The Daily Telegram from Adrian, Michigan • Page 1

ADRIAN DAILY TELEGRAM Warmer, Snow (INtttar VOL. 92, NO. 33. ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1942 PRICE 3 CENTS. JAPS GET TOEHOLD ON SINGAPORE MAC ARTHUR REPULSES NEW JAP ATTACKS ON BATANJWIILA Manila Bay Forts Silence Several Enemy Batteries or.

Cavite Shore I BOMBERS ACTIVE By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON, Feb. Douglas MacArthur reported today his troops in Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines repulsed new attacks by the Japanese while the Manila Bay fortifications silenced several enemy big gun siege batteries on the Cavite shore. The text of the War Department's of the on reports received here up to 9:30 a. m. E.

S. War Time today: "1. The Philippine theater: "Some of the concealed enemy batteries which have been firing on our harbor defenses from the Cavite shore have been located and attacked by counter-battery fire from our forts. Several direct hits were observed and some of the enemy batteries were silenced. "Heavy infantry fighting occurred intermittently at various points in the Bataan Peninsula The enemy made several attempts at penetration and infiltration.

All attacks were repulsed by our troops. "Hostile dive bombers were active over our lines. "2. There is nothing to report from other areas." Yesterday General MacArthur had reported: "Fighting is increasing in intensity on our left" This and today's communique in- duated that the new J'apanese offensive was developing in the Philippines. Synchronized with the renewed heavy pressure on the Bataan Storm Signals Hoisted In Legislature LANSING, Feb.

9 3 Van Wagoner hoisted storm signals in the legislature today, proposing that the special session undertake these controversial tasks: Liberalization of the unemployment compensation law to meet what he termed the "catastrophe" of unemployment 2. A one-year moratorium on the contractual debts of persons thrown out of jobs by the war effort. 3. Provision of funds to meet a prospective $2,500,000 deficit in budgets of state institutions. The governor himself, in the text of his message to the House and Senate as they assemble in joint convention to hear the administration program announced that he saw grounds for conflict in the first two items.

Van Wagoner sprang a surprise by asking the legislature to write into law the recommendations ol a Republican-dominated legislative study committee for liberalizing unemployment benefits be raised from 57 a week for about eight weeks to .510 a week for 12 weeks; that the maximum be raised from S16 a week for 18 weeks to $20 a week for 20 weeks; that the waiting period before unemployed persons may apply for compensation be reduced from two weeks to one week, and that the amendments be made applicable at once. Too Conservative In fact, he said he still thought it was too conservative, but he looks for federal supplementation. (Turn to LEGISLATURE, Page 2) ment of the American forts which still bar the entrance of Manila Bay to Japanese naval forces. Fortifications Pounded Enemy land batteries, firing methodically every four minutes, threw big shells for the second successive day at the island- -fortifica-, tions which command the harbor's mouth. Nevertheless, no serious damage to the forts was reported in the War Department communi- que which covered developments up until early Monday morning, Philippine time.

On the Bataan peninsula, MacArthur's report to Washington yesterday told of Japanese pressure on both the right and left flank of his line, accompanied by twenty four hours of heavy aerial bombardment of the American-Filipino positions. (Turn to PACIFIC, Page 7) ASCARSGOINLAKE Toledo Cars Break Through Ice at Devils Lake in Shallow Water Eight Toledo drowning when youths escaped the two automobiles in which they were riding plunged through the ice about 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the south side of Devils lake about 150 feet from the Lakeview hotel in four feet of water. The two cars broke through the ice at approximately the same time and about 75 feet apart The tops of both cars protruded above the water. One of the cars was taken out of the lake yesterday and the other was being retrieved today. James W.

Bain, 20 years old, and Robert Grossman, 19, were driving the two cars- -In the Bain car were James P. McSorley, 19; Charles V. Morgan, 20, and William Remlen, 19. Riding in the Crossman car were Schuyler Daly, 21; H. Robert Albrecht, 21, and George Rider, 20.

The boys told sheriffs officers that they had driven onto the ice merely for the sport of it The two cars went down in separate holes. Japanese Drive Toward Rangoon, Last Chinese Gateway to Sea, Stalled WAVELL IS OPTIMISTIC By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RANGOON, Burma. Feb. Crack fighters and fresh Indian second visit to the was reflected even 8 TO WEAR TERM Sentenced by Judge Rathbun on Attempted Assault Charge James Tipton, 53 year old Adrian factory worker who was convicted by a Lenawee circuit jury of at- have recentfy been tempted "assault 'and -gross against a five year old girl, Except for some patrol activity near Japanese-held Paan, on the east bank of the Salween about 30 miles north of Moulmein, where the British thwarted some attempted Japanese crossings, most of the week-end activity was in the air. (Turn to BURMA, Page 7) troops bolstered the British on the Salween River front today where Japan's drive toward Raugoon and China's last gateway to the sea was stalled in northern Burma and, possibly, broken.

The "reasoned optimism" which Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell, the United Nations' general in the southwest Pacific, voiced after his just-disclosed Burma front more forcibly by Lieut. Gen. T.

J. Hutton, the British commander in Burma. With the Japanese still stationary a week after capturing Moul- mein and failing repeatedly to get an effective foothold across the Salween or cripple Rangoon as a base by air attack, he declared: "We are in a far sounder position to call a halt to the Japanese than before." Wavell flew from his Java headquarters in The Netherlands East Indies to talk with officers and men on the Moulmein front within earshot of enemy cannon and reviewed the whole situation in southeast Asia with Hutton. Much weight was attached to the presence of large Chinese forces fighting alongside Britain's imperials in Burma. Predicts Allied Push Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, until recently Britain's ambassador at Chungking, speaking over the Calcutta radio, predicted a "big push" by American, British and Chinese troops.

