The Daily Mail from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 1

DAY BY DAY Please don't crowd that soldier out of his seat on the bus or train this Christmas. Do as little traveling as possible WEATHER Windy and colder today tonight; increasing cloudiness and continued cold, followed by snow tomorrow VTIT bj Mali PvblUklnc Ratcred matter at HAGERSTOWN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1943. SINGLE COPIES, 4 CENTS NAZIS BALTIC DEFENSE LINE Using Bremen As Test Of Precision Bombing Swift Mosquito Bombers Maintain Round- Clock Offensive, And Streams Of Allied Planes Continue Blasting Today. Escapes Axis Camp LONDON, Dec. 22 RAP -mosquito bombers, maintaining the round-the-clock offensive against the Nazis, blasted unspecified objectives in western Germany last night, the Air Ministry announced today, and shortly after day-break new streams of Allied In the drietcion of northern France lor the third consecutive day.

The latest mosguito blow was carded out without loss, a communi- que said. Meanwhile, a hint that the TJ. S. Eighth Air Force is using Bremen for a test of precision bombing in out the effectiveness of an entire city was seen today in an official announcement as estimates of the number of Allied planes participating in Monday's and Tues- day's massive attacks on Germany and France rase to 3,000. Commenting on the American assault on Bremen Monday, in which- more than 600 heavy bombers participated, an'announcement by the Eighth Air Force said, "it is pointed out that scattered industries supported by a city of Bremen's size (340,000) best could be eliminated by a series of Such a test of precision bombing would contrast with the "obliteration" bombardment which wiped out the neighboring port of Hamburg.

Monuday's attack on Bremen was the fourth by the Eighth Air (Continued on Page 2) Looker Admits Fatal Shooting To The Police Makes Complete Confession; Victim Dies At Hospital. Following his formal arraignment for murden in city court this morning, Lester William Looker, 35, who early yesterday shot and fatally wounded Mrs. Esther Fravel Schildknecht, 32, made a complete confession of the crime.to Captaia of Police William H. Peters, City Detective Wayne Sellman, County Investigator Thomas Staubs and City Patrolman Nerrin Smith. "I shot Looker is quoted by the officers as saying, and added that the shooting occurred during an argvment.

He admitted there was no tussle as he claimed at one time. When arraigned before Magistrate Harry E. Snyder a few minutes before and told he was charged with murder, Looker had nothing to except that he guessed would have to get in touch with his folks down In Virginia- Detective Sellman swore to City the LOS ANGELES, Dec. 22 Some Los Angeles dealers predict as many as 1,000,000 Christmas trees may remain unsold here after Dec. 25, and prices that had ranged as high as $1.60 a foot now are as low as 25 cents a tree.

Many persons evidently had rushed into the business because of last year's scarcity. The city licensed 50 sellers last year, and 350 this year. conmiitteed to jail without privilege of bond. Mrs. Schildknecht, a divorcee and the mother of three children, died at 11 o'clock last night at the Washington County Hospital from a revolver wound she accused Looker of inflicting around 1 o'clock yesterday morning In the living room Of her apartment in the 600 block of West Franklin street.

When informed last night of Mrs. Schildknecht's death, Looker stood up in his cell and asked for a match to light a cigarette. He was just as emotionally cold (Continued on Page 2) 17 Million Already Paid To War 2 Vets WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, The Veterans' Administration said today it already has paid out nearly 117,000,000 to World War II veterans or their dependents and has adjudicated more than 100,000 cases of disability claims. The figures, contained in a let- tvf from Veterans' Administrator Frank T.

Hines, were made public by Rep. Green in the wake of Congressional criticisms of "confusion and delay" in settling claims. Rep. Rogers said in the House "the claims have not been handled properly" and criticized the rate of their disposition. Commenting on the figures in Hines' letter, she said: "It is still very belated action and I only hope it means the program is really getting underway so the boys will get their money when they should instead of having to wait around for months." To Hike Price Of Fruits In Jars WASHINGTON, Dec.

22 The retail cost of some fruits, berries and vegetables packed in glass containers will be hiked about two cents a jar as a result of a ceiling price adjustment announced today by the Office of Price Administration (OPA). The increases ware allowed to roeet increased labor costs. Packers who used glass prior to 1941 already have been provided for. OPA said. Driver In Fatal Accident Served With A Warrant Henry Frank McCumbee, 23, of Berkeley Springs, driver of tno car in which Miss Betty Frederick, 18, of Berkeley Springs, lost her life early Sunday morning, was today served with a warrant charging manslaughter by automobile.

