Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, December 23, 1939, Image 1

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Evening star. [volume], December 23, 1939, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 23 Dec. 1939. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-12-23/ed-1/seq-1/>

Newspaper Page Text

Weather Forecast -—
Increasing cloudiness, slowly rising tem- c. . _.A
perature, followed by rain late tonight JlHCe Io52
or tomorrow; temperature tonight about
35. Temperatures today—Highest, 40, “A Welenme
at 1 pun.; lowest, 31, at 6 a.m. A welcome Visitor
Prom thr Dpt,1t^dd|tails* on'pltg" ^rreau report. I In Washington Homes”
Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales, Page 14.
* "__ ___ W) Mean* Associated Press.
^88th YEAR. No. 34,934,_ WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1939—TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES. ** THREE CENTS.
Finns Launch Counter-Offensive
On Karelian Isthmus as Planes
Raid Red Centers and Transport
1 ■ 1 ■ A _
Alarms Sound in
Helsinki; Arctic
Drive Continues
Br the Associated Press.
• HELSINKI, Dec. 23. — Finnish
troops today launched their first
major counter-offensive on the
Karelian Isthmus, most important
of the several war theaters.
Finnish planes attacked Russian
troops, supply centers and trans
portation arteries in the' isthmus
sector yesterday in preparation for
the ground assault.
Russian planes swinging over
Helsinki in a cloudy sky attacked
Tampere, northwest of the capital,
where there is a big munitions base;
Tammisaari and Ekenas, to the
fouthwest, and Lohja, west of Hel
sinki.
Finnish reports said many bombs
were dropped, at least one home
■was burned in Tammisaari and
there was machine-gunning from
as low as 150 feet.
Air raid alarms sounded in Hen
sinki. Some shooting occurred
and a distant rumble was heard as
if a bomb had been dropped.
Cold Favoring Finns.
The Finnish army in the Arctic
sector was reported to have forced
retreating Soviet troops back be
yond Hoyhenjarvi, approximately 60
miles south of the Arctic Ocean.
Intensely cold weather and deep
snow was favoring the Finns.
iviure man ou uumus were uruppeu
In the Helsinki area yesterday by
Russians. Most of them were 400
pounders, but some did not explode
and damage was surprisingly small.
It appeared, however, that the Red
flyers were tryin gto hit some mili
tary objectives, such as bridges,
failway repair centers and muni
tions depots. The bombs tell near
a railway repair shop.
Two of the seven planes raiding
Helsinki were shot down, officials
said.
There were reports that pam
phlets had been dropped. One
source said the pamphlets were
6imply greetings from Otto Kuusi
nen, head of the pro-Soviet “peo
ple's” government set up recently
at Terijoki, Finnish town near the
Russian border.
Another report said the pam
phlets warned that terrible air
raids were coming.
Relief Official Arrives.
Frederick Dorcey Stephens, rep
resenting the Hoover Relief Com
mittee which is raising funds to
aid the Finnish people, arrived
here from Paris to survey relief
needs. He acted in a similar ca
pacity in Poland.
In Helsinki the Civilian Defense
Corps decreed that no snow be re
moved from the streets so black
spots against the surrounding white
countryside would not serve as a
guide to the enemy from the air.
Field Marshal Baron Carl Gustaf
Mannerheim, commander in chief
of the Finnish Army, sent Christ
mas greetings to the troops, de
claring:
“None of us will have a home or
a fatherland or the blessings of
Christmas without victory.”
Mannerheim also sent his praises
to factory employes, whose work he
said was “equally important to the
fatherland.”
Russian Air Attacks
Reported Resumed
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 23 OP).—
The Red Army’s retreat from Far
Northern Finland was reported still
Visible today from the Norwegian
frontier.
Finnish troops also were reported
hurling the Russians back on the
central Finnish “waistline.”
The report said several Russian
battalions in the Arctic sector had
been surrounded at Salmijarvi, cen
ter of the nickel mining district,
which was burned by the Finns
When they retreated.
