The Daily Mail from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 1

DAY BY DAY Tip to motorists: Many soldier boys will be moving toward home for Christmas. Keep an eye open for them and tender a lift. Mail. Some cloudiness and consider- Q1H Published dally (except Sonday) by the MaO Publishing; Co. O1U.

Entered second-class matter at the Hagerstowo HAGERSTOWN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1941. SINGLE COPIES, 3 CENTS NGKONG HOLDING AS CHINESE SMASH AT JAP REAR; BATTLE RAGES ON DAYAO 40,000 Germans Wiped Out Before Moscow British Planes Appear On Russian-Finnish Front. MOSCOW, Dec. 20, (ff). The army's grand offensive from northern Karelia to southern Ukraine has cut down the size of retiring divisions by more than 40,000 men in two weeks, Russian reports said today.

Soviet units operating in a sector of the Leningrad front were declared by the government information bureau to have slain 2,000 Germans, captured the station and seized a large quantity of provisions and war material in a three- day battle. 30 Recaptured The Communist party newspaper. Pravda said Soviet units killed 1,600 Germans and recaptured 30 villages yesterday in the Donets basin mrea. Other villages on the central front were added to the Soviet list of gains in which 37,000 Germans were declared to have been killed, wounded and captured since December 7 Izvestia, the government newspaper, said German assaults on. (Continued on Page 2) FAMILY OF 7 ESCAPEFIRE Mrs.

Ruth Smith And Six Children Flee Blazing Home. A widow and her six children narrowly escaped with their lives early today when their nine room log and weatherboard dwelling on the Edward E. Poffenberger farm, between Boonsboro and Keedysville was completely destroyed by fire. Mrs. Ruth Smith, widow of Ott Smith, was aroused by the crackling of the flames between 1 and 2 a.

m. and rushing to the rooms her children were asleep, aroused them. The fire was so close to the children's rooms that they forced to flee in their clothing. The Boonsboro fire department summoned to the scene, but a section of the house collapsed over the cistern top and it was impossible to get water. Some of the furniture, however, was saved.

Lawyer's Wife Killed By Gas Body Of John Lashley Found In Car Early Today. Mrs. John R. Lashley, daughter of Judge Watson R. Davison, of Franklin county, was found dead early today in her automobile near an abandoned Civilian Conservation Camp just outside Waynesboro.

She had been missing 24 hours. Mrs. Lashley was the wife of Attorney John Lashley, of Waynesboro, and is well known in Hagerstown. Coroner S. D.

Shaw said Mrs. Lashley had died of carbon monoxide which reached the closed car through a garden hose attached to the exhaust pipe. He added that the 40-year-old woman had expressed fear of a fatal illness. RUSSIAN SHIP SUNK BY JAPS BATAVIA, Netherlands East Indies, Dec. 20 planes bombed and sank the Russian freighter Perepop on her run between Vladivostok and Surabaya, Java, the Netherlands news agency Aneta said it was learned here today.

Eight members of the crew were reported killed, while 32 others, including the captain, and three women, were rescued. Seventeen Japanese planes were said to have taken part in the attack. British Forces In Libya Continue To Keep Enemy On Run. CAIRO, Egypt, Dec. 20 Axis retreat in Libya has turned into a rout, with imperial forces chasing General Erwtn Rommel's battered army and British air blows taking staggering new toll of his remaining strength, the British declared today.

CAIRO, Egypt, Dec. 20 forces in Libya, "keeping the inemy on the run," occupied the Mediterranean port of Derna and the inland town of Mekili yesterday and have pushed on 45 miles west of Derna, the British Middle East command announced today. The British thus have covered about 245 miles from the Egyptian border, where they started their offensive little more than a month ago. Mekili is 40 miles south of Derna. (The German radio broadcast a Nazi communique announcing the Axis forces repulsed British attacks but were withdrawing in Libya "according to plan," while the Rome radio broadcast an Italian communique that the Axis soldiers are meeting increasing British attacks with valor.) The British said- their airmen subjected many columns of the retreating enemy to severe bombing and low flying attacks.