McCumbee has been a patient at the local hospital since the accident but likely will be discharged tomorrow. Miss Frederick was killed Instantly, her neck having been broken. Two other occupants, Ine Barnhart, 18, Parkhead, and Oscar Glenn Reynolds, a soldlar, were Injured, the latter seriously. He is showing Improvement and attending physicians now expect him to recover. Deputy Sheriff Leister Isanogle served the warrant, said McCumbee's car crashed Into a telephone pole near Indian Springs early Sunday morning and that he was speeding at the time.

Another officer had chased him a short time before. McCumbee is reported to be married and the father of children. Apologize For Attack On American Consulate MADRID, Dec. 22 The Spanish foreign ministry expressed deepest regret today to TJ- S. Am- bass.dor Carlton J.

H. Hayes over an attack by two Falangists on the American consulate in Valencia Saturday. Punishment of the two party members concerned in the episode was promised. Secretary General Jose Luis Arresc also apologized in the namo of the Falange. Captured by a German tank unit in December, Samuel Webster, escaped an Italian war prison camp and.

is now back in Fort Knox, Ky. One of those welcoming Lieutenant Webster on his return to the TJ. S. was his month-old daughter, whom he had never seen. (Int.) Mailing Rush Reached Monday That Day Totaled Around Far Ahead The peak of the pre-holiday rush at the local Post Office was reached Monday when the cancelling machine clicked close to 140,000 times, the most for any one day since the weeks ago.

Yesterday, cancellations dropped back to around 100,000. These 'figures do not include several thousand parcels. Post Office records show that from December 1 up to and includ ing December 18 cancellations totaled 130,401 more than for the corresponding period of last year. Records indicate that parcel post mailing has been up 20 percent from the start of the season. No accurate record is kept of parcel post mailings.

Postmaster Thomas M. Simpson reported that schedules are still being met in spite of the extra heavy volume of mail and that all outgoing mail is being dispatched practically on time. Overworked office employes are hoping to be able to breathe a little more easier the remainder of the week. As usual the Post Office force hopes to have the.office cleared of all parcels and mail by Christmas. Several deliveries are being made daily and will continue to be made right through Friday.

Reprisals Against Allied War Prisoners Threatened By Nazis Nazi Propagandists Indignant Over Of Kharkov Slaughterers, Call United States Aviators "Huns Of Air." LONDON, Dec. 22 Dark threats of reprisal against Allied war prisoners came flying out of rennany today as Nazi propagandists worked up indignation against the Kharkov trials and Paul Joseph Goebbels called British and American aviators "Huns of the air." DNB, the official German news agency, said in a broadcast statement on the Soviet trials that Nazi military courts would "soon deal with those British and American prisoners who are guilty of a serious breach of international law." Goebbels told Berlin police and" air raid protection officials that further attacks on the German capital must be expected but that "one day our evergrowing anti-aircraft defenses and future retaliation will make an end to the activities of the Huns of the air." Ugly hints of measures to be taken captured airmen were closely connected with a German press campaign against American fliers imprisoned after the Nov. 20 raid on Bremen and accused of having "Murder Incorporated" written on their uniforms. -A Berlin -dispatch to the Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung claimed that the planes of an entire squadron were so lettered and that another squadron called itself "Home Block Busters." This referred to the practice of Amerir airmen giving their bombers names, often facetious, such as "Suzy "Whodat" and "Wabbit Twacks." The bombed and battered Nazis are screeching that the names of some of the planes prove that gangsters control the American air- force. In seizing on the Kharkov trials for further justification of German brutality, a Nazi foreign office spokesman claimed the trials were agreed upon in principle at the Teheran conference, so the "British and Americans share the responsibility," Swedish press reports said.

DNB's official statement specifically accused President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill of associating themselves with the Khar- kov proceedings and likened those proceedings to "medieval witch trials." Greeks Warned To Stop Own Quarreling CAIRO, Dec. 22 Greek guerrillas have been urged by Premier Tsouderos to stop fighting among themselves because German occupation forces are merely waiting to "strike a deadly blow at the small remnants of any are left." "Only those who agree and unite will be considered a part of the Army of the Middle East," the chief of the- Greek "goyftmment In exile said last night in a broadcast to his homeland. Board Members To Get Awards Twelve On Ration Board To Receive War Service Certificates. SIT-DOWN STRIKE CUMBERLAND, Dec. 22 Representatives of the Textile Workers Union of America (CIO) and the Celanese Corp.

continued their efforts today to settle a sit down strike of approximately 600 employes in the Cumberland plant's conniing department. Th? began Monday afternoon, and a union official said employes refused ao work when their "work load was increased beyond their capacity to handle It." GRANTED DIVORCE Mary E. Sensel has been granted an absolute divorce from David D. Sensel'by Judge Joseph D. MIsh.