Finnish reports also said the army
^iad cut off highway communica
tions with Pet.samo, Arctic port,
forcing the Soviet forces to con
tinue eastward toward Kola, across
the border in Soviet Russia.
In the central Salla district, the
Finns were reported pounding at
the retreating Russians so relent
lessly that the forces had been
thrown into confusion.
The Finns declared there was no
longer a “living Russian” south of
Salmijarvi on the Arctic front—
but that thousands were dead, vic
tims of a bitter blizzard and sub
Eero weather.
Many Believed Frozen.
The hasty flight from the Arctic
nickel mining district was made in
25-degree-below-zero temperature,
and Norwegian sources said it was
possible thousands had frozen to
death.
One report from Oslo said
the withdrawal was forced by the
bombing of the Murmansk Rail
way, cutting off a supply source for
the Russian expedition.
On the Karelian front the Finnish
communique said an attack was re
pufcsed between Kuokjarvi and
Muola ’ after especially intensive ar
®nd aerial bombardment.”
Tln£isll.air fo'ce carried the
attack to Terijoki, isthmus frontier
town and seat of the Kremlin-rec
ognized “people's government” of
Finland.
The army said more than 350
Red air force planes had engaged in
raids over Finland yesterday, but
casualties of only 16 dead and 43
wounded were reported for the
whole nation. Eleven enemv planes
were brought down by anti-aircraft
guns, the Finns said.
4
Hitler's Elite Guards Told
To Beget, In or Out of Wedlock
Nazi Party Ready to Stand Sponsor for Any
Illegitimate Children, Hitler's Deputy Says
Py the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Dec. 23. — Heinrich
Himmler, head of all German po
lice, today urged the black-uni
formed SS men to beget children,
in or out of wedlock, especially in
war-time, while Rudolf Hess, Hit
ler’s deputy in party affairs, an
nounced the Nazi party was ready
to stand sponsor for any soldiers’
children born out of wediock.
Himmler's views, laid down in
an “order to the entire SS (elite
guard) and police,” included the
declarations:
“Every W'ar means letting of the
best blood. Many a victory of arms
was at the same time a devastating
defeat for the nation’s vitality. « • *
“The ancient saying that only he
can die peacefully who has sons
and children must be translated
into fact during this war by the SS.
“Beyond the limits of bourgeois
laws and customs which ordinarily
are probably necessary it can be
come an exalted task even outside
of wedlock for German women and
girls of good blood to become—not
frivolously but imbued with deepest
moral concern—mothers of children
begotten by soldiers moving to the
front without knowing whether they
will return or die for the father
land.”
Himmler pledged that he would
appoint “special sponsors" for "all
children of good blood born in or
out of wedlock whose fathers fell in
the war.”
The Nazi party's pledge to stand
sponsor was announced by Hess in
a letter to an unmarried expectant
mother whose soldier-finance was
killed in Poland.
"During war especially, which so
often means death for the oest
men, every new life is of extraordi
nary importance to the nation,”
Hess wrote.
“Hence, if young soldiers fall on
behalf of the fatherland who, for
some reason or other could not
marry and who leave children be
hind, the state will take care of this
national treasure.”
He said the Nazi party would, if
desired, stand sponsor for “children
of war fathers," look after their edu
cation and give material aid.
Puppets in Finland
Reported Arrested
By Russians
Terijoki Regime Said
To Have Misled
Stalin on Finns
By the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 23. — The
newspaper Social-Demokraten re
ported without confirmation today !
that the entire Terijoki Finnish
Communist "People's government’’
had been arrested by Russia because
they had misled Joseph Stalin con
cerning Finland's military strength
After Russia invaded Finland a
‘‘People's government” headed Dy
the Communist Otto Kuusinen was
set up in Terijoki, a Finnish town
near the Russian border. Russia
later signed a mutual assistance
pact with this “government.”
Kuusinen was among those who
sent birthday greetings to Joseph
Stalin Thursday.