"Great havoc was caused to enemy mechanical transport on a number of roads which were literally packed with traffic," the com- munique said. (The British radio, heard by CBS, reported that "numerous further prisoners" were taken in Libya and that "the Poles alone took more than Aerial Torpedoes Sink 2 Transports CAIRO, Dec. 20 (JP) British naval aircraft fired torpedoes at two Axis transports and two in a heavily guarded convoy near Triploi Tuesday and sank one of each tonnage, it wsa announced today. Both vessels began immediately to settle by one end, it was said. Tripoli now is one of the main ports of entry into German and Italian Libya, a gateway for supplies and reinforcements for armies being battered in eastern Libya by the British offensive.

LOADED GERMAN TRANSPORTS SUNK MOSCOW, Dec. 20, The Moscow- radio announced today that a Russian submarine had sunk three German transports, totalin 25,500 tons, in the Arctic. The transports were fully loaded and were escorted by destroyers and patrol boats, the announcement said. Hancock Children Had Planned To Exchange Gifts. Vandals broke into the Hancock elementary school sometime early yesterday morning and destroyed or carried off almost all the Christ mas gifts the children of the school had purchased and wrapped to give to one another, it was re ported to Hancock police.

It is believed the vandals made their entrance by jimmying a win dow and once inside made a syste matic search of all rooms. Gifts- that were piled in the closets the rooms were taken out and eith er destroyed or scattered abou the building. Some were found early the next day scattered In various sections of the town. have learned the identity of the culprits and an early ap prehension in expected. Norwegians Fleeing Occupied Homeland STOCKHOLM, Dec.

20, Swedish, newspaper dispatches reported today that increasing numbers of Norwegians were fleeing their German-occupied homeland, slipping away to England in some instances by the boatload. Only recently, according to these advices, a 200-ton ship slipped out of a remote harbor on the Norwegian west coast with 200 persons aboard, including some accused by the Germans of political "crimes." A week' ago another steamer bearing 90 persons was said to have made a similar get-away from south Norway. TRIBUTES PAID LATE Bar Association Holds Memorial Services In Courtroom This Morning Glowing tributes to three distinguished late members of the Washington County Bar Association were Paid at memorial exercises held in the courtroom of the courthouse this morning with Judges Sloan, Huster and Mish presiding. Resolutions In which members of the bar expressed their affection and admiration for their departed with their profound- regret -over- -their submitted to and accepted by the court. The resolutions on the death of Worthington Perry Wachter were read to the court by Attorney J.

Cleveland Grice and signed by a committee composed of Mr. Grice, Ellsworth R. Roulette and Martin V. B. Bostetter.

The exemplary life led by Mr. Wachter was reviewed in the resolutions, together with the setting forth of the many honors he received at the hands of his fellow men. The resolutions on the death of former Judge Frank G- Wagaman (Continued on Page 2) Two Are Badly Hurt In Crash One McKeesport Youth Expected To Die Of Injuries. Two persons were injured, one perhaps fatally at 5:45 o'clock this morning when the automobile in. which they were riding swerved and crashed into a telephone pole in the 600 block of Frederick Road.

Charles W. Goeditsch. 19, McKeesport, driver of the car, is expected to die. He sustained a possible broken back and crushed chest in addition to head injuries. Jack Forbes, 21, also of McKeesport, suffered severe lacerations about the head and other injuries but is expected to recover.

William Cartwright, 19, McKeesport, who was on the back seat of the car and asleep, escaped all injury. The three youths were enroute to McKeesport from Florida and police are of the opinion that Goe- disch fell asleep. The car swerved from the right to left side of the street and crashed with tremendous force against the pole. Carl Myers, a Herald-Mail em- ploye, drove the injured to the hospital in a company delivery truck. RECORD OF CITY HALL COMPLETED A book containing the chronological record, of the Hagerstown City Hall from its inception to dedication and occupancy, has been completed and presented to the Mayor and City Council.

Photographs of the laying of the cornerstone, dedicatory exercises of the building itself and photographs of each department, togeth er with publicity, are included In the book. Thomas W. Pangborn was chairman of the general committee on the dedication, while the records committee which prepared the book consisted of John B. Ferguson, chairman; George H. Hornbaker, Joseph D.