John J. Allen was the attorney. Santa Claus Won't Forget Those At Remote Outposts WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 Santa Claus, dressed in olive drab and flying an Army Air Forces plane, is bringing Christmas to United States troops in icy. barren northern areas, the battle fronts of Europe and the sun-baked isles or dripmng jungles of the Pacific.

The War Department reported today that hundred' of of evergreens, candy, cake, radios and recording machines marked "Hold until Christmas" have been flown to isolated outposts. The Army Santa Claus began deliveries four months ago and will continue until every soldier In the his packages. Fifteen tons of Christmas mail were by air when ice blocked surface shipping. An Army transport plane will drop mail bags in the snow sometime this month at a tiny weather station in the Bering Sea. It will be the first mail there in months.

On Thanksgiving Day, soldiers In the Aleutians tasted their first fresh fowl since arriving in the islands. They will have it again Christmas turkey with olives, shrimp and rolls, all flown in by their Air Force buddies. Even isolated gun positions have received Christmas trees, food and packages, dropped from passing combat aircraft. Combat planes, transports and troop carriers are taking Christmas mail and packages to the Southwest Pacific. The mail has been reaching Australia at the rate of several thousand tons weekly.

Troops on the front line get their mail about a week after it reaches Australia. Twelve members of the Washington County War Price and Ration Board who have contributed one hundred or more hours of service will be eligible to receive war service award certificates in connection with the second anniversary ot the organization of the boards in Maryland in January, Thomas Bittie, chief clerk, said today. Formal recognition of the service contributed by volunteer workers and board members In the state will be made next month, according to Leo H. McCormick, state director. The state director paid special tribute to the board members who have given hundreds of hours of their time to rationing and price control activities and to volunteer workers who aided the boards in carrying out their programs.

"While these awards and certificates are being issued by the OPA, I know that they carry with them the deep appreciation and respect or every American family," McCormick declared. The names of the twelve Washington county Ration Board members will be announced at the time they recetlve the award. January Draft Quotas Heavy Larger Percentage Of Pre-Pearl Harbor Fathers To Be Called. With January quotas for both lo cal Draft Boards double'those" called for induction here in December pre-Pearl Harbor in large numbers face call next month. It was estimated that approxi mately 50 percent of the December quotas were made up of pre-Pear Harbor fathers and an even greater percentage of the January quotas will have to come from this cate gory.

Draft Boards here gay that only about 50 youths become 18 years of age each month, and not all of these pass physical examinations to qualify them for service in the armed forces. A number of those In categories 1, 2 and 3, single youths those with collateral dependents and married men without children will be included in the January call. The occupational deferments of a number in these categories will expire next month and they will be available for induction. Contrary to the belief that the action ol Congress in putting pre- Pearl Harbor fathers at the bottom of the list would delay further in duction of fathers, local Draft Boards have been operating for some months under such a plan and have virtually exhausted those in other categories. As occupationa deferments of war workers expire and their places have been filled bj others trained for their jobs, thej will be called up for induction.

To Purchase Canadian Newsprint As Reserve WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 The United States will purchase Canadian newsprint expected to be made available in excess of previously scheduled deliveries, as a. reserve against possible shortages In the last half of 1944 The unexpected increase in Canadian production, which was announced yesterday, will not be of immediate benefit to American publishers except as assurance of supplies fo. the six months of next year. The (WPB) War Production Board said that it had been advised by the Canadian government that approximately 18.000 tons monthly will he available over the scheduled monthly delivery of 182,000 tons.

PRAYER FOR CHURCHILL JERSEY CITY, Dec. 22 When 300 new citizens took the oath of allegiance here, Judge Thorr H. Brown asked them to pause a moment and offer silent prayer for the recovery of Prime Minister Churchill of Great Britain. Sneezing, Tear Gas Used By Japs Is Sent To Stilwefl BY CLYDE A. FARNSWORTH HEADQUARTERS OF A CHINESE ARMY SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN HUNAN PROVINCE, Dec.

18 Green and red marked cylinders of tear and sneezing gas which the Japan- se are accused of using on this front were exhibited today to visiting Allied officers and correspondents and samples given to an American major to carry to Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell. Lt. Col.

P. P. Yoronin, assistant military attache of the Soviet embassy at Chungking, jotted down the complete details in a little black notebook as Lt. Gen. Liang Han-ming, commanding this army, talked i.bout the cylinders.

