Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, December 25, 1942, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., December 25, 1942, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextNOON EDITION Vw The MAIL TIUBUHS Want Ad Way Onlck ".suits At Small Coei Medford Tribune United Press Full Leased Wire Thirty-seventh Year. MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1942 fo) 9 V United Frees Full Leased Wire J e . - 1 'o NO. 238 M lirtnt ttltth tit f smi-alrcraft gunners on this U. 8. aircraft carrier In to South Padfle farced thli Japanese bomoer. upper len, to turn back In his attack on the vessel. Crew memoen of the carrier fall prone on deck to avoid fragment from the enemy plane. Footo from Official (J. & Navy ntwtreeL . Kelly's Qmment From Washington. D. C Lumbermen Fear Forest Control Regimentation Scheme Is Seen ' Food Stamps To Be Discarded Br John W. Kefir Washington, D. C Dec. 25. Southern lumbermen are ex pressing even more concern than the territory in the Pacific northwest over the plan of the forest service to iauiith a lumber Industry of its own, all under federal control.To finance the program requires $100,000,000, which In these days of astronom ical appropriations Is insignifi cant. There are various reasons why lumbermen are and have been protesting against this set up, one being the belief of many operators that the ultimate aim Is government ownership of the Industry and the elimination of all private owners. It Is well known that several years ago the forest service was one of the most radical govern ment agencies and there was cir culated within the service a pamphlet showing how the for est service could assist the CIO in organizing the cowboys and sheepherders by compelling col lective bargaining by any stock man desiring range privileges, or refusing to sell stumpage to sawmills until the operators agreed to union demands. Higher-ups in the service acted as sponsors for visiting communists from Mexico and r ranee. Argument of the forest service is that "something must be done" to break the bottleneck in lumber production. They pro posed being given authority to take over any sawmill, large or small, to operate, close or trans fer to another site in short, to run the works. To Justify this forest service had only to say that it could handle the opera tion better than any individual or corporation. The $100,000,000 would be a revolving fund per- Washington. Dec. 25 (U.B U. S. Planes on the day before Christmas (Island time) destroy ed 24 Japanese aircraft at Munda in the Solomons. silenced anti-aircraft batteries and damaeed buildings, the navy announced today. In a second raid on the same day, bringing to 15 the number of bombing attacks on the en emy airbase since Dec. 9, the Americans blasted a group of barces attempting to land .-ein- forcements and supplies in the Munda area. Only four barges reached chore, the navy said. The only resistance offered by the Japanese was in the first attack. Fourteen planes which attempted to Intercept the Americans were shot down and 10 others were destroyed on the round. On the second raid low-flying American bombers 1 . (Continued on Pg Six) ., , YANKEESDESTROY J 24 JAP AIRPLANES BURMA IS BOMBED encountered no resistance. 4 Xi First Lady's Christmas Eve Spent With Tenement Poor Washington, Dec. 25 0J.R) While the rest of the capital was settling down for a Christmas that wasn't white, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt stood at a tenement door as dusk fell on Christmas Eve, wishing a 21-year-old mother a Merry Christmas. The youthful Negro mother of five told Mrs. Roosevelt her second youngest is not walking yet, although she Is two years old. Her husband said he didn't have steady work. Mrs. Roose velt promised to help the poverty-stricken family. As she turned away from this alley tenement, a door at the next home was opened by a little Negro, who told the First Lady "my sister-in-law la sick." Mrs. Roosevelt still had time to wish the sick woman a Merry Christ mas. Returning from a group of SO singers, ranging from Negro children two years old to old people, Mrs. Roosevelt Joined in singing familiar carols. She said she was sorry the Christmas tree they had had In former years could not be lighted this year because of the war, but, she said, "I hope the spirit of the Christmas tree will live in your heart. I wish all a happy Christ mas. Besides the 100 tenement dwellers attending the singing and hanging out of second story windows, there were a couple of British sailors, Danny Mer chant of Cardiff, Wales, who helped evacuate the British army at Dunkirk, and Walter Bickerton, of Liverpool. Both men were on land for the sec nnd nleht. after spending 18 months on combat duty in the Mediterranean. They smiled broadly when their hostess. Miss Edda Mai