Mish, A. Leslie Gardner and Vernon M. Miller. LONG, HARDER WAR IS SEEN German Propaganda Minister Sees Lightning Marches As Ended TOKYO REPORTS CROWN COLONY AFLAME; JAPS WITHIN 200 MILES OF SINGAPORE BERN, Switzerland, Dec. 20, (ff).

Joseph Goebbels, German propaganda minister, told Axis readers today that "the changed world picture" had now made it necessary to count upon a long and harder war. His weekly front page article in Das Reich argued that the' better chances of victory were on the Axis but implied that the chances of any further lightning marches were ended. "One day the hour will come when the adversary gets groggy." wrote. "When that hour will arrive nobody can tell." The article dealt with the Far Eastern conflict and the Axis' hances against Britain and the United States. References to a long" war have been frequent in most of the German press in the past few days, some saying the conflict would last from five to ten years.

"We do not underestimate the remaining possibilities of England and America," the propaganda minister wrote. "We have frequently pointed out that the colossal extent of both be broken in days, weeks or even months. We must compose ourselves for a hard and bitter battle. "In this battle there certainly will be an eternal up and down in which, under the circumstances, we will not be able to avoid certain reverses. But that is not the deciding issue.

The decisive issue is that by far much better chances lie on the side of the Axis and that their leadership will not hesitate to use them." FIVE MARINES DEAD IN CRASH FREDERICKSBURG, Dec. 20 Marines from the Parris Island Marine station in South Carolina were killed in an automobile-truck collision on Route 1 about 13 miles south of here arly today. The driver of the truck, James Digh, 33, of Gastonia, N. was injured, and a'sixth member of the Marine party, R. I.

Hensley, was hurt. HEAVY TRAFFIC BREAKS MAINS Heavy trailer trucks passing over Hagerstown streets are playing havoc with water mains, Albert Heard, superintendent of the municipal water department said today. During this week four mains, all located along streets on main arteries of travel, were broken. Yesterday an S-inch main on West Washington street, between High and Walnut was found.cracked and one block was cut off from water for some hours until repairs could be made. KELLY, NO.

11I. S. HERO, DIED IN CRASH OF FLAMING PLANE; CREW SAVED By RUSSELL BRINES MANILA, Dec. 20, Colin P. Kelly, who became the number one American hero in the second World War by destroying a Japanese battleship, was killed in the flaming crash of his bomber af- tering ordering his crew of six to save themselves, the Far Eastern command announced today in awarding him -the Distinguished Service Cross.

Capt. Kelly and 12 other officers and men, two of them Filipinos, were honored with the decoration, the highest Army award except for the Congressional medal, for showing extraordinary bravery, often against superior Japanese "odds. Three awards, including Capt Kelly's, were made posthumously. The announcement at the headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of the U.

S. Army of the Far East, 'was accompanied by a description of the various deeds which combined to provide a thrilling narrative of exploits in the first ten days of the war. Sunk Battleship It told the first story of Capt. Kelly's death after scoring three direct hits on the battleship Haruna near Aparri on December 9, and it (Continued on Page 2) MAYOR HOPES FOR TAX CUT 5-Cent Reduction Likely Despite Heavy Added Expenses, Says Sweeney In spite of a dozen or so reasons that ordinarily would boost the tax rate, Mayor Richard H. Sweeney indicated- this morning that he is planning at least a five-cent reduction in city levy.

"In thdse days of taxes and more taxes, relief that can be given should be given," the Mayor declared, adding that while it doesn't figure out so well on paper, it is his intention to slash the 1942 city rate at least five cents. Necessary increases in wages to city employes will entail an outlay next year of $25,000 alone, the Mayor explained. He summarized further that next year will be the peak year in retirement of city bonds; that the city next year will be forced to spend thousands of dollars extra on more adequate police protection because of the war; that $32,000 additional is going for boilers at the light plant which will be finally installed about March that an increase in the city's per(Continued on Page 2) U. S. Sub Sinks Jap Transport WASHINGTON, Dec.

20 The Navy reported today that a United States submarine had sunk "an additional enemy transport. There were no details of this latest reported action by American undersea craft, but earlier this week it had been announced that a submarine had sunk one enemy transport and probably a destroyer. Thus the sinking reported today was of the second transport lost to the Japanese by U. S. submarine action.