'Blitzkrieg' Impossible,
Russians Explain
MOSCOW. Dec. 23 (A>).—Failing
for the third successive day to re
port any important gains against
Finland, Soviet Russia declared to
day the Finns’ natural and con
structed defenses made impossible
a “lightning blow.”
Although the Russian communique
contended the Red Army was doing
well under the circumstances, un
confirmed reports circulated here
that Gen. G. A. Metetskoff had been
relieved of his post as commander
of the campaign against Finland.
Summarizing activities since the
war began November 30, the com
munique said "important successes”
had been scored in this period.
“The territory of Finland.” it
said, "presents most serious difficul
ties for movements of troops. Lack
of roads, rugged terrain, impass
able forests, innumerable lakes di
vided by innumerable isthmuses
spanned by several lines of defense
consisting of concrete gun and ma
chine gun emplacements with con
crete refuges for troops—these are
conditions hindering the rapid ad
< See FINLAND, Page A-3.)
Search Pressed for Pilof
Lost in Alaska Hunt
By the Associated Press.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Dec. 23.—
A veteran Alaska pilot who went in
search of a stranded aerial party
was the object of other searchers
today.
The quartet he sought was found
unharmed despite three days and
nights in a frozen wilderness. Mrs.
William Jefford and her 15-month
old son were taken bv dogsled to
Nulato. Pilot Fred Chambers and
James Walsh, another passenger,
remained to repair their crippled
plane.
Four airplanes and 10 dog teams
searched fruitlessly for Pilot Hans
Mirow, who disappeared Wednesday
in the Western Alaska tundra while
searching for Chambers’ party.
History of Toys
And Dolls
As the concluding broadcast
of the 1939 series of junior
high school programs, the
Cross Roads Theater players
will be featured in a dram
atization of the “History of
Toys and Dolls” tonight over
Station WMAL at 7:30 o’clock.
Assigned as home listening
for junior high school stu
dents, these programs by the
Cross Roads Theater group
are sponsored as a special
public service by The Star
with the co-operation of the
National Broadcasting Co. and
the Board of Education.
1
John Andrew Martin,
House Member From
Colorado, Dies
New Deal Supporter, 71,
Had Suffered Two
Heart Attacks
John Andrew Martin, 71, Demo
cratic Representative from the third
district of Colorado, died early to
day in Naval Hospital. Strick**»
with a heart attack a week ago
while on a train en route to Wash
ington from his home town, Pueblo,
Mr. Martin was brought to his
home here at the CRrroll Arms
Hotel. He suffered a second attack
Wednesday and was taken to the
hospital the next day.
Since Congress adjourhed. Mr.
Martin, who represented Colorado
in 1909-1913 and again from 1933
until his death, had been on an ex
tensive tour of his home district.
An ardent supporter of the New
Deal as a member of the House
Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee, he helped frame the
administration’s holding company
legislation, and later was a member
of the subcommittee that worked
out the Railroad Retirement Act of
1935 and subsequently the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act.
Was Born in Cincinnati.
Born in Cincinnati? Ohio, he
moved to Fulton. Mo., in 1872, and
attended the DUblic schools there
and at Mexico. Mo. With his par
ents he moved to Kansas in 1884
and worked on a farm. Three years
later he moved to Colorado, where
he found employment as a track
layer and locomotive fireman.
In 1895-96 Mr. Martin served as a
member of the City Council of La
Junta, Colo., publishing a weekly
newspaper during the same period.
Meanwhile, he studied law and was
admitted to the bar -in 1896. The
following year he began practicing
in Pueblo. He was made a member
of the State House of Representa
tives in 1901 and 1902 astd served as
city attorney for Pueblo in 1905 and
1906.
He was elected to the Sixty-first
(See MARTIN, Page A-9.)
Reich Bars Swiss Papers
GENEVA, Dec. 23 (A>).—Swiss
newspapers which had been per
mitted to circulate in Germany until
now were informed by their German
offices today that, effective imme
liately, no German-language news
papers published abroad would be
permitted to enter;
50 Are Killed
In Another Nazi
Train Collision
30 Also Injured;
Accident Tenth
Since War Began
By the Associated Press.