Russell, sponsor of the sing, introduced them to Mrs. Roosevelt. At the end of the long day Mrs. Roosevelt appeared quite as bright as she had when she started the day by greeting 300 children at Darlington, Va. She told the children that the Presi dent wished her to tell them all "Merry Christmas and that he hoped the next year would be a happier one for the people over all the world." K, Delhi. Dec. 25 U.B A Joint allied high command com munique said today that RAF fighter planes had carried out low-level attacks on a Japanese hoM airdrome at Magwe in n rma and had damaged ml" JaDanese aircraft in air ill rim. Two British fighters failed to re'urn, the communique said, last nieht shortly before mid- Enemy planes raided Calcutta night "dropping bombs indis announcement. Damages and criminately," according to the casualties were described "lieht." The allied drive into Burma, meanwhile, was said to be mov ing ahead "steadily If slowly." Lieut. Gen. N. M. S. Irwin, com mander of the India eastern army, said In a radio broadcast that advanced forces were "ex- tending their control over areas I lately under hostile influence. , SI - - KING CONFIDENT IN YULE MESSAGE TO HIS EMPIRE London, Dee. 25--(U.B King George VI, broadcasting his an nual Christmas message to th British Empire, declared today that recent United Nations vic tories In 'Africa, Russia and the Pacific enabled him to "speak with firm confidence' regarding the future." The tasks still lying ahead of the Allies may be even harder than those already accomplish' ed, the king said, but he added: 'We face these with - con fidence, for today we .stand to gether, no longer alone and no longer ill-armed, but Just resolute as in the darkest hour to do our duty whatever comes." Welcome Allies His Majesty - said - the happi ness of Britons this Christmas was increased because they were sharing It with so' many members of the United States armed forces. "We welcome them . to . our homes and their sojourn here will not only be a happy mem ory for us but, I hope, the basis for an enduring understanding between our two peoples." Emphasizing that the United Nations must ' continue their collaboration . after .defeating the Axis, the king said, "Vic tory will bring us even' greater world responsibilities and we must not be found unequal to the task .'. . - In meeting this challenge, he said, "We shall draw on the storehouse of our' experience and tradition." . Tribute to Friends " The king paid tribute-to Al lied armies fighting on the main fronts, in Africa, Russia and the Pacific ' . "On the southern shores of the Mediterranean, the first and eighth (British) armies and our fleets and air forces are advanc ing towards each. other, hearten ed and greatly fortified by the timely, massive expeditionary armies of the United -States. 'Tremendous blows hsve been struck by the armies - of the Soviet union, the effects of which cannot yet be measured on the minds and bodies of. the German neoole. . ' "In the Pacific we watch with thrilled attention the counter attacks of our Australian and American comrades . . ." NATURE'S WIFE GOING TO DIVORCE MILL SOON Hollywood,. Dec. 25 (U.RM Martha Stephenson Mature said today that she would leave early next week for Las Vegas, Nev. to divorce Screen Actor Victor Mature, who now is In the coast guard. -' Mrs. Mature, widow of the late orchestra leader Hal Kemp, charged Mature with cruelty. Young Frenchman Nabbed After Firing Two Shots; Giraud Is Interim Chief Br Pall Ault - United Press Staff. Correspondent Allied Headquarters, North Africa. Dec. 25 (U.B Gen. Henri Honors Giraud, commander of French African army and air forces, today was given the task of maintaining order in French North and West Africa until a new high commissioner la named to succeed Adm. Jean Francois Darlan, assassinated yesterday by an unidentified man about 20 years old. American and British leaders conferred far into the night last night on possible problems aris ing -from the death of Darlan, who less than two months ago was deputy chief of government of the pro-Axis Vichy regime. With. French rithoritles they also continued to investigate the fatal shooting but there was no announcement of progress. PROTECTION ASKED London, Dec. 25 (U.R) A Ger man broadcast of a DNB News Agency dispatch from Tangiers, recorded by the United Press, said today that Adm. Jean Fran cols Darlan recently had asked Lt. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Allied commander in North Af rica, for protection. The German dispatch said that Darlan knew his life was In danger. ' Two Shots Fired The imperial council estab lished by Darlan Dec. 1 will meet tomorrow to discuss the po litical situation and name a new high commissioner, although It was possible that Darlan's suc cessor might be appointed before the meeting. , Darlan was killed by two shots from a .25 calibre weapon. Art announcement by Allied headquarters said Darlan, wlo was high commissioner of French Worth -and West Africa, was as sassinated In his office at Al giers at a p. m. yesterday but that a preliminary investigation had not established whether the deed was of German or Italian inspiration. (British reports said the as sassin was a 20-year-old French man.)