Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, December 26, 1941, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., December 26, 1941, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextA 4SSBBBBIIS. . . rail 0 Wnlk. Weather ZT"0" TorttMMti Con tinned eU tf 4mf and tonljht. Temprntnra HI chest T "T " Sunday Want Ada This U tlw Mm I prepare that Want AS for the f asaar moral n i edition. Do II no end bo mar. Ads In before t:M p.m. Saturday will be properly elaultlrd. Clotinf Mm for too late" la p. m. Saturday. Medford Tribune Lowest tnU ""'"r full JUsocltted Prm United Preas . Thirty-sixth Year MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1941. NO. 238. mm SHIl IMS SBBSHi i . . . News Behind The News By Paul Mallon Washington, Dee. 26. Slight moans have been emitted by some officials because the secret of Churchill's Christmas visit was so loosely kept. The fact Is it was darn well kept. Most news men In W a shin gton knew at least four days be fore the an il o u n c ement was made that rani Mallon the British minister was either here or on his way. The suppressed news had reached so many persons by Saturday morning that Presi dential Press Secretary Steve Early openly cautioned report ers at his press conference not to cause its publication. By Sunday the new press censor, Byron Price, was telephoning news agencies urging them gain to avoid the story. It Is true some speculations about Churchill's disappearance came out of London early in the week, after Clement Attlee told commons he was taking over In the absence of the prime minister. Two indefinite yarns followed out of Washington, but the activities of Early and Price halted any more definite notice which would have endangered Churchill on his voyage. o THE White House was In no way pushed by premature publication into making the an nouncement Monday night. The news was issued for the effect it would have upon the rest of the worlds particularly France, Turkey and Portugal. In the modern subtle, diplomatic man ner it warned France against dishonoring herself by relin quishing the fleet, and reminded neutral Turkey and backsliding Portugal that friendliness toward the axis might bear bitter post war fruits. This, in truth, was a primary (Continued on Pa-a Sis) Salem. Dec. 26 (IP) Presi dent Roosevelt's special board of Inquiry will not discover any serious negligence on the part of the army and navy forces at Pearl Harbor, Rep. James W. Mott, ranking republlcon on the house naval affairs committee, predicted today. Mott arrived at his home here Wednesday night and will leave for Washington next Monday after inspecting northwest naval defenses. "The defense forres were caught napping." Mott said, "but there is no evidence of culpable negligence on the part of any one." "We face a long, hard war. and we are united In our deter' mination to do everything neces sary to prosecute it to ultimate victory. Party lines have been completely eradicated.' He said that funds for the pro posed army cantonments at Cor vallis and Medford have not been appropriated. San Diego, Calif., Dec. 28. (IP) San Diego's first spy scare was quickly solved today with announcement that three men, using binoculars while padding through trees and making notes In Balboa park were only tak ing the annual bird census. SIDE GLANCES BY TRIBUNE REPORTERS John Deaver, former gob, taking a lot of good na cured rib bing from friends who keep ask ing where our navy is. Ken Anthony always having good punchboard luck when a certain Irieod pops Into sight. AXIS 10 LASTING LESSON CONGRESSJS TOLD Prime Minister in Epochal Address to Law Makers Production Held Pivot. Victory Sign Washington, Dec. 28. (P) Winston Churchill raised his fingers In a "V" for vic tory sign today as he left the senate chamber after his his toric address. The prime minister sat down when he completed his speech. Several minutes of applause and roaring appro val followed. Then, as he left the ros trum, Churchill held up his right hand with the first two fingers forming the "V" and the crowd roared. Washington, Dec. 26. (AP Prime Minister Winston Chur chill told congress today the al lies would be ready "to take the Initiative on an ample scale" by 1943 and In the end give the axis powers a lesson the world will never forget. Standing In the center of the green-carpeted senate rostrum, the stocky Briton asked his in tently-listening audience these questions about the Germans, Japanese and Italians: What kind of people do tney think we are? 