Among the samples was a yellow- marked, two-foot-long cylinder, resembling a fire-extinguisher, which Liang's chemical warfare expert said once contained mustard gas. There was no claim, however, that the contents of this particular cylinder ever were used against the Chinese. The tear and sneezing gas wr 3 used recently on the Hunan front, the chemical expert said. The most (Continued on Page 12) Home-Made Bazooka Hurts Young Inventor LANCASTER, Dec. 22 A 17-year-old boy lost parts of two fingers of his left naSu and suffered lacerations of the while trying to make a rocket- firing weapon like the Army's tank-busting "bazooka." Instead of the charge firing out the 15-inch pipe William Hall was experimenting with last nigtt it burst the tube.

Encirclement Of Vitebsk Imminent NEW YORK, Dec. 22 The British radio said today that the Bulgarian staff ordered the port of Varna, across the Black Sea from the Crimea, isolated completely Sunday. No explanation was given. Persons living in Varna and its vicinity were ordered to remain indoors and away from all doorways and windows on pain of being shot for curiosity, the report said. All but military traffic was halted.

Telephone and telegraph service was suspended. Several German and Rumanian divisions are trapped in the Crimea. Biser Is Held On New Charge Man Accused In Gas Coupon Case Now Faces Larceny Charge. Austin Eugene Biser, Jugtown, who last week gave bond for Federal court on a charge of obtaining a number of gas ration books thru misrepresentation, was arrested today on a charge of larceny of 95 cents worth of gasoline and gave bond in the sum of for February court action. Wilbert A.

Ranner, who police say is a fellow employe ot Biser's at a local railroad shop, swore to the warrant. Biser appeared with counsel before Magistrate Harry E. Snyder In city court this morning and prayed a jury trial in the case. Biser was arrested last week on the gas ration charge and furnished bond for Federal court. He is alleged to have obtained a number of gas books by giving fictitious names and then selling same to other individuals.

Already two alleged "buyers" have been held for Federal court as a result of an OPA investigation into Biser's activities. This morning, -Raymond Schildknecht appeared before U. S. Commissioner C. Welles Little, waived a.

preliminary hearing and gave bond for Federal court. He Is alleged to have purchased one of the books from Biser. The fourth alleged buyer. Harry B. Stouffer, a filling station attendant is scheduled to appear tomor row before the U.

S. Commissioner. Incidence Of Disease Remains Generally The Same In County. Although the State Department or Health announced today that the prevalance of grippe among Mary land children was increasing, Wash ington county school authorities re ported that the widespread absen teeism in county schools re mained the same or abated somewhat, with no increases reported in the last week. It was announcec last week that grippe and flu had victimized approximately ten per cent of the The eleven day holiday which commences tomorrow and will extend until January 3 is expected to alleviate the incidence of the disease in post-holiday classes.

All children infected will have a chance to recover, and comparative isolation in their private homes of all county boys and girls for such a lengthy period will prevent the spread of the disease through the medium of the schools at least. Whether this will halt the progress of grippe through the general population remains to be seen. Dr. W. R.

Willard, county health officer, said this morning that while he had no definite yardstick with which to measure grippe incidence, talks with a number of doctors had convinced him that the progress the disease is at a standstill. Although a few severe cases last for as long as two weeks and call to mind the virulent flu of 191S, the greater majority of the cases are still in a mild form, he said. Dr. C. H.

Halliday, Chief of the (Continued on Page 2) Eastern Of Germans In Italy Menaced Eighth Army Battle In Ortona Streets; French Aid Drive. ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Algiers, Dec. 22, (IP). American Fifth Army forces, bolstered by heavy artillery and mortar fire, captured several new heights and reached the outskirts of San Vittore on the road to Rome today, while the British Eighth Army battled the Germans with tanks and infantry in the streets of Ortona American and French troops along the 'northern mountainous sector of the Fifth Army fron were reported attacking the vil lages of Acquafondata, five miles west of and Cardito, four miles north of Acquafondata, after occupying a high point in the Casole region in their push west ward on Cassino. The announcement that the French forces under Gen.

Pierre Juin were participating with the Fifth's attack in this sector was the first disclosure of the location of the French whose presence on Italian soil was announced las week. The French, who have been strug gling for the past three days for possession of a vital mountain pass were reported to have taken the (Continued on Page 2) White Christmas Is In Prospect Fourteen Inch Snowfall A Year Ago Recalled Today. We may yet have a white Christ mas, for the weather bureau sees signs of snow sometimes tomor row, but It will hardly compare white Christmas of las year when 14 inches covered the ground. Just a year ago yesterday was the coldest day of the winter 1942-43, with the mercury 15 below zero. The sudden frigid spell was accompanied by one of the heaviest snows in inches.

