Detroit evening times., December 22, 1940, FINAL, Image 1

About Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
Directory
w
1— General News
2 Sports, Finance, Radio
3 Society, Fashions, Travel
4 Real Estate, Classified
J —Pictorial Review, March of
Events, Autos, Theaters
6 American Weekly
7 Comics
41 ST YEAR, NO. 83
Tinsel Aglow,
Detroit Waits
Big Christmas
Churches, Charities
to Play Major Part
in Yule Ceremonies
A reverent Detroit and an ex
pectant Detroit Saturday awaited
the dawn of another Christmas
Day.
As brilliantly tinseled Christmas
frees, encompassed with myriad
lights, stood in front windows they
beamed forth their message of
good will toward man.
Already the city’s faithful were
retelling the story of the Nativity
in. sermon, carol, cantata and
pageant.
And as cannons roared overseas,
Detroit and America seemed even
more determined this Christmas
of 1940 to resurrect and revivify
the spirit of "Peace on earth, good
bvill toward man."
Many Services Planned
religious groups planned
elaborate devotional t.nd musical
programs in joyous observance of
the birth of Christ.
Archbishop Edward Mooney will
celebrate the Midnight Mass at
the Cathedral of the Blessed
Sacrament, Woodward and Bel
mont. avenues, Christmas Eve.
Prior to the mass, from 11:15 to
11:30 p. m. there will be an organ
recital. From 11:30 to midnight,
boy choristers and a male chorus
will sing Christmas carols
Traditional Christmas rites will
t>e held in practically all Episcopal
churches in the Diocese of Michi
gan Tuesday and Wednesday. For
the most part, the services will be
midnight celebrations of Holy
Communion, usually beginning at
11 or 11:15 Christmas Eve. Carol
ing will precede many of the
observances.
In the city's Lulhcran churches.
Christmas services will begin with
a children’s program at 7 p. m.
Tuesday. The children of the Day
schools and Sunday schools will
tell the Christmas story’ in reeita
t ion and song.
Vesper Songs
Churches also scheduled Sunday
evening \i«[ier and candlelight
services. At Central Woodward
Christian Church, the choir of
Marian Van Liew will present its
annual Christmas program.
The Very Rev. Kirk R. O'Fer
rajl, D. D. will l>e celebrant and
preacher at services at 11:45 p m.
Tuesday in St Paul’s Cathedral.
Prior to the holy communion serv
-adult chofisfcrs will present
g'hnstmas carols.
V At St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
ihe Right Vev. Frank, W Creigh
ton. S. T. D . bishop of Michigan.
(Continued on Page 16)
Actress Asks SIOO,OOO
Of R-K-0 in Libel Suit
N'KW YORK, Dor. 21. (INS)
Charging tD;»f iho molion picture.
"I’m Stall Alive." was based on
her marriage to a Hollywood
stunt man. screen artross Helen
Twelvetreos today brought suit
against R-K-O pictures for SIOO 000
on the complaint that the picture
libeled her J
The film's "Laura Marlcy” is
portrayed as "the worst-tempered
star on the lot," Miss Twelve
tiers complained. The film male
lead takes the rote of a stunt man.
Miss TWelvetrees once was the
wife of Jack Woody, a stunt man.
Willkie Goes to Florida
NEW YORK, Dec. 21. (INS)
Stijl In ’seafeh t>f a job, Wendell
Willkie left by plane today *tn
spend the Christmas holidays with
bis family in Florida.
The Weather
HOI KI.V TEMPMUTtRES
* r m ... as to p m ss
'em as Up m ;ij
* p. m ...,J . IS 12 p. m 32
« [i m 34
Imagint an
English father
trying to
explain why
fe Santa won't
*fea bothered by
anti-aircraft
fire.
cfwO
-a"
| Weatlrpr Chart on rage 9)
Ford Reveals
Men Average
sl,629Year
Pay Twice Rational
Wage , Statement
Declares
The average hourly rated em
ploye of the Ford Motor Company i
earned $1,629.05 during the year
ending November 30, the company
declared Saturday in an advertise
ment headed “Does Ford Pay
Good Wages ?”