'Do they not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until we have taught them a lesson which they and the world will never for get?" Words Applauded This brought a roar of ap plause from the packed-and-Jam-med senate chamber, where house members were sandwiched in between the regular senate desks. Members of the supreme court, the cabinet and the diplo matic corps were also in his audience. The prime minister spoke also of the "masses awaiting the hour of liberation when, they, too, will be able to play their part and strike their blows like men." The United States-British pro duction, within a year or 18 months, Churchill said, would re sult In war power output beyond 'anything ever seen In the axis states." The youth of Germany, Japan and Italy had been taught, the Britisher said, that agressive warfare was the duty of the citi zen and should begin as soon as the weapons were available. Axis Planned War They have plotted and plan ned for war," he charged. The stocky prime minister stood in the center of the senate rostrum, and spoke in a calm. quiet voice. He was cheered lust ily when he entered the cham ber. Churchill said It was natural that the planning and plotting by the axis powers had placed the United States at a disadvantage. But, saying that we should be thankful that we had time to prepare for war, he added: "If Germany had tried to In vade Britain in June, 1640, and Japan had declared war on the United States the same day, no one can say what disaster might have come." Churchill said that within 18 months production in the United States "will produce results In war power beyond anything that has been seen" and that by "the end of 1942 we will be quite defi nitely in a better position than we are now." " Sees Long, Hard War By 1943. he said, production "will enable us to assume the Initiative on an ample scale." Ap plause halted his remarks. The British leader said he and President Roosevelt did not hesi tate to forecast a "long and hard war," because "our people would rather know the truth." With the spirit which has de veloped be said it did not mat ter if it was 1942, 43. or 44. The task ahead, he said. Is "not be yond our strength and endurance as long as we have faith In our own cause. "Mighty strokes of war al ready have been dealt against jCoo Usual on Pag Jo( i . i MinnnMMnaMSHMMnMtmnnM I Island Defense Stubborn f N wDAMORTISKI . WJYa.7. jV ftWf7 HAWAII EVACUEES PSUT RUN SUB GANTLET TO SAN FRANCISCO .u,v.a AlxVMANIL CHINA (.JjJ'NvVM fh sT tyVgATAriOAS tBE ILUBANO JlClf7 Q P --ff I MILES I Headquarters of the V. S. army announced that American and Filipino troops were putting up stubborn resistance at Atlmona (1), where a new Invasion In heavy Jerco occurred after an attempt by the enemy to land off Batangaa (2) was thwarted. Manila (3) was subjected to another heavy bombing raid and the army staff left Manila and declared It an open city la an effort to avert further bombardment. There also was stubborn defense In the San FeTnando-Ago-Damortls sector of the Llngayen gulf fight (4). Stoic Japanese Boys March To Death on Luzon Beaches By Clark Lee Manila, Dec 26. (IP) Masses of Japanese troops some of them boys of 19 to 18 years old and poorly equipped with .29 caliber guns are dying in at tacks on the Llngayen front as if simply accepting the inevit able. An American officer who com mands one of the beach defenses told me there was "no hysterical exaltation" in the charge on the shore last Monday, when the major invasion began. "They didn't charge, but crouched forward Just a little bit." lifting their knees high in a sort of imitation goose step," he said. "They knelt coming forward In pairs, one directly behind the other. They were coming on to die and many of them did. "Many times one of our heavy U ENJOY MATINEE Whooping and hollering loy ously throughout the two-hour program, approximately 1.000 kiddles of Medford and vicinity gave vocal proof of the complete success of the annual free Christ mas matinee sponsored by the Mail Tribune and George A. Hunt Theatres at the Craterlan theatre yesterday morning. The youngsters lammed their way into the movie house long before 10 a. m., the starting time, and until noon they roar ed with laughter over the crazy antics of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello In "Buck Privates", plus two cartoon hits. It was one of the moil success ful matinees yet given for the children, and its sponsors got almost as big a kick out of watching the happy kiddles as the young ones did out of the comedy film. Torpedoed Tanker Is Apparent Total Loss Grants Pass, Ore., Dec. 28 (AP) Marine men who saw a torpedoed