JAPS ADMIRE DEFENDERS LONDON, Dec. 20 kong's defenders a deep tribute today Japanese News Agency, when it said in a broadcaJ; that "the expected the colony 'has been staved off by their stubborn defense." Reuters recorded the Tokyo broadcast. GIVES BONUS, PAY BOOST Fairchild Head Praises Workers For A Job Well Done. Manufacturers Complete Setup For Stamp Sale Demonstration J. Vincent Jamison, Chairman Of Group Of Fifty Industrial Executives Who Will Press paign; Group Chairmen Named.

A Christmas gift of $95,000 fell into the socks and stockings of the men and women employes of the Fairchild Aircraft Division to day. Richard S. Boutelle, Acting General Manager, in a letter to all employes which accompanied the bonus checks, announced that these represented "additional compensation for your efforts during the last half of this year." The company had already paid a six months' bonus last July. In addition to the bonus, Mr. Boutelle announced that there will go into effect on Monday a five cents an hour pay raise for all em- ployes, this to take the place of future bonus payments, which, due to the growth of the company and the uncertainty of the tasks that may be imposed upon it by the government, would be difficult to compute justly.

In his letter Mr. Boutelle compliments the personnel of the com- for the fashion in they have kept production well ahead of government demands despite the lack of facilities earlier in the year. "With the prevailing loyally and fine spiKt of our employees we are (Continued on Page 2) Chinese Assault On Shumchun Forces Japs TcT Withdraw Troops Trying To Capture Hong- kong; Dutch Bombers Play Havoc With Jap War Fleet. MANILA BOMBING INEFFECTIVE (By The Associated Press) In the first word flashed from siege-bound Hongkong in 24 hours, Governor Sir Mark Young reported that the ish Far East citadel was still holding out today while Japanese dispatches pictured the island's million-population ital in flames and declared the Japanese flag was flying over Hongkong harbor. 'While the British garrison battled against apparently hopeless odds, Chinese army headquarters announced that Chinese troops driving along the Canton-Kowloon railroad in- an attempt to relieve Hongkong, smashed their way terday into Shumchun on the mainland border of Hongkong" colony.

It was a. desperate race against DUTCH JAP WARSHIPS Harass Concentrations Off Sarawak, Hitting 2 Cruisers, Transports BATAVIA, Netherlands East Indies, Dec. 20 Dutch fliers striking, at Japanese ship concentrations off Sarawak scored direct hits on two cruisers and two transports, it was reported here today by Aneta, the Netherlands Indies news agency. (The Exchange Telegraph reported in London that the Netherlands government announced one of the cruisers was probably sunk and the British agency Reuters said it was announced in. Batavia that a cruiser and a transport were left blazing.) The ships were concentrated off Miri, where the Japanese invaded Sarawak.

'Sarawak is the British territory adjacent to British North Borneo on the northern coast of the island. The communique said that in one attack Dutch planes early today recorded one direct hit and one near miss on a Japanese cruiser and a direct bit and two near misses on another ship presumably used for transporting airplanes. An official announcement issued this evening said that Netherlands bombers again attacked Japanese and transports off Miri and again scored a direct hit on a Japanese cruiser and a further direct hit on another transport ship. "Officials pointed out that in these two separate attacks two cruisers and two transports were hit." I Invaders Surprised NEW YORK, Dec. 20 British radio, heard here by CBS, said today that Netherlands troops made a surprise attack in North Borneo and captured some of the Japanese invaders.

PATRICIDE IS GIVEN PARDON The manufacturers of Hagerstown and Washington county last night completed their organization for the demonstration of the sale of defense savings stamps in the city and county the week beginning January 5. Fifty executives of all types of industry, under the chairmanship of J. Vincent Jamison, echoed the enthusiasm for the project evinced at the meeting on Thursday night of the general committee. From each group of industries a chairman volunteered to serve In organizing the individual plants. It was emphasized throughout the meeting that no set plan of organization was asked for and that each firm, in its own purchase of stamps and in arrangements for the pur- chase of stamps by its employes, should follow the pattern best suited to its individual needs.