The statement reveals for the
first time the average annual pay j
of the 113,628 hourly wage earn
ers of the company in the United
States. The employes, not includ
ing office workers, students or ex- !
ecutives, were paid $185,105,639
during the year, the statement
said:
Ford Wage Higher
Contrasting the Ford annual
wage with Wages paid other work
ers, the spement said:
"In the United .States there
are employed approximates 45.-
tHHi.ooo workers. Aceonlfng to
the latest available government
figures, the average annual wage
of workers In employment cov
ered by old age Insurance law
was $811."
The statement said the mini
mum wage for unskilled labor at
the Foul plant was 75 cents an
hour, 80 cents for semi-skilled
labor and 90 cents for exj»cricnced
skilled labor classified as produc
tive employes. *
The Ford company, it was said,
has no age limit for labor and at
tempts to keep older employes
working "Hie average age of Ford
workers at the Rouge plant is 38.7.
The youngest worker is 18 and the
oldest 87.
Hal Kemp Dies
After Collision
Hurts Plus Pneurronia
Fatal to Musician
(Picture on Page Two)
International Hmlrf Vlif#
MADERA, Cal.. Dec. 21. Hal
Kemp, famous dance band leader,
died today in Dearborn Hospital
from pneumonia and other com
plications resulting from injuries
suffered in a head-on automobile
collision Wednesday.
The 36-year-old musician had
been in an oxygen tent since
Thursday when pneumonia de
veloped in one lung. Kemp's other
lung had !>ern punctured by
broken ribs. He also suffered a
broken leg.
Kemp's wife, who flew to Ma
dera from Ijos Angeles Thursday,
was at his side when he died.
Bom in Marion. Ala, Kemp
began his musical studies when he
was little more than a tot. While
he was in grade school, he played
the piano in a local movie theater
for $2 a week and passes for his
family.
Later he attended the University
of North Carolina. lie needed
money to finance his college career
so he organized his first dance
band.
From that time he was on the
way up. From dance halls he went
on natign-wide' tours and lrom
there to smart cases and then
radio and motion pictures
His last picture was “Radio City
Revels.”
6,000 Michigan Draftees
To Enter Army in February
Six thousand Michigan draftees
1—2,500 of them from Wayne
County—will he inducted into the
United States Army during Feb
ruary, it was revealed Saturday
*by Col. J. Irl Croshaw, state selec
tive service official.
Induction of these men will
(start February 8, following com
pletion on February 7 of the
: January induction program call
ing for 3,613 registrants.
In addition to the January
quota, another 124 registrants will
l>e called to fill out the Novem
ber qqota of 627 to replace those
; rejected because of physical dis
abilities.'
The January induction program
will be halted for one week from
January lfi to 16 inclusive be
cause of flu epidemics *in army
camps. West Coast strikes affect
ing the army's building pio^am,
I OKLCAST
For Detroit
and vicinity:
< 'ioudy Und
lightly colder
Sunday and
Monday
Largest Circulation of Any Michigan Newspaper
D E S
(SUNDAY)^
PART ONE
RAF Levels
Big Airdrome
In N. Africa
Italian Base Crippled
as British Close In
on 20,000 in Bardia
By W. P. SAPHIRF.
Inf'l Nn»» Her vice staff < orrrapnndent
CAIRO, Dec. 21— A destructive
Royal Air Force assault on the
huge Caste! Benito Airdrome, re
putedly Italy's main North African
aviation base, was announced in
'Cairo late tonight, while British
'sipgp artillery ceaselessly rained
tons of metal on the encircled
Libyan port of Bardia.
Crowning a 48-hour series of
raids that wrought blazing damage
to Fascist airfields at Berka and
Gazala as well as other military
centers, RAF headquarters here in
a special communique revealed
that the Cas tel Benito Airdrome,
west of Bardia, sustained a "highly
successful’ air attack Friday night.
Four Direct Hits
Swooping on the ultramodern
airjKirt from both the east and
west, the British bombers were
declared to have registered four
direct hits on three of the drome's
recently built hangars and to have
kindled fires in and around the
establishment.