KARLSRUHE, Germany, Dec. 23.
—Two disastrous collisions on Ger
many's war-strained railway system
yesterday claimed 182 lives and In
jured 139 persons, officials an
nounced today.
The second occurred between
Marksdorf and Kluftem when a
passenger train and a freight train
struck head-on at top speed. It
killed 50 persons and injured 30.
One hundred and thirty-two per
sons were killed and 109 injured
when two passenger trains collided
at Genthin.
Authorities made no comment
on the series of 10 wrecks which
have plagued the rail system since
October 8. costing 319 lives and in
luring more than 311. but the “black
out" generally was regarded as re
sponsible.
On the Genthin wreck, the papers
also commented that misty weather
made signaling difficult.
First investigations Indicated that
faulty signaling caused last night's
crash, railway authorities said, and
the state prosecutor ordered arrest
of the Marksdorf and Kluftem sta
tion agents.
The nrevimic HTPrlfc tt'firo1
October 8—20 killed, injured un
determined in collision in Berlin
station.
November 6—5 killed, 12 injured,
derailment caused by rock slide
near Reichenberg.
November 13—43 killed, 60 injured,
:ollision near Onaen.
November 19—9 killed, 20 injured.
:ollision near Spandau.
November 27—11 killed. 5 injured,
collision near Niederwoellstadt.
December 1—14 killed, 14 injured,
:ollision with bus near Dortmund.
December 10—18 killed, 20 injured,
:ollision with bus near Linz.
December 12—17 killed, 41 injured,
collision near Hagen.
Grounded Greek Steamer
Floated Off Cape Henry
By the Associated Press.
NORFOLK, Va„ Dec. 23.—The
Greek steamer Aliakmon. which
went ashore about 25 miles south
of Cape Henry, was floated early
today by the Coast Guard cutter
Mendota.
After the vessel went aground
early yesterday, several futile at
temps were made to pull her out
jf the shallow water. At 4:35 a.m.
today, the Mendota reported to
Coast Guard headquarters here that
she had succeeded in floating the
Aliakmon, and was towing the ves
sel to Hampton Roads.
The cutter Dione was standing by
to give any assistance necessary.
The Aliakmon was en route from
Baltimore to Galveston and Houston
when she stranded, and was with
out cargo. Her net tonnage is 2,847.
Cheerless Christmas
Prospect for Warsaw
By the Associated Press.
WARSAW, Dec. 23.—Warsaw, Po
land's bomb-shattered capital, looks
forward to a cheerless Christmas as
shoppers seemed concerned only
with securing warm clothes and
something to eat.
For the first time in many decades
no Christmas cards are offered for
sale. Some few Christmas trees ap
peared on the markets December 18,
but the supply was quickly ex
hausted.
The stores omitted their usual
Christmas displays.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amusements. Obituary _.A-8
B-12 Radio _B-8
Church News, Real Estate B-l
B-4-7 Sports ..A-12-13
Comics B-10-11 Society _A-10
Editorials _ A-6 Woman’s Page,
Finance A-14-15 A-ll
Lost, Found B-8
Foreign.
Finns launching counter-offensive
on Karelian Isthmus. Page A-l
50 are killed in another Nazi train
collision. Page A-l
Puppet Finnish regime reported ar
rested by Reds. Page A-l
Allies alert with report 500 Nazi
ships are returning. Page A-3
Notional
Representative Martin of Colorado
dies in Naval Hospital. Page A-l
Congress expects first 1940 fight over
defense program. Page A-l
War Department reported to have
cut budget. Page A-2
Congressional opposition crystalliz
ing to neutrality zone. Page A-3
iVashingtofo ond Vicinity.