- - . , . . The assasin, who was "arrested on the spot" after he fired one bullet Into Darlan's mouth and another into his lung, was wait ing for the admiral in a small room opposite his office. He opened fire with a .25 calibre re volver Just as Darlan was cross ing the corridor to his office. ' Aide la Wounded Darlan- stumbled and the I sassin ran toward the admiral's office. Jumping over the Utter s body. A - French officer. Com mandant Fourcade, attempted to halt the murderer, but the young man fired two shots, one striking the officer In the leg. By this time other French of ficers had arrived from other of fices and they overpowered the assassin. - ' . , The assassination apparently was well planned, for the young man naa appeared at the com' mlssloner's headquarters earlier in the day and asked to see Dar lan. Although he was unsuccess ful, the visit ensbled him to fa miliarize himself with the lay out ot the office. Immediately after the youth iirea tne ratal shots Rear Ad miral Daptet, a members of Dar lan's cabinet, ordered the ad intra! taken to a hospital in an automobile, but he died en route. A priest administered the last sacraments to the admiral, who was a devout Catholic. Darlan's wife was summoned immediate ly, but - her husband was dead when she reached him. The assaslnatlon was regarded as . particularly unfortunate at this time because of possible repercussions on the political snd, to a lesser degree, on the military situation In French North and West Africa. Except for public indication there were no immediate signs that Darlan's death would cause any difficulty for the Allied au thorities. (The Berlin radio broadcast the news of Darlan's assasslna tlon based on Information from Algiers, but its only comment was to assert that the admiral had been unpopular in Britain and had been chosen by the American authorities as the French leader for Africa. The British later assented to the ar rangement,' Berlin said. (The Vichy radio merely sum' msrized the Allied communique without comment.) SPEEDY JUSTICE OR GUN WIELDER IS F.D.R.'S HOPE Washington, Dec. 2 (U.B Official Washington today awaited details of the assassina tion of Admiral Jean Francois Darlan, which President Roose velt branded in a formal state ment as "first degree murder," before conjecturing on what ef fect his death would have on allied affairs in North Africa. So far Mr. Roosevelt has ls- lsued the only statement from here on the assassination of Darlan, former Axis collabora tor before he became the allied- sponsored high commissioner of North Africa. Still awaited is word from the State Department and from fighting French repre sentatives, who never accepted the leadership of Darlan. First Degree Murder Mr. Roosevelt's statement, is sued through bis sercretary, Stepnen T. Early, said; "The Cowardly assassination Is murder In the first degree. All leaders of the United Nations will agree With that statement. "Nazism and Fascism and mil itary despotism will hold other wise. 1 hope that speedy justice will overtake the murderer or murderers of Admiral Darlan." Darlan only two months ago renounced his Axis ties and en tered into the agreement with Lieut. Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-, hower wheih gave the United Nations control of French North Africa. That move brought widespread criticism, but was Justified by United Nations lead ers on the ground that it speed ed the North African campaign and saved American lives.. Temporary Expedient Mr. Roosevelt on November 17 issued a clarifying statement on the Darlan deal, calling it a temDorarv expedient. Justified solely by the stress of battle." One thing that delayed con jecture on future North African policy was the lack ot identity of the assassin. Mr. Roosevelt's statement, however, was De lieved to imply that the killer was either German or Italian in spired, motivated by uarians turn from the Axis snd by the scuttling of a large part of the French fleet which had oeen un der his command. ALLIED BOMBERS STRIKE AT 10 ITALIAN PORTS Cairo, Dec. 28 (U.B Bomber formations of the United Mates Middle East air force struck at two of Italy's most Important southern ports Wednesdsy night NaDles snd the big naval base of Taranto It was announced or ficlally today. It was the first American raid on Taranto. on the Italian heel. Italy's second most Important arsenal is located here, the first being at Spezla on the