In one explosion 11 Italian
planes, parked on the ground,
were destroyed anti several others
damaged, it was announced.
The bulletin w’as issued after
the British middle east army com
mand announced an additional 900
Italian prisoners and four more
artillery guns were captured west
of Bardia as Britain's desert blitz
krieg ended its second week in
which it converted the Fascist in
vasion of Egypt into a counter
invasion of Libya.
20,000 Trapped
The siege of flaming Bardia.
where more than 20//X) troops of
the Italian Tenth Anmy under Gen
eral Bcrti are trapped, remained
the focal point of the whirlwind
British offensive.
The raid on the Cartel Benito
Airdrome proved the most spec
tacular development of the J*ast
two days.
Two mighty waves of British
bombers [>ounded the drome in
rapid succession, setting fires that
were seen 70 miles away by pilots
returning from the heaviest on
slaught yet visited upon an Italian
air base in Africa.
The second RAF formation
scored seven hits in or near large
hangars, three of which were
wrecked or severly damaged, ac
cording to the British account.
All the participating planes re
turned safely, it was announced.
Earlier in the day. a regular
RAF’ communique said British
ismiliers Thursday night executed
particularly intensive attacks on
the F'aseist Libyan airdromes of
Berka and Gazala.
Down Five Planes
In air combat over the vast
western desert battlefield. British
fighters Saturday shot down five
Italian planes, it was stated.
It also was revealed that bomb
ers, taking off from British war
ships, had delivered fierce blows
at the Dodaeane.se Archipeligo jn
the eastern Aegean, attacking the
islands of Rhodes. Stampalia and
Scarpanto last Tuesday morning,
iln London the air ministry
announced JO4 Italian airplanes
were destroyed in the past 12
(lavs in North African and Al
bania. Of these 88 were shot
down in battle and 56
on the ground, the ministxysaid,
adding that British losses iri'the
same period amounted to 13
planes lost of which pilots of five
were saved.)
and other delays. Colonel Croshaw
said.
i The January induction will get
under way on schedule, however,
on January 3 and continue through
February 7 with the exception of
’he one week during which the
Detroit station in the Light Guard,
Armory will be closed.
Construction of the huge recep
tion center at Fort Custer, where
all Michigan draftees from the
Lower Peninsula will be cleared j
in t) " future, has proceeded with
out ...lerruption and the camp will
he ready to receive its first con
tingent on January 3.
Included in the 6.000 February
quota are 1.000 Negroes, Colonel
Croshaw said. Of the 503 inducted
last month. 36 were Negroes. None
are included in the January call.
There are 2,081 selectees from the
area included in the Jan
, uarv figure.
Only Detroit Newspaper Carrying International News and Complete Sport Dispatches
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1940
Germany Threatens
New War on France
Air Battles
Rage Over
Britain
By GEORGE LAIT
loti Nmii Senlrw HfafT Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 22 (Sunday)
j —ln apparent reply to the war’s
most damaging British raid on
Berlin, swarms of German bomb
ers early today violently ham
mered the western port of
Liverpool and adjacent Mersey
side towns in the second succes
sive night bombardment to afflict
that area.
Other luftwaffe raiders simul
taneously stabbed ai London and
several additional towns in all
sections of the British Isle. But
the main fury of the assault was
devoted to the Liverpool district,
where high-expiosive and incendi
ary bomb downpours visited fresh
death and destruction amid debris
left by the previous night attack.
As the aerial war rose to a
higher pitch, Royal Air F'oree
bombers once more were believed
raiding Reich objectives, including
probably those in Berlin where an
all - night British bombardment
ending early Saturday caused
"enormous fires" and "continuous
explosions” among aerial motor
works, rail stations and merchan
dise yards.
Visible SO Miles
Rooftop-skinning British bomb
ers were said to have left blazing
mounds of ruins in the German
capital and one of the bomb
kindled fires was described as a
half-mile long. Its glare visible 50
miles away.