Downtown shoppers jam stores in
last-minute rush. Page A-l
Itrs. Roosevelt attending four char
ity parties today. Pago A-l
*
>
Amendments to Wagner Act already
being drafted. PageA-16
Pedestrian hit by automobile dies
in hospital. PageA-16
Sports
Students, alumni want Chicago U.
grid ban rescinded. PageA-12
Feather title due Scalzo if he can
catch Archibald. PageA-12
Bucky Walters’ pitching greatness
shown by statistics. Page A-13
Rules clarified for Star duckpin
tourney qualifiers. Page A-13
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-6
Answers to Questions. Page A-6
Letters to The Star. Page A-6
David Lawrence. Page A-7
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-7
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-7
Lemuel Parton. Page A-7
Constantine Brown. Page A-7
Miscellany
The Talking Doll. Page A-10
Vital Statistics. Page A-10
Service Orders. Page A-10
Nature’s Children. Page B-8
Christmas Adventure. Page B-8
Bedtime Story. Page B-10
Crossword Puzzle. Page B-10
Letter-Out. Page B-10
Winning Contract. Pag* B-ll
Uncle Ray'a Comer. Pago B-ll
r
Toys, Food and Clothing
Speeded to Yule Needy
Christmas of Hundreds to Be
Brightened by Response to Star's Appeals
Raw materials to make a merry Christmas for the neediest
children in Washington, gathered in response to The Star-Warner
Bros.-N. B. C. Christmas appeal, were loaded high in trucks yes
terday and today and sped to their destination.
Toys, cartons of food, sweaters and shoes and dresses—gifts
by the thousands—moved in a fleet of Star trucks from Govern
ment departments and other collection points to the city's Toy
Center at Eighteenth and M streets N.W.
Volunteer workers are now rushing packages to the “ultimate
consumers” of the District’s Yuletide generosity—the little girls
who are getting doll cribs, small bovs*---1
wno are receiving sleds and mothers i
who are welcoming a cupboardful
of groceries.
Meanwhile, a troop of Boy Scouts
was buzzing like zealous bees into
obscure alleyways and top-floor flats
to put last-minute contributions to
The Star's Christmas Heart Fund
into the hands of parents who were
beginning to suspect that Christmas
would not come to them in 1939.
This "share the wealth" movement
— — _ •
of cash and goods under the benign
auspices of Kris Kringle was on no
small scale. At the Toy Center,
the converging point, it was esti
mated that from Government
agencies affiliated with The Star's
appeal alone came 5,000 gleaming
new toys, 2,500 articles of food and |
hundreds of pieces of clothing.
Typical of yule drives in Gov
ernment departments—impossible to
(See CHRISTMAS CHEER, Pg. A-2)
Anthony H. G. Fokker,
Noted Plane Builder,
Dies in New York
Wealthy Designer Known
As First Man to Make
Million in Aviation
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Dec. 23.—Anthony
H. G. Fokker. plane designer and
builder, died today in Murray Hill |
Hospital.
Mr. Fokker. who was 49, was
taken to the hospital suffering from
pneumococcus meningitis.
Carter Tiffany, close friend of Mr.
Fokker, said the body would be
taken to the Netherlands, where his
mother lives, for burial.
Dr. Robert M. Cushing said death
“came peacefully” to the former
manufacturer. It followed, he said,
application of the mast modern
methods of combatting the illness,
which affected the lining of his
brain.
Five transfusions of 2'£ quarts of
blood were made, but Mr. Fokker
failed rapidly during the niglu, Dr.
Cushing said.
Made Millions in Aviation.
Mr. Fokker, who liked to design
new airplanes on wrapping paper
and factory walls, was known to
the aeronautical industry as the
first man in the world ever to make
a million dollars in aviation.
He made more than a million. He
made many. A self-educated enei
neer who indulged extravagant
whims, Mr. Fokker had a good deal
of the histronic in his makeup, but
above all, he was a canny business
man who drove hard bargains.
Fokker’s life story is anything but
a primer for ambitious young men.
He was a disciple of the unorthodox.
He directed vast enterprises with a
sharp and frequently sarcastic
tongue. Often he refused to keep
appointments, and when he did, he
was always late.
