3 2 ',4 c Demand Speeds Up Presses demand for U.S. Defenia Savlnas BRAVE HONGKONG DEFENSE LAUDED EVEN BY NIPPON London, Dec. 20. (IP) Writ ten off by the generals as hope less, the magnificent defense of Hongkong was prolonged to night by the blood of a garrison of fighting men thrown together from two sides of the world. Even the Japanese, in sudden praise of the last stand of the band of British tommies, Cana dians from Manitoba and Que bec and bewhiskered, stoic In dian Sikhs, admitted in a broad cast tonight: 'The expected Imminent fall of the colony has been staved off by their stubborn defense." Waiting for the end, author ities in London said it' would be a miracle if the colony, a rocky square of England In the orient for a hundred years, did not soon pass entirely Into Japanese hands. The Japanese say they have the city of Victoria and that lorries living the scarlet Dan of the rising sun are roaring through the streets, packed with disarmed British soldiers; that the cannon on Mount Davis, dominating a chain of forts eastward, have been silenced; that remnants of the British gar rison are encircled on the peak cf the island. Mount Victoria, But, their broadcasts ac knowledged today Mount Vic toria's guns still replied at in tervals. TAKE TO WATERS Charleston, S. C Dec. 20. UP) Two gray warships slid down the building ways at the Charleston navy yard within 10 minutes of each other today In the first dual launching of de stroyers In the south. The new 1,700-ton destroyers, the Tillman and the Beatty, hit the water at Charleston harbor at 10:50 and 11 a. m. They were the fourth and fifth de stroyers launched at the Charles ton yard this year. Two more destroyers are under consider ation. - NEW POWER STATION Portland, Ore., Dec. 20. UP) Construction of a sub-station near Tacoma, costing more than $1,000,000, has been authorized by the defense plant corpora tion, the Bonneville administra tion announced today Compete Retreat in bends had bean so meat since GRAND OFFENSIVE OF UPON ALL FRONTS (By the Associated Press) Moscow, Sunday, Dec. 21. Plunging forward with acceler ated momentum, the red army's grand offensive has captured the key Industrial and rail center of Volokomansk, 63 miles north west of Moscow, and registered other gains from Finland to the Sea of Azov, the Russians an nounced today. The town of Voibokalo, south of Lake Ladoga on the northern front, and dozens more villages on the Moscow front have been re-occupied in fiercely contested battles, the soviet information bureau communique announced last midnight. With soviet forces counting vast new spoils and mounting numbers of German dead, pur suit of disordered nazl divisions routed in the Kalinin sector, 90 miles northwest of Moscow, was declared gaining momentum. There the wreckage of German transports and war material Ut tered the snows, the communique said. Six German planes were de stroyed yesterday and Russian fliers reported destroying or damaging four German tonks, 170 trucks with troops and sup plies, seven field guns with crews, two anti-aircraft bat teries, 100 ammunition cars, setting fire to five railroad trains and blowing up an am munition dump, - LABOR COMMITTEE FOR STATE PLAN Portland, Dee. 20 UP) Ap pointment of an Oregon labor supply committee to deal with problems arising out ol the country's armament effort, was announced today by James U Bryant. The acting chairman of the regional labor supply commit tee for the west coast said the purpose was to increase defense production by promoting an adequate labor supply and to prevent, if possible, dislocations in employment caused by pri orities. Management, labor and fed eral and state agencies are represented on the committee, headed by Otto Hartwig, social security adviser of the Crown Zellerbach corporation. I MANILA REPORTS JAPSLANDDAVOA, DETAILS LACKING Fifth Column Aid Hinted Dutch Airmen Hit Three Nippon Warships. Manila, Dec. 21. (Sunday, 7:40 a. m. 2:40 p. m. EST Sat urday) VP) Army headquar ters announced today that due to communication difficulties the situation at Japanese-invaded Davao, on Mindanao island, is obscure. No word has been received from there since yesterday aft ernoon. A brief communique disclosed that