After nightfall Saturday. RAF’
squadrons again were reported
flaying big German targets, in
cluding the Nazi "invasion ports”
on the European continental coast
which also had suffered attaek the
previous night. The German radio
station at Bremen went off the air
at 7:08 p. m. 1 1:08 Detroit time)
Saturday, indicating the proximity
of RAF' raiders, and watchers on
the southeast English coast saw
flares and searchlight beams along
(Continued on Page 14)
Greeks Menace
Last Stronghold
-—r
Anchor of Italian Army
Reported Near Capture
By A. E. AXGF.I.Ot’OIT.OS
Inf 'I Hervlff M*ff i «irre«p<»ndrnt
ATHENS. Dec. 22.—(Sunday >
A Greek advance through a rag
ing blizzard with the temperature
hovering around the zero mark,
was reported today to have hurled
Italian troops out of key positions
in the southern and central Al
banian hattlefront and sent them
reeling back toward Chimaia.
Two mountain ridges dominating
Tepeleni, strategically vital center 1
of the key Chimara-Tepeletti-
Klisura triangle, and two villages
were the Greek ad
vance, it was claimed, as well as
300 Italian prisoners, including a
colonel, and eight heavy guns.
Drive Through Lines
The Italians suffered heavy
losses in fierce battles which have
been raging in this sector since
sunrise Saturday, Athens sources
asserted.
In the course of these battles,
the Greeks thrust spearheads of
their advance through the Italian
lines and cut behind the heavily
fortified positions guarding Tepe
leni, according to these sources.
The Tepeleni stronghold, anchor
of the entire Fascist defense sys
(Contlnued on Page 14)
Rites for Daughter
Of Ambrose Bierce
SAN FERNANDO. Cal.. Dec.
21.—(INS)—Funeral services were
held today for Mrs. Hden Biefce
Isgrigg. only daughter and last
descendant of Ambrose Bierce, the
famous Pacific Coast newspaper
man and writer. Bierce disap
peared under mysterious circum
stances while traveling in Mexico
in 1914. No trace of him pver
wa* found. I
Appeasement Barred,
U.S. Warns Dictators
Four-Man Defense Board Denounces
Axis War Aims; Nation to Build
Arms Against Any Attacks
By J ACK VINCENT
Inl l New* Service Staff Cnrrfnpondmt
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. President Roosevelt’s new
four-man defense board today served notice on the world
that the United States was embarked on a supreme rearma
ment drive to build up a total defense so that there “cannot
be any appeasement” in England’s war against Germany.
The defense board, created'
only yesterday to co-ordinate
the lagging national defense
program, denounced the war
aims of the dictators as “ir
reconcilable” with this na
tion’s democratic principles in
a statement after its first
meeting.
Indicating that the defense
board was in full accord with
President Roosevelt’s plan to lend
or lease billions of dollars worth
of war materials to Great Britain,
the board's statement said that
the United States was building up
gigantic armaments for total de
fense against any possible attack.
Aimed at Axis Powers
It said there could he no ap
peasement between the principles
of dictator powers, such as repre
sented by Germany and Ital.vx and
the democratic powers such as the
United States and Britain.
The hoard, headed by William
S Kntidsen, called upon the people
of the United States to "recognize
the full gravity of the crisis."
It invited them to "roll up their
sleeves” and get to work.
The defense board statement.
German Planes, Troops
Rush to Albanian Front
By PERCY WINNER
j
li»fl N>w« Sitvlff Stuff Corre*|w»ndeot
ROME. Deo. 21. Germany has sent 45,000 troops. Stuka dive
bombers and Junkers troop transport planes to Italy's aid in Albania,
according to reliable indications in Rome today.
While the exact number of German troops could not be ascer-
it was believed to consist of three divisions.
Italian authorities pointed out- that the Rome-Berlin Axis is
operating on the principle that Albania. Fingland, the Adriatic Sea
and the Atlantic Ocean are merely'
different fronts in the same con
flict. Thus, they said, Italy and
the Reich are carrying out the
fullest possible exchange of men
and materials.
“It I» not surprising.” these
sources declared, .“for the Ger
mans to reciprocate in Albania,
in view of the several hundred
Italian pilots and planes o|M-rat
ing over the English Channel.”