Balanced agaanst those qualities
was an impulsive generosity which
once led him to clear off the toy
counter of a New York store at
Christmas time by handing out pres
ents as fast as an admiring group
of urchins could grab them while
clerks frantically tried to keep track
of the prices.
Speed was his fetish. He owned
fleets of airplanes, motor boats and
automobiles. His office was in his
(See FOKKER, Page A-3.)
8 in Nazi Labor Corps
Buried by Landslide
By the Associated Press.
BASEL, Switzerland, Dec. 23.—
Eight workers of a German frontier
labor corps were buried under a
landslide today just to the rear of
the Rhine River war front. They
had been strengthening defense
works and the new Baden military
motor highway.
Christmas Music
Full programs of Christmas
music in Washington Churches
on Pag* B-3 and B-3. n
*
Maryland Couple Die
As Fire Razes House;
Child Fatally Burned
Firemen Find Bodies
On Second Floor of
Savage Residence
Fire had taken three lives in
Maryland homes today. Victims
were a Savage (Md.) couple, found
dead in their charred home early
today, and a 4-year-old child, who
died in Frederick, Md.
Mr. and Mrs. Addie Lilly, both
about 40. died in a blaze that con
sumed the interior of their two
story frame house in Savage. Fire
men, after bringing the blaze under
control, found the bodies on the up
per floor.
Mr. Lilly s body was in his bed,
while his wife, apparently awak
ened by the fire, had dragged as
far as the head of the stairs be
fore collapsing. Her body was found
there.
The fire was 'discovered about 4
a.m. by Dewey Cook, 34. who was
delivering newspapers. He notified
the Savage Volunteer Fire Depart
ment. which found the fire burning
fiercely when they arrived.
The blaze spread to the house next
to the Lilly’s, but did little damage
there. The occupants, Mr. and Mrs.
Jake Albaugh and their children,
were routed from bed by the fire
The Laurel. Savage, Ellicott City
and Jessup Volunteer Fire Depart
ments and the Savage Rescue Squad
responded to the alarm. Chief
Robert Stevens of the Savage Res
cue Squad discovered the bodies and
expressed the opinion the couple had
died of suffocation.
Yesterday near Frederick, Isabella
Cutsail, 4, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Lawrence Cutsail, was burned when
her clothes caught fire as she played
in her home. She died last night in
the Federick Hospital.
Police said her parents were work
ing in the fields near the home at
the time of the accident. She was
playing with two brothers, Law
rence, jr„ 5, and George Edward, 3.
Stars See Stars
Comes now that time of
year when every one connect
ed with the movies feels com
pelled to evaluate the screen
entertainment of the past 12
months. And now, for the
second time, the movie stars
themselves have turned critics,
at the behest of the North
American Newspaper Alliance,
to place laurel wreaths on the
brows of their associates.
Results of the poll of 200
^players—best performances,
best example of directing and
best motion picture of the
year, as seen by the movie
stars themselves—appear to
morrow in Harold HefTernan’s
story in the amusement sec
tion of The Sunday star.
1
Mrs. Roosevelt
Attends Children's
Christmas Parties
•
Day's Schedule Includes
Four Events for
Underprivileged
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt inau
gurated the distribution of gifts to
the Capitals underprivileged chil
dren at 9:30 o'clock today when she
visited the Central Union Mission's
party in the Capitol Theater.
Homer Rodeheaver. New York
song leader and evangelist, played
Santa Claus for the benefit of the
more than 1.500 youngsters who as
sembled in the theater to view a
Christmas film, hear music by the
United States Marine Band and
greet Mrs. Roosevelt.
Saying "merry Christmas" on
behalf of the mission was Mrs. Jean
Bennett, superintendent of the mis
sion. Mrs. William H. Ramsey,
president of the Women’s Guild of
the mission, also was present on
the stage.
Greeting From President.
After extending her own best
wishes for a happy holiday, Mrs.
Roosevelt told the children she also
brought a greeting from the Presi
dent At the suggestion of Mr.
Rodeheaver, the children shouted
in chorus, “Thank you, Mr. Roose
velt—merry Christmas to you!”