an aerial bombardment was carried out against Davao by the Japanese before they sent a considerable force of troops ashore from four transports in the early Saturday dawn. The announcement said the situation remained unchanged on Luzon Island, where the Jap anese have established small beachheads on the north, north west and southeastern coasts. Davao Is one of tha most heavily Japanese-populated cen ters in the Philippines and the Invaders apparently chose that port for their landing with the idea of obtaining support from fifth columnists among their number. Batavla. Netherlands. East In dies, Dec. 20 UP) Direct bomb hits on two Japanese cruisers, a transport, and another warship presumably used as an aircraft carrier were reported officially tonight by Dutch airmen operat ing big American bombers off Japanese-occupied MIrl, Borneo. Other explosives rained along side the Japanese ships as the Dutch pilots twice attacked the Invaders who are seeking to reinforce their toehold on the Sarawak coast, which la adja cent to British and Dutch Bor neo, the agency Aneta said. Another Japanese cruiser was reported hit last Wednesday, hence the Dutch asserted three enemy cruisers had been put out of action in less than a week by their fliers. At the same time Aneta re ported that 17 Japanese planes bombed and sank the 4,200-ton Russian freighter Perekop in Dutch waters, an attack which may lead to serious conse quences, since Russia thus far Is neutral in the Pacific war, ELEVATOR CHASE KEEPS COP BUSY Columbus, O., Dec. 20. UP) Four boys found an unlocked elevator in Columbus' skyscraper American Insurance Union tower and for a half hour had a merry up and down time. The police men spent 20 additional minutes chasing the lads from floor to floor for 37 floors. Unsuccessful, the policemen turned off the elevator power. The boys' one-spot aviation spree ended on the 19th floor, where they were trapped. F Manrvllle. Mo.. Dec. 20 (IP) Every man, woman and child In this town of 5,700 has either a defense savings stamp or defense savings bond, city offi cials claimed today. Residents contributed $63,000 In a 10-day drive culminated by house-to-house canvas. STOCKS IRREGULAR New York, Dec. 20 (AP) The stock market today finish ed another declining week slight ly on the irregular side. War Bulletins I BRITISH PURSUIT London. Dae. 20. (AP) Ack-ack guns along tha Thames sat up a rolling lira tonight to repulse raiding planes, and machine-gun fire could be heard in tha darkness aloft. Later an announcement said that bombs ware dropped In southwest England and some casualties occured. Raiders attempted to attack the northeast but ware forced to drop most of their bombs In the sea. One boy was In jured on land. Bombs dropped in tha southeast caused no damage or casualties, author ised sources said. London, Dec. 20 (APV King George VI will broad cast to the empire on Christ mas Day at 3 p.m. (6 a. n PST). . Berlin. Dec 20 (Official broadcast recorded by AP) U-boats have sunk four ships totalling 17.000 tons In re cant operations against British shipping In tha Atlantic, tha German high command said today, and credited scouting aircraft with sinking an 1,000 ton tanker from a convoy in St. George's channel. Berlin. Dec. 20 (Audi agency to AP) A 62-year-old woman was sentenced today to 10 years In a penitentiary whan a court In Katowice, upper Silesia, found har guilty of listening to foreign radio broadcasta and disseminating tha news to relatives. Tha court said she escaped a death sentence only because of her 9- Moscow, Dee. 10 (JPtU't so dark oa the Russian steppes at night, tha Moscow radio says, that Qermaaa ara getting tha Jitters. At the same hour every night they send up a stream e! rockets la the area where between Dee. 7 and Dee. IS Russians have wiped out S.S00 German soldier and officers. GERMANS TOLD TO T DUDS TO TROOPS London, Dec. 20. UP) An ap peal from Adolf Hitler read in every radio station of the relch tonight acknowledged that his army faced an enemy superior In numbers and material and begged the straitened German people to contribute their warm clothing to enable the soldiers to endure the rigors of the bitter eastern front. The appeal, sounded on Hit ler s behalf