But today it remained comparatively mercury never dropping below 29 during: the night. Wind and colder weather is in prospect for tonight, with snow some time tomorrow. Soviets Have Now Occupied Kherson Bridgehead. LONDON, Dec. 22 The Russian Baltic army, now urging forward unchecked, Has advanced another five miles and now stands only 15 miles from -the Nazi fortress.

ity of Vitebsk, Reuters reported today from Moscow. Encirclement of this enemy stronghold thus became hour- more imminent. This thrust and a companion drive toward, the important rail junction of Polotsk, 60 miles to the west, threatened the' stability of the entire German line defending the Baltic states. A Russian communique earlier had reported the forces of Gen. Ivan.C.

Bagramian within 20 miles of Vitebsk from the north through capture of Gribali and less than 25 miles away to the east, His troops storming down from Nevel yesterday, blasted their way through a 50-mile gap in deep German defenses, capturing more than 100 villages and leaving 1,600 German dead in theic wake. Other columns, swinging out to the west, were within 35 miles of Polotste At the extreme end of the $00- mile long battlefront, meanwhile, Russian armies liquidated the Nazi bridgehead on the south bank of the Dnieper opposite Kherson, near the river's mouth, and dispatches said a full-scale attack against the city itself was expected momentarily. In the center of the line, the Germans were said to be counter-attacking in three key sectors. The (Continued on Page 2) Yugoslavs Take To Offensive Partisan Army Seize Initiative From Foe Twice As LONDON, Dec. 22 Josip Broz' (Tito) Partisan army of 250,000, battling German and collaborationist forces twice its size, has taken to the offensive on every sector of Yugoslavia's irregular, battlefront, a communique from the Yugoslav Army of Liberation announced today.

The German forces, spearheaded by the German 373rd Division, struck back with large-scale assaults in Croatia in an effort to gain initiative, the war bulletin disclosed, but Tito's 7th Patriot Division decisively thwarted the enemy thrusts. With Yugoslavia developing into a battltfront of broadening scope, a recapitulation of Hitler's losses in his efforts to clear his Balkan flank shows that he had 40,000 casualties in October and November alone. These figures were given In a Moscow broadcast, which said the (Continued on Page 2) Gen. Joe Byron's PX's Too Efficient, So Checks Sent Williamsporters in uniform will not, receive from citizens of the town their usual Christmas packages, and it's all because a fellow neighbor in the service has been performing too efficiently in the role to which he has been assigned. This seeming paradox does not mean that the boys and girls will be deprived of their presents, because they will receive something, but the staff of the Due Out, the town's, service newspaper which distributes the gifts, was hard put to find a solution to the dilemma in which they found themselcves several months ago.

ties This year, when the staff set out to discover what the hoys and girls wanted for Christmas the replies from all corners of the universe were peculiarly alike: "General Joe's PX's are supplying everything we need. We can't suggest a thing." Men home on furlough gave the same answer. Faced with this someone came up with the idea of sending a specially engraved Christmas check with an appropriate message attached. Funds had been secured through the sale ot" a Booster edition. Recently the checks went in the mails, The accompanying message, writ- Sees Japs' Defeat 18 Months After Germany Defeated ELKO, Nev.

Dec. 22 Ray T. Elsmore, air transport director of the Southwest Pacific theater and home for the, first time in 26 months, thinks it will take at least six months after Germany's defeat before the Allies can "real' ly move" in the Southwest Pacific. But then, he told reporters, "it shouldn't take more th.in another year to defeat Japan." He predicted the Japanese homeland eventually would he bomherl both from the Philippines ami China and that Japanese wouldn't hold up under mass bombings 83 well as tho Germans, Key figure in the puzzle was Brig, ten by Assistant Editor Abner Gen. Joseph W.

Byron, a Williams- porter who is directing the Army Exchange Service. Last year the Dug Out sent out the conventional packages of socks, neck Kaplan says in port: "This gift represents in a small way a token of our appreciation for what you arc doing in a big way MS. It car on Page 2) Half Of Rice Bowl Restored To China CHUNGKING, Dec. 22 hfsj!) command tonight that. Japanese forces ha4 been cleared from the srca south of the Lin rivor, tfnjp rf storing half of the rio: how! China.

knemy remnants on north bank of the Lin ssjrf frj have hf-en cleared. cornrrr.jr-1- indicated the withdrawal was con'lnnmj? wStft.