Mrs. Roosevelt told the young
sters the President’s two youngest
grandchildren cried when they saw
each other for the first time at the
White House last night.
She expressed the hope that the
pair. 17-month-old Franklin D.
Roosevelt. 3d. and 9-month-old
John Roosevelt Boettiger, son of
Mr. and Mrs. John Boettiger of
Seattle. Wash., would get to know
each other better by Christmas Day.
Mrs. Roosevelt presented bags of
gifts to the first children in line, 4
year-old Bobby Carter, and his two
sisters. Joan Margaret, 6, and Marv
Ellen, 5.
Mrs. Roosevelt left immediately
lor the Wilson Theater, Arlington,
Va„ where she looked in on the an
nual party sponsored by the Arling
ton Kiwanis Club for 500 under
privileged youngsters of the county.
wys oana nays.
Here Mrs. Roosevelt presented
dolls to Jane Lay don. 5; Patsy Nies
sen. 6. and Marjory Niessen. i3.
The 65-piece Kiwanis Boys' Band
played.
Returning from Arlington, she
held \a press conference at which
she reviewed her Christmas plans
and talked about the four grand
children who will be with her for
the holiday.
Little John Boettiger. she said,
will be the first to get his stocking
from the President's mantlepiece
on Christmas morning. She said
he was now able to stand by him
self though he can’t walk yet, and
described him as blue-eyed and red
cheeked with light hair that is
"kind of fuzzy at the back.”
His cousin, Frankie. l>i-year-old
son of Franklin, jr., and the baby
are still a little doubtful about
each other but she hopes they'll
get to be friends in time. Of the
other two grandchildren who will
be here for the holiday, she said
they had changed a good deal in
the last few years and now pre
ferred to be called Eleanor and
Curtis Boettiger instead of "Sistie”
and "Buzzie.”
Aids Basket Distribution.
At 1 p.m. Mrs. Roosevelt was ex
pected to aid in the distribution of
500 baskets of food to needy families
at the annual Christmas party of
the Volunteers of America at the
Thomson School, Twelfth and L
streets N.W.
From there she planned to go to
the Salvation Army party, 606 E
street N.W., where she was also to
help in giving out baskets.
She was to greet White House em
ployes with the President in the
east room at 3:30 this afternoon.
Mrs. Anne Boettiger and' John
Roosevelt were to aid in giving out
the presents at this annual White
House affair.
At 5 p.m. she was to make her
annual appearance at the alley tree
program, going this year to the tree
in Government court between L and
M streets at Twenty-first street
N.W.
Japan Launches Warship
TOKIO, Dec. 23 (A5).—Dome! ; Jap
anese news agency) reported today
the launching of the Japanese war
ship Hashidate at Osaka. No de
tails were divulged.
r,
Shoppers Jam
Stores in Final
Holiday Rush
Rain Following
Rise in Temperature
Is Predicted
(A lull page of pictures show
ing pre-Christmas activities in
Washington appears on Page
A-5.)
All Washington whirled gayly to
day with the hurry and color of
zero-hour Christmas preparation.
The sparkle of tinsel and the
crisp rustle of gift wrappings spread
an air of noliday cheer in homes
throughout the city as last-minute
shoppers bumped good-naturedly in
jammed department stores and
downtown streets.
Thousands of Government em
ployes, already done with their
Washington Christmas celebration,
millea through Union Station, bus
terminals and the airport, ready to
race Santa Claus to their homes
elsewhere in the country.
Mail delivprymen left postal sta
tions, their trucks and mailbags
loaded to capacity with holiday re
membrances from out of towm. on
their final pre-Christmas rounds.
Kain Predicted.
Probability that the weather
would put a damper on the Christ
mas cheer of the city was forecast
today by the Weather Bureau.
Rain is expected to follow a steady
rise in temperature tonight and to
morrow after the mercury's drop
to subfreezing levels last night for
a while bouyed hopes for a tradi
tional snowy holiday.