It was understood that produc
tion of new types of Italian planes
soon will lie under way and that
these craft will incorixiratp fea
tures embodying lessons learned in
Berlin Cathedral, Museum
Periled by RAF Time Bomb
International »«• fter* Ire f'nhlr
BERLIN, Dec. 21. The Im
perial Cathedral, opposite the
former kaiser's palace, whose roof
was shattered by a bomb during
last night's British aerial attack
on Berlin, was menaced today by a
time bomb that landed in an open
square in front of the building in
the center of the German capital.
The danger area was roped off
and part of the cathedral and a
nearby art museum were heavily
covered by sandbags in an attempt
to muff the effects of any ex
plosion.
While the high command com
munique admitted British bombing
of Berlin, it also claimed terrific
aerial blows of its own at the
great British west coast seaport
of Liverpool and at the important
roller hearing manufacturing
center of Chelmsford, northeast of
Ijonrinn.
ISSUED EVERY SUNDAY
heavy with international implica
tions and declaring that every fac
tion oj American life would be
employed m a supreme defense ef
fort, said:
“The President’s purpose In
Treating this office was to con
solidate and co-ordinate the
various artivties now In opera
tion to provide an adequate na
tional defense. It is expected
to provide the necessary authori
tative leadership required to
still further accelerate and aug
ment the production of war
materials of every kind.
“It is borne out of a conscious
ness of the heightened gravity
of the world situation and a
recognition that the contest
which produced this crisis is
Irreconcilable in character and
cannot be terminated by any
methods of appeasement.
“Both the future security of
the United States and the total
defense for our democratic prin
ciples in this worldwide contest
demand (hat every resource of
capital anu management and
maximum effort on the part of
labor shall he ceaselessly em
ployed to provide the means of
defense against attack.
"The office for production
management has hut one mls
(Continued on Page 14)
air combats with British machines
over England.
Many of these new Italian
planes will be destined for even
tual delivery to Germany. «
Pending their construction, it
was indicated, a considerable num
ber of German Stuka dive-bonab
ers, not equal to the latest Brit
ish planes but superior to any
thing the British at present are
using in Albania, are being used
against the Greeks.
In addition, it was understood,
older type* of German Junkers
(Continued on Page Four)
Nine persons were killed and 17
wounded during last night’s raid,
in which both Berlin and Potsdam
were attacked.
Damage was also visible on the
front of the art and war museums
facing the Lustgarten end of Unter
den London. The latter was roped
off by the police.
German newspapers assailed the
raid as an attack on "the popu
lace. the museums, cathedral, and
Potsdam's historic edifices." It
was implied the German air force
would retaliate swiftly.
Six persons were killed and 17
were injured in the capital, it was
announced, while in Potsdam three
persons were killed in what the
German communique called a
"senseless raid.”
Private homes and the famous
Royal Theater were damaged at
Potsdam.
The British planes carried out
two attacks on Berlt^
Demands Government
Go to Paris, or Nazi
Control at Vichy
__ %
Inlmutlmtl »w. S-rrlec C.M*
VICHY, Dec. 21.—Germany was understood to
night to have warned France that she is prepared
to tear up the armistice, thus restoring the state of
active war, unless the Vichy government reorganizes
itself to eliminate anti-Axis elements and moves back
to Paris or places itself under full Nazi control.
As her price for continuation of the armistice agree
ment, it was learned, Germany has demanded of France a
double guarantee consisting of the following:
—That the government of Marshal Henri Phillipe Petain
remove from its ranks officials deemed opposed to the
policy of French-German “collaboration.”
2— That the Vichy government return to Nazi - occupied
Paris, binding itself to consult the German authorities
there or, as an alternative, the establishment of strict Ger
man control over the Petain government if it is to remain
in Vichy.
Well informed Vichy quarters tonight said it was considered
probable that 84-year-old Marshal Petain, the chief of state,
would reject the German demands.
The French-German impasse thus reached the proportions of
a crisis as the Petain cabinet met for hours, weighing its decision.