Gulf of Genoa. Naples has assumed Increasing Importance for the Axis as a re inforcement port for Its forces In Africa since the RAF crippled Genos. (A Rsdlo Morocco broadcast heard by the United Press In London said Allied aircraft blasted airdromes on the Axis occupied Island of Crete In the eastern Mediterranean last night. An Italian ship reportedly was hit by a torpedo and blew up.) IN TRADITIONAL YULE OBSERVANCE President and Wife Attend Church Services Pastor Cites Rickenbacker Faith Washington, Dec. 25. U.F0 President and Mrs. Roosevelt in common with millions of their countrymen worshipped at tra ditional Christmas services to day. The president set aside state problems and his own fireside Christmaa celebration at the White House for half an hour as he and other members of a White House party attended ser vices in the quiet, polnsatta deco rated Church of the Eplhany in downtown Washington. - The president and Mrs. Roose velt occup'd the first pew on the left aisle of the church with their daughter in law, Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, Jr. In the second pew sat Harry Hopkins, the president's adviser, and Mrs. Hopkins, and Mr. Hopkins' daughter Diana. With them was Col. Harry Hooker, a Hyde Park neighbor ot the Roosevelts, and Mrs. James Roosevelt, the presi dent s sister-in-law. All were bouse guests for the holiday sea son, ot the president and his wife. , Union Service The services were sponsored by the Washington Federation of Churches and the. participating Jlergy included pastors of sev ral demonminations. .- I Rev. Howard Stone Anderson, pastor, of the .First Congrega tional church which the late President Coolldge attended, de livered the Christmas sermon. "Christmas," the minister said, "Is a time of Joy and gladness, a time to put aside for a while the evil news which our newspapers and radios bring to us." The pastor also referred to Capt. Eddie Rlckenbacker's pub lic acknowledgement ot his prayers during the 22 days the famous flyer and others were adrift in the south Pacific. "As long as there are men with that kind of faith, there'll always be a Christmas," Rev. Anderson said. "There always will be s Christ mas as long as there Is moral Initiative." Traditional Hymns The services included the sing ing of traditional Christmas hymns Including "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." The choir sang also a verse of "America." - The presidential party left the White House at 10:23 a. m. and drove the several blocks to the church arriving at 10:28. Sev eral hundred persons lined the streets to wave to the chief executive. Cordons of soldiers snd Washington policemen and heavily armed secret service men guarded the president as he and his party drove to and from the services. Other clergymen who partici pated in the services Included Dr. Frederick E. Relsslg, execu tive secretary of the Washington Federation of Churches: Dr. Charles W. Sherrln, rector of the Church of the Epiphany; and Rev. Hunter M. Lewis, associate rector. Following the services the president posed for photographs with Dr. Sherrln and Rev. An derson. Mr. Roosevelt observed Christmas, confident that if this is not truly a merry one, It Is at least happier than last year's be causo the allied might Is grow ing Million and Half Chrittmat Bonus Cleveland, Dec. 25 4J.B The Jack and Helntz Co., whose liberal bonuses to employees was the subject of a house naval affairs committee Investigation early this year, today awarded employees a year-end bonus to taling f 1,550.000. William S. Jack, president ot the thriving war plant, said each "associate" as he terms em ployeeswill receive one ISO wsr bond and 112.50 cash for each month he or she worked for the company regardless of wag levels. Admiral Darlan Long a Key Man in French Navy Jean Darlan By United Press Admiral Jean Francois Darlon, noted for his political sagacity and naval ability, came from a family of sea faring people. Born In the village of Nerac in Gascony on August 7, 1881, his main interests were the navy and, on brief holidays, the coun tryside of his native Gascony. Darlan had been a key man of the French navy since 1938 when he was named di rector of the military cabinet of the ministry of marine. With his appointment as s full admiral on June 6, 1939, he took command of all French tiaval forces. He used his position in the ministry of marine before the war to place his own nomi nees in all Important naval posts. Thus, when German French relations became strained after the armistice, Darlan was a key figure be cause of his control ot the navy. He apparently used his control to obtain his post as Marshal Henri Philippe Pe taln's minister of marine and later vice premier. Yanks and Aussies Jab At Two Sides Of Buna Stronghold Gen. MacArthur's Headquar ters, Australia, Dec. 25 (U.R) American and Australian forces Jabbed from two sides st the last Japanese stronghold In the Buna area of New Guinea today, as allied bombers struck at en emy occupied islands in an arc extending hundreds of miles. Gen. Douglas MacArthurs Jungle fighters drove the Jap anese back to an Inner core of resistance extending a mile eastward from the Buna Mis sion. The enemy-held strip was between 500 and 800 yards wide, with Its center at Galropa point. One allied force attacked the main airstrip from the seaward side while an Inland force ocDoered the Japanese from the western end of the airstrip. Christmas Feast in Compared to Fare Washington. Dec. 25 U.R Americans ate a largely-unra-tloned Christmas dinner today for probably the last time for the duration, and although some foods were scarce the menu wss bountiful compared to that In almost any other nation. Many forms ot rationing will gc Into effect during 1943, and m-xt Christmas the tables will be lighter and belts pulled tight er. Officials have promised, however, that adequate nutrition needs will be met. . Americsns who had difficulty in finding a suitable turkey or plum pudding this Christmas should look at the fare of other m.ions. Diplomatic and agricul tu . department officials gave this picture of Christmas dinners li other countries: Britain Only one family out of 20 will have turkey, and reitaurants cannot serve It at all. But there will be beef, mut ton, pork, Christmas cakes and mince pies. ,J IK FOUR BIG DRIVES Greatest Gains Reported Along New Caucasus Front; Tanks, Guns Taken Moscow, Dec. 25 U.B Rus sia's armies, pressing four large scale offensives simultaneously, today were reported making their greatest gains along tha new Caucasus front, where they were hurling the Germans back from previously threatened oil . fields and on the middle Don where red troops occupied strongly fortified town. Southeast of Nalchik in the) southern Caucasus, where tha Germans vainly had sought to rech tha Georgian military highway and the rich oil wells, the Soviet noon communique) said that Russian troops were) continuing to advance. They cap tured several inhabited localities in addition to those reported la tha midnight communique. Tha most Important was Algier, 40 miles northeast of Ordzhonl kidze, the high command said, 23 Tanks Taken The scale of tha battle was Indicated by the announcement that 23 German tanks were cap tured and that In one sector alona an additional 24 disabled tanks, 10 trucks, 12 machlna guns and more than 1,000 mines and a number of ammunition dumps were taken by the Rus sians. ' ' The new offensive already had thrown tha Germans back from 12 to 14 miles, an earlier special Soviet communique said. - In tha eastern Caucasus oum Soviet forces "acting as separata detachments" wiped out at least one company of axis troops (200 men) northeast ot the Black seat port of Tuspse, the communique reported Russian artillery In tha same area destroyed eight pill boxes and four trench mortar batteries. On the middle Don front, where the red army had pene trated into the Ukraine, cut the) Rostov -Voronezh Moscow rail way and was threatening tha city ot Rostov itself, the Rusk sians said their troops still were) pursuing "the beaten enemy." "In one sector, men of x unit, by a flank blow, occupied a strongly fortified inhabited lo cality," the high command said. In this engagement, 850 axis troops were killed, and captured booty included 19 artillery pieces, 37 machine guns, 81 auto matic rifles, 48 trucks and stores) of ammunition and food. Only 250 axis troops were taken pris oner. , The total number of axis pris oners taken yesterday, however, aggregated 8,900, which swelled the eight-day total to 42.200 offi cers and men, the communique said. It added that the enemy left more thai 8,000 dead on tha battlefield Wednesday. The high command said this Russian offensive hsd advanced from 85 to 119 miles In eight days and that It was continuing at a rata of 12Va to 15V mUea daily. U. S. Bountiful of Other People Russia The aversge Soviet citizen will have no fancy dishes. Vegetable soup and black bread will be the mUn fare for many. The best foods are being saved for the army, and transportation difficulties hsmper the feeding of city dwellers. Norwsy The Norwegians, under Nazi occupation, will get llt'le If any meat. Even fish, the main Norwegian dish, baa prac tically disa-tpeared with the Ger mans takl'ig over most of the herring cs'ch Fran' There will be almost nothing u eat; certainly no extra Christmas dishes. . Germany The German table will be a little more bountiful because ot wine and meat from France, bread from conquered Soviet territory, and other foods stolen from occupied countries. But there will be no real coffee and no after-dinner cigars, and the meat and vegetable rations will be slim.