American tanker as it lay grounded on rocks off the northern California coast said to day It appeared unaalvagable. The craft, abandoned by Its crew after the attack, drifted ashore Saturday. Its stern Is under water, fast on rocks, and its bow bobs up and down with the surf. STORK PLAYS SANTA Portland, Dec. 28. (AP) Santa, busy with other matters. took time out to leave 14 babies at Portland hospitals yes lei da jr. machine-fun or ' rifle bullets killed two men at once. . "When hit, they just threw up their hands and fell backward as If accepting an inevitable fate. "Some wore poor quality kha ki; others were in half uniforms and half civilian clothing. The invaders carried .29 cali ber rifles and about one-fourth of them had :29 caliber sub-machine guns." The commander of the landing section said the .29 caliber bul lets would not kill a man unless It struck a vital spot. The battle in the Llngayen area started at 2 a. m. with an artillery duel between Japanese warships and American shore guns. Opposing the Japanese were Americans and young Filipino troops who are being welded In to a first class fight force. RIFLES STACKED Tokyo, Dec 18. (Official Broadcast Recorded by UP)) The remnants of the British im perial garrison at Hongkong, esti mated at 6,000 men, was report ed to have been ordered to stack arms by noon today In conform ity with yesterday's surrender to Japanese siege assault. The disarming got swiftly un der way by various points of the now occupied British crown col ony following the British com mand's formal acceptance early this morning of demands pres ented by representative of the Japanese army and navy. The Japanese demands pro vided: 1. Stationing of a "certain number" of Japanese troops for maintenance of order. 2. British assumption of full responsibility for cessation of hostilities and prevention of "un toward incidents." I. That decisions on further details of the British surrender should be made later. London, Dec. 28 P) The Christmas day surrender of Bri tish Hongkong was a consider able strategic triumph for the Japanese, Informed sources frankly conceded today. Word that the garrison's rem nants, with only meager water supplies left, had finally yielded was received here almost thank fully by most Britons. They had been expecting the capitulation. but there still were no details ! on Hongkong's last hours under , the union Jack. Jap s Increase Luzon Pressure; Manila Hundreds of Wounded Con voyed To Golden Gate Arrival Scenes Stirring. San Francisco, Dec. 28. (IP) Hundreds of wounded and evac uees, convoyed safely through waters Infested with Japanese submarines, today related acts of heroism and praised the mo rale in embattled Hawaii. Planes circled overhead as the passenger vessels, wearing a dark blue war paint slipped quietly through the Golden Gate yesterday. Lifebelts were worn during the trip by all passengers even by the many children while they played games and the ships were blacked out completely at night. They zigzagged constantly be cause Japanese submarines have been preying on shipping off the California coast. Stirring scenes took place at entrances' to piers. No public announcement was made of the convoy's arrival, but it was seen moving through the Golden Gate. There was a rush toward the waterfront Area Blocked Off Soldiers and sailors carrying rifles and pistols had blocked off an area extending three blocks from the docks. Ambulances hurried to the waterfront and removed the navy and army wounded. The city sent four ambulances to care for the civilian injured. Football players of Willam ette university at Salem, Ore., and San Jose, .Calif., State told on their return of doing guard duty after the raids. Coach R S. "Spec" Keene said his Willam ette squad worked their way home by caring for wounded men. The three children of Captain Merle Williams of the air corps told of a Christmas party on the convoyed ships at sea which was long on fun but short on candy and nuts. Danny Williams' faith in his father, who remained In the Islands, was evident "My daddy." said the six- year-old "can lick any 10 Japs Da fissile Ordered Island Ocenpation Says French Agency St Pierre, St Plerre-et-Mlqu- lon. Dee. 28. UP) Tha Free French news service announced today that these islands off the Newfoundland coast were occu pied under a formal order by General Charles de Gaulle and that the "diplomatic question" arising would be discussed be tween him and the "interested governments." De Gaulle Is tha leader of the Free French movement with headquarters at London. Vichy, Unoccupied France. Dee. 