In the evergreen and poinsettia
decked reception hall of the White
House, four generations of Roose
velts gathered for the family Christ
mas celebration.
Franklin Roosevelt. 3rd. who is 17
months old, was the first of the
grandchildren to arrive. He was to
be joined today by Eleanor and Cur
tis < Sistie and Buzziei Dali. 12 and
9 years old. respectively, and their
9-month-old brother. John Roose
velt Boettiger of Seattle.
Mr. and Mrs. John Boettiger came
from New York yesterday with Mrs.
Roosevelt, and the children were to
travel here today with the Presi
dent's mother, 88-vear-old Mrs. Sara
Delano Roosevelt; his sister-in-law,
Mrs. J. R. Roosevelt and his former
law partner, Maj. Harry Hooker of
New York.
Also scheduled to arrive at the
White House today were two sons,
Franklin, jr., and John, with their
wives.
Final Touches on Decorations.
Just as in most every other horn#
in the city, the final touches wera
put on the decorations in the Whit#
House today. Added bits of color
were placed on the 20-foot east room
tree, the last of 32 trees to go up
in the rambling halls of the man
sion.
One celebration already has taken
place at the White House, the Presi
dent joining in his annual party for
his 154 office employes yesterday aft
ernoon. Each got a hearty Christ
mas wish, a handshake and a pewter
letter-holder from the Val-Kill
Shop, formerly operated by Mrs.
Roosevelt.
Similar parties, minus the White
House touch, but nonetheless joyous,
took place in virtually every wing
of the hundreds of Government
buildings. Employes exchanged gifts
around brilliantly decorated trees,
then hurried away for the three-dav
holiday, which allowed ample time
for thousands to leave the city.
Air Traffic Setting Record.
Estimates of the mass exodus
from the Capital ranged upward to
175.000. The Washington Airport
reported the largest holiday traffic
In history, with scores of extra
planes on all lines unable to take
aboard hundreds who attempted to
make last-minute reservations.
Union Station still was jammed
with travelers carrying armfuls of
brightly decorated Christmas pack
ages. Officials there, however, said
railroad travel reached its peak late
yesterday and last night. Then sev
eral hundred Naval Academy stu
dents in their colorful uniforms
milled through the crowd awaiting
trains to speed them home for the
holidays.
Travel at the airport was de
scribed by an official of the Penn
sylvania-Central Airlines as "at
least 60 per cent higher than that
last year,” while an Eastern Airlines
agent said his company could use
about 12 additional 21-passenger
planes. "It couldn't get any heav
ier was the way the American Air
lines described the traffic.
.nun: nouse ureeting Simple.
Cabinet members remaining here
for the holidays included Secretary
of State and Mrs. Hull, Secretary of
Agriculture and Mrs. Wallace, who
have a son and daughter visiting
them; Secretary of War and Mrs.
Woodring and their three children;
Secretary of Interior and Mrs. Ickes
with 4-month-old Harold, and Sec
retary of Commerce Hopkins, who
will spend Christmas Day at the
White House with his young daugh
ter, Diana.
Secretary and Mrs. Morgenthau
will be on their farm at Fishkill, N.
Y. Postmaster General Farley and
Secretary of Labor Perkins joined
their families in New York today.
Acting Secretary of the Navy and
Mrs. Charles Edison are at their
home in West Orange, N. J.
Attorney General Frank Murphy
is spending Christmas with his
family in Detroit.
In the mounting piles of Christ
mas greetings received by these and
other high Government officials, the
White House card was one of the
simplest. Engraved in black on
white, it said: "Christmas, 1939—
A Merry Christmas from the Presi
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt.”
Community Tree Lighting.
The Capital's pre-holiday activi
ties will be climaxed with the light*
ing of the national community
Christmas tree by President Roose
(8ee YULETIDE, Page A-4.)
a Tt'-V. ME
4
5 VM,
^QO\^G
SAM
CLAUS
MAIL

Evening star. [volume], December 23, 1939, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Evening star. [volume], December 23, 1939, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972