by Propaganda Min ister Paul Joseph Goebbels, said the German people must show their gratitude by making a Christmas gift of every article of warm clothing that possibly can be spared to the men In the army. While Goebbels was thus read ing his own appeal and the pro clamation of the fuehrer, the high command admitted Its Afri can army was withdrawing west ward "according to plan" and that on the frigid Russian front heavy battles were being fought without a claim to German ad vances. In Russia, the high com mand merely said, the Russians were suffering extreme new losses. Every kind of fur and woolen clothing, from lined overshoes, socks and underwear to ear muffs, blankets, shawls, over coats and blankets, la needed to protect tha soldiers from the "bitter cold," said Goebbels In 20-mInute speech. Nazi party members will make tha house-to-house collection from December 27 to January 4, h said. Chungking. Dec. 20 (TV Ten thousand Chinese troops of Japan's Nanking puppet regime mutinied near Chengchow Just south of the Yellow river on the night of December 16 and kill ed or wounded 1,000 Japanese troops. Central New reported tonight Agency Libya ON LAND, IN AIR TAKESHIGH TOLL Rommel's Army Flees Close To Bengasi London Hes itant With Optimism- By the Associated Press Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 20. Axis resistance in Libya has all but collapsed and the British are in full chase of General Erwin Rommel's army, fleeing west ward in rout almost to Bengasi, the British declared tonight. So fast Is the pursuit, it was said, that the British have been hard-pressed to stay on the ene my's heels and much of the Job of smashing the axis' last rem nants of strength has fallen to the RAF, The main body of tha retreat ing axis army Is now in tha west ern Geb El Akhdar mountains, a coastal range whose western end extends to south of Bengasi, the British said. The rout was said to have lit tered desert roads with destroy ed and burning tanks, guns and vehicles and to have left two merchantmen listing off North Africa with torpedo hits after an assault on a convoy guarded by three Italian destroyers and three cruisers. After occupying tha port of Derna and Meklli, 40 miles In land, the British were said to have pushed their advance pa, trols as far as 60 miles further west, within 100 miles of Bengasi, the axls's Important ad vance supply port. These patrols now are beyond the desert and in the green coun try of eastern Cirenaica, which one was the region of on of Mussolini's most ambitious colo nizing efforts. ' Although the British were hes itant to count ten over the one formidable German-Italian north African forces, commentators ex pressed confidence that the axis, harried from land and air, could not make another strong stand even at Bengasi. They were confident also that there would be no axis escape to parallel the British withdrawals from Dunkerque, Greece or Crete. Belief that Rommel will be unable to marshal his forces for another major stand was based on two assumptions: That there are no substantial axis reserve at Bengasi and that he lacks tha tank strength to delay his pur suers while that port's defense are prepared. Even those British sources dis inclined to optimism agreed that the Nazi commander is in a spot where heavy air reinforcement scarcely could help, especially since the axis is limited to a few landing fields In a relatively re stricted area under constant RAF attack. TO Sacramento, Calif.. Dec. 20. (AP) The California assembly tonight by a vote of 43 to 10 caUed upon Governor Culbert L. -Olson to revoke the parole granted Earl King, Ernest O. Ramsay and Frank J. Connor, by the state parole board. This action was taken on res olution Introduced by Assembly man Gardiner Johnson, Berke ley. It termed the paroling of the three men, who wer convicted of plotting the killing of George W. Alberts, chief engineer aboard the freighter Point Lobo at Alameda, "ill considered" and "subversive of public confi dence." SOYBEAN PRICE UP Chicago, Dec. 20. (AP) Soybean price rota almost cents a bushel at one stage, eloae to tha limit permitted In today's session. Injecting strength a well aa om Ufa to tha other- (wis languid grain ireae.