28. UP) The French de clared here today that they "welcomed with satisfaction" the United States state depart ment's condemnation of the De Gaulllst occupation of St Pierre and Miquelon. London, Dee. 28. (P) The French national committee (Free French) charged today that It was "common knowledge" that the radio at St Pierre, when It was under Vichy domination "was broadcasting meteorolog ical Information useful to the enemy." Bern, Switzerland, Dee. 26 (IP) Stefan! reported today from Sofia that the American diplomatic corps In the Bulgar ian capital left last night for Istanbul, Turkey. Nine Ameri cans were in the group leaving the country which declared Itself at war with tha United Stats- Is Declared Open City CAUSE OF MANY AUTOJCCIDENTS Six-Inch Blanket Makes Pavement Slick Chains Advised For Mountains. Numerous cars were stalled and a few minor accidents occurred on the Pacific highway over the Siskiyou mountains yesterday when a six-inch fall of snow made the pavement hazardous for motorists, state police reported today. Although the highway has Deen sanaea, the new snow made driving dif ficult State police said both the Sis kiyou and Greensprln,s moun tain highways were still slick, and advised motorists to equip their cars with chains when driving over either road. Hit Run Reported State and city police received a report from W. L. Greeniai of Central Point that his ma chine was sideswlued by a hit- run driver on North Riverside avenue early last night. Green- leaf reported that the other auto, traveling in the opposite direction,- struck the aide of his car and drove away without stop ping. Reports of seven minor acci dents weae on file In city police station today. They were: Billy Cox of Medford and Theodore Ryall of 729 South Central avenue were drivers of cars Involved in a mishap at Wabash and Spring . streets Thursday afternoon. Cars operated by Andy Ler- sen of Route 4 and Staff -sergeant George C. Smith of the U. S. Army, Medford airport, were Involved In a slight wreck at Main and Front streets Thurs day morning. W. E. Allen of Phoenix and F. A. Webb of 312 Ashland ave nue drove cars Involved In a minor wreck at Main and Holly streets Thursday morning. South Front near Elgnth street was the scene of a minor acci dent Thursday morning Involv ing cars operated by Carl Nelson of Route 3 and H. M. Lageson of 21 Lincoln street. Frank Wenzel of 1028 Reddy avenue and Bob Llttrell of 117 East Main street drove cars In volved In a slight wreck In front of the former's home Thursday afternoon. Cars operated by James F. Campbell of 714 West llth street and Ralph M. Brock or 304 North Columbus avenue collided with slight damage at Laurel and Main streets Wednes day afternoon. Peter Burreson of Gold Hill and Ruth E. Ward of Central Point drove can Involved In a minor mishap on the Pa cific highway at Central Point Wednesday afternoon. Peace Terms Talk Japan Impotent for 1,000 Years Washington, Dee. 28. (JPh Senators, looking ahead to ulti mate victory over the axis. already are discussing peace terms, and Senator Lucas (D.. 111.) said today that "Japan should be reduced to the point where for 1,000 years she will have no control or force In the family of nations." That goes for Germany ana Italy, too," the Illinois senator told reporters. "We can never have lasting peace until Hltlerlsm ana tne philosophy which exists among the axis powers are destroyed," he continued. "The peace we make Is Just as Important as the war we are conducting." "When we win the war," said Senator Davis (R., Pa.), "we should put a steel wall around Japan." Davis added that this country should help make China War Bulletins I Moscow. Saturday. Dec 27. OP) The Russians an nounced ' today recapture of Narofomlnsk. 39 miles south west of Moscow on the rail line to Kaluga. London. Dee. 28. PV The German radio reported tonight the German navy and air force had sunk 27 British warships so far In December. London. Saturday. Dec 27. iJP) The British colonial office announced today that Japanese forces "recently have been operating In the northern Gilbert Islands," roughly mld-w a y between Australia and Hawaii. DUTCH ADD TWO JAPANESE CRAFT TO S Batavla, N.E.I., Dec. 28. (IP) The Dutch, whose air and submarine forces have set a dally average of one Japanese ship sunk or seriously damaged since they went to war with Japan, announced today the sinking of Japanese destroyer and transport In an air attack on enemy shipping concentra tion off Kuchlng, capital of Sarawak, Island of Borneo. (Aneta, official Dutch news agency, telephoning tne com munique