Flight Believed Near
Reports reaching London said Marshal Petain and ministers
supporting his viewpoint were believed contemplating flight of
the French government to North Africa if the Germans do not
moderate their demands and a settlement cannot be reached. *
<Gen. Maxim VVeygand, heading large, well equipped forces,
has been in North Africa for weeks and French Air Minister
General Bergerson has just arrived in French mandated Syria.
Persistent London reports said the Germans were demanding
right of passage for Reich troops through unoccupied France to
the northern Italian border, as well as use of the French navy
and Mediterranean naval bases. It was pointed out that restora
tion of a state of war would provide Chancellor Hitler with a
legal basis for pushing troops across France.)
The French-German deadlock, 4
engendered by dismissal of Pierre
Laval from the Petain government
exactly a week ago. reached a
serious turn when it was learned
Reich authorities in numerous
talks with French representatives
pointed out that France is still
technically at war with Germany.
The armistice means merely a
suspension of hostilities, the Ger
mans were understood to have re
minded the French government.
Rumors Unconfirmed
There w»ere rumors tfiat Petain
already had conveyed to the Ger
man authorities in Paris his re
fusal to make further govern
mental changes and restore the
dismissed Laval to office, but these
reports totally lacked official con
firmation.
The crisis was expected to reach
its climax by Monday with the
Petain government delivering its
final answer to the German pro
posals after completing a week
end series of momentous cabinet
deliberations, now in progress.
It was said the aged marshal
has voiced willingness to make
certain compromise adjustments,
hut is determined to reject any
thing he considers in violation of
his nonor as leader of his van
quished people and in excess of
the armistice agreement.
*Fate in Nazi Hands’
Due to this attitude on the part
'of Petain and his adherents,
backed up by the popularity en
joyed by the marshal among
French citizens, the gravest ac
tions by Germany were fore
shadowed, affecting the nominal
peace France has had since her
defeat last June. One high-placed
Vichy source epitomized the situa
tion with the words:
“The fate of France is once
more in Germany's hands.”
Germany consequently takes the
view that last week's Vichy gov
ernmental shift, which ousted
Laval from his posts of vice
premier and foreign minister, may
react in a manner detrimental to
(Continued on Page Four)
OPEN ALL HAY SUNDAY, 10
a. m. to 6 p. m. so that everyone
may take advantage of Detroit's
greatest Christmas service. Sim
mons St t Clark, Credit Jewelers,
1535 Broadway Open evenings till
Christmas.— Adv.
FINAL
IVatarPH
Governor Dickinson Reveals Hia Plan* to
Crusade Against Sin; How Radio Hama
©t Detroit Foil Traitorl.— ALL /V
PICTORIAL RLVILV.
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PRICE TEN CENTS
Warns America:
'Keep in Limit'
Berlin Says Too Much'
Antipathy Means .War
International Son Servlet Cable
BERLIN, Dec. 21.— Preservation
of peace between the United
States on one side and Germany,
Italy and Japan on the other be
came a matter of critical concern
to high German quarters tonight,
as illustrated in a grave warning
by the Reich foreign office to
America to refrain from commit
ting any act.”
The requisitioning of German or
Italian merchant ships in Ameri
can ports for transfer to Great
Britain would he considered such
a hostile act, the Wilhelmstrasse
declared through an official
spokesman in a press conference.
Hus solemn German admoni
tion to the United States not to
the "short of war” limitt
w hiclHhe Axis powers might deem
the borderline between non-bel
ligerency and war was under
scored by an official discloeure
that the Reich had requested re
call of three members of the
.United States embassy staff in
Paris.
Investigation Reported
Germany conveyed to the state
department in Washington the
allegation that the embassy em
ployes. including one woman—Mrs.
Elizabeth Deegan had harbored
an agent of the British secret serv
ice and otherwise acted against
German interests in the Nazi-oc
cupied French capital.
It was understood in Berlin that
the United States government re
called the staff members from
Paris and informed the Reich It
was investigating the German
charges.
In the the stiffeat aim
(Continued on Page 14)
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