Many of the firms represented at the meeting indicated that they would either lead off with a Christmas gift of stamps to their em- ployes, or in cases where Christmas bonuses had already been scheduled or paid in cash, that they would provide additional gifts by way of stamps for employes on in the belief that books once having been thus started the employes themselves would continue to fill them by the purchase of stamps and their conversion into bonds. John R. Bell, of the Pangborn Corporation, who acted as secre- (Continued on Page 2) RICHMOND, Dec. 20 Governor James H. Price has issued a conditional pardon to Edith Maxwell, former Wise county school teacher, convicted of killing nor father, Trigg Maxwell, and sentenced to 20 years imprison in one of the most widely publicized case in the history of Virginia.

Miss Maxwell, her mother and 12- year-old sister, Mary Kathryn, contended at the trial that the young school teacher struck the 52-year- old miner-blacksmith over the head with a high-heeled woman's shoe when he threatened to whip Edith for staying out late at night. They testified that he came home "roaring dnmk" and had threatened to run Mrs. Maxwell off the place before Edith came in a few minutes later. Maxwell was killed July 21, Governor Price's pardon was dated yesterday arul Miss Maxwell left, the state industrial farm for women sometime yesterday afternoon. Army Plans To Go After Young Men WASHINGTON, Dec.

20, Thwarted by Congress in its plan for drafting men under 20, the Army will rescind recent orders against volunteer enlistments and go after the younger men, an informed Ser.at.or predicted today. "The Army lias made it plain that it wants younger men," said Senator Reynolds chairman of the Senate Military Affairs committee, "and I am sure that ir wiil begin recruit ing thorn immediately." I COOKING UTENSILS I NEEDED BY MANY The widow and her six children, who narrowly escaped death on Friday night when their home near Keedysville burned down, are much in need of dishes, cooking utensils and bed springs, also a stove that could be used for heating a portion of tue house. Anyone who has any of these articles TO donate asked to telephone 2370 anci they will be called for. time, however, with the Japanese strongly entrenched on the land and rapidly tightening siege ring: around Hongkong defenders. Chinese headquarters said assault on Shumchun had forced the Japanese to rush reinforcements from the Hongkong main- Jand, section and that heavy fighting was raging 10 miles northeast ol Shumehun.

Far to the sea-borne Dutch troops were repbfTed to have made a surprise attack in north Borneo and captured some of the Japanese invaders who landed earlier this week in British-controlled Sarawak. Dutch bombers were also reported to have inflicted smashing blowg on Japanese warships and troop transports off Sarawak. In the siege of Hongkong, a Tokyo broadcast asserted that tha British garrison had been, encircled on Mount Victoria, in heart of the city. Victoria is the capital of Hongkong colony. Tokyo press dispatches said trucks flying Japanese colors were: carrying disarmed British through the city streets from the fighting zone and reported that (Continued ca Page 2) Kills Parents, Brother, Sister Sixteen Year Old Farm Youth Tired Of Being Bossed Around.

LITTLE FALLS, Dec. 20 (I?) 16-year-old Morrison county farm youth, "tired of being bossed around," County Attorney Austin L. Grimes announced today, has signed a statement calmly admitting ihe shotgun-slayings of his parents, a younger sister and a. younger brother and the starting of a fire in the home, IS miles east of here. The deaths of August Dehlre, 50, his wife, his 10-year-old daughter, Anna Mae, and live-year-old son, Kenneth, were discovered last night by a nephew of the slain mau who drove to the house to get the 16-year-old, boy to attend Christmas party.

Grimes said The lad had told in his statement of starting preparations for the kiliiag yesterday afternoon by siphoning gasoline from a tank at the farr.i and spreading it around the premises. After the evening mtjal, Grimes Quoted the lad as he completed the chores and then obtained a shotgun from the house, telling his father he was going to shoot a Grimes said the family was killed by shots tired from outside the house. After setting the fire, the statement continued, the lad drove into the nearby town of Buckman, where news of the discovery of the fire was told litni in a barber shop. Grimes sain the boy returned to the home, helped extinguish the fire and then returned to Buckrnan, from where he telephoned sisters In Duhith, Minneapolis and LittJe Falls of a "terrible accident" He was taken into custody when returned to the home a second.