to New York, appear ed to say that a "destroyer or a transport" had been sunk. The New York office of Aneta was rechecklng this passage. On the basis of the latest re port the Japanese had lost two destroyers In recent days to the Dutch, who reported only yes terday that one of the 2,100-ton Amagiri class was torpedoed and sunk the night of December 24-29 by a submarine, which escaped the depth bombs drop ped by an accompanying de stroyer, to report its victory. Just when the other destroyer was hit was not clear since the Dutch naval air force has been hammering at shipping off Hu- ching for the past three or four days. Y STILL HOLDS OUT Washington, Dee. 28. (AP) The navy said today Its force of marines on Midway island was still holding out The Midway garrison waa In communication with headquar ters here yesterday but the navy would not discuss the messages nor how the marines were faring on the mid-Pacific Isle. Favors Making a powerful, Independent nation which could become "a stabiliz ing force In the orient" Senators Norrls (Ind., Neb.) said he believed the allies first should disarm Germany, Italy and Japan, provide sufficient food to keep the Inhabitants of those nations alive immediately after the cessation of hostilities and then work out a long-range peace program. Senator Clark CD., Ida.), who opposed administrating foreign policies prior to American en trance Into the war, declarsd that "when we are able to negotiate a peace one of the first things we must consider Is giving all countries access to raw materials. Unless there Is equal access to tha materials that make for the comforts of life there will be an Intermin able series of wars. DEFENSE FORCES LEAVE CAPITALTO Japanese Aerial Activity Brisk Over City Raids Kili Many Provincials' By R. V. Cronln, Jr. Manila, Dec. 269:50 p. m., 12:50 a. m. PST) (IP) A two way Japanese assult on Manila has Intensified, with an artillery fight northwest of tha capltol and a tank battle to tne south west where Japanese pressure was Increased and casualties were heavy, an army commun ique declared late today. The war bulletin was the last Issued from the United States armed forces of the far east headquarters here before all staff officers left Manila, declar ed officially to be an open city to spare its residents further bombardment, Jap Airmen Busy Japanese aerial activity over the city continued through most of the day, however, with one siren-sounded alarm after anoth er. The Japanese bombers ap peared to be striking beyond the city itself at military bases nearby. Suburban Nichols air field was one of their objectives. The army communique de scribed aerial activity over tha capital during the preceeding IS hours as "very brisk." All soldiers and sailors had been moved from Manila by this afternoon In accordance with the announcement that the city was not defended. Anti-aircraft bat-' terles were dismounted and u re movable military stores de stroyed. Heavy Pressure The final war bulletin from tha Manila headquarters said 'there has been very heavy pres sure by the enemy on the south eastern front," where the Jap anese were attacking toward Ma nila from their Lemon bay beach heads S3 to 73 miles from the capital. Tank battling on that front" the communique said, "has re sulted In heavy casualties on both sides. It repeated an earlier bulletin that enemy action on tha north ern front some 110 miles from Manila, was largely "heavy and concentrated artillery fire." An army spokesman said In vestigation had disclosed that there had been no Japanese land ing at Nasugbu, only 15 miles south of the entrance to Manila bay, as reported earlier In Wash ington. Manila newspapers, mean while, reported that more than 100 persons had been killed In Japanese air raids on provincial towns, with the heaviest toll at San Pablo, Laguna provisos, south of Manila. Effort to Reverse Offensive CIa!::i Canberra, Australia, Dee. 28. UP) Prime Minister John Curtln, broadcasting today, said thr.t Britain, the United State and Australia had launched aa effort to reverse Japan's pres ent defensive advantage. Speaking only In general terms, Curtln said he could not state the precis form of the movement but he added that he was greatly encouraged by growing reinforcements for the allies. Radio Highlights (Tim If Pacific standard) Tonight NBC-Blu 7 profes sional tennis tournament Saturday: MBS 11:15 a. m. North vs. south at Birmingham. NBC-Red 12 Defense and Your Dollar, 1:19 Tropical park race. CBS 10:49 Orange bowl foot ball preview. MBS I from London, American Eagl squad ron sends (re tings. - ;