His reference to American forces was not explained. Maj. Gen. Lancelot Dennis, head of the British military mission in Chungking, said "large continents" of Chinese troops which reached Burma weeks ago "are now playing an important part in the defense of the country" and was sentenced this morning by Judge G. Arthur Rathbun to serve two separate terms of from four to five years in the Southern Michigan Prison at Jackson, a total of eight to ten years.

Tipton was sentenced to serve a four-to-five year term on each of the two counts on which the jury found him guilty after a long four- day trial. The maximum sentence on each "of the two counts is five years. Tipton was returned to the county jail to await being transported to the prison. Forrest Denney, 27, of Tipton who pleaded guilty to an automobile theft charge, was sentenced to serve from two and a half to five years in the Southern Michigan State Prison. Denney admitted taking an automobile owned by H.

D. Moran of Adrian on January 4. Ladoyt H. Sharp, 22, of Adrian was sentenced to serve from six months to five years in the Southern Michigan State Prison also on an automobile theft charge. He pleaded guilty to the charge of driving away a taxicab owned by Sam Sines of Adrian without the owners permission January 22.

Judge Rathbun recommended that the minimum sentence be served. (Turn to COURT, Page 7) BRITISH HOLD CAIRO, Egypt, Feb. 9 desert fighters, holding their positions firmly before Tobruk, have thrust out patrols against the enemy in the El Mechili area south of the Gebel El Achdar ranges, the British said today in a statement British mobile columns engaged infantry and artillery forces of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel 12 miles west of El Gazala. coastal point which the Axis claimed was captured Saturday. Air forces supported the land troops again, and continued to har- ry the lengthened Axis communications lines.

City Takes War Time in Stride With Only an Occasional Yawn "War time" became effective in Adrian and Lenawee county this morning and with the exception of a few stifled yawns and droopy eyes that simply wouldn't stay open untU 9 o'clock (war time) the day just about the same as any other. Kindergarten and grade school children in Adrian were jubilant this morning, boasting of the exclusive privilege of sleeping an extra half hour. They weren't required to report at school until 9 o'clock to avoid -walking to school in darkness. 'This afternoon, however; there probably will be a bit of growling when it comes time to' make up that extra half hour between 3:30 and 4 o'clock. A number of time mix-ups were reported.

About 20 junior high pupils were tardy this morning as compared with one or two who come late on an average day. Some of them reported that their parents made on clocks. incorrect At the adjustments senior high school 13 pupils were tardy and 45 were listed as absent today. Usually only one or two are tardy and 10 or 12 absent Practically everyone else took the time change in stride. Office workers, factory men and clerks reported for duty on a war time basis and few showed evidence of losing an hour's deep.

A few workers were tardy but work everywhere went along. It was expected that first dose of sleeping tablets. day difficulties largely would be eliminated tomorrow. Most Adrian residents moved clocks ahead last night just before they went to bed and.most folks tried to go to bed a bit early in preparation for the short night Officially, the time jumped fhead an hour at 2 o'clock this morning. Pomona Grange Meets Feb.

12 at North Adrian Hall Judge Irving J. Tucker of the Ailegan county probate court will be the principal speaker on the afternoon program of the Lenawee County Pomona Grange meeting to be held Thursday in the North Adrian Giange hall. Judge Tucker, who is a member of the executive committee of the Michigan State Grange, will take as his subject "Our Duty Now." The business session will open at 10:30 with James Marr, the master, presiding and a dinner will be served at noon by members of the North Adrian Grange. The afternoon program which is open to the public will include, in addition to the address by Judge Tucker, musical selections and a playlet by members of the North Adrian Grange, a reading by Mrs. Alva Knight of Madison and a vocal solo by Clarence Minier of Rome Grange.

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 "One of the finest nurses that ever walked the floor" of the Bronx maternity hospital was charged today with the opium-drop killing of a newborn baby girl whose crying upset That description, augmented by the statement she was "an elegant nurse," was given yesterday by Hospital Superintendent Louise M. Wagner as Irma Twiss, 32, herself in tears, was formally accused of homicide in the death of the infant and also accused of feeding the narcotic to another. "The babies' constant crying drove me crazy," Miss Twiss was quoted by Assistant District Attorney Martin Kraus as saying before being jailed without bail for a hearing Wednesday. Krause said the nurse had admitted she was held four days for observation in Bellevue hospital's psychopathic ward in November, 1940, 'after she had taken an over- He added that she had returned to the Bronx institution three months ago after having received leave last summer to have a baby, which did not live.

Physicials held out some hope for the second baby today, although it was in a dangerous condition. German Defeat In Year Possible, Cripps Declares BRISTOL, Feb. 9 The defeat of Germany within one year's time is possible, but it depends on American and British help for the Soviet Union, in the opinion of Sir Stafford Cripps, who saw Russia at first hand as Britain's wartime ambassador. In two addresses yesterday, Cripps stressed the emergency for Britain to increase her war production and cast off a complacency he said he had noticed since his return from Russia a few weeks ago. "There now stands between Hitler and a certain, and not too delayed defeat," Cripps said in a broadcast, "the chance that he may be strong enough to renew his offensive." If he does strike, the former ambassador predicted, it will be a blow for the Caucasus' oil in April, "a new and terrific blitz planned with the meticulous care of the German," and "the most critical stage of the whole war." Both through the broadcasts and an address here ran the theme of contrast between Russian sacrifices, in which nothing is spared from the war effort, and the skeptical attitude of some Britons toward the U.

S. S. R. "There is every chance of Germany being defeated by this time next year," Cripps declared, but he warned that neither Britain nor the United States could afford to fail in helping Russia prepare for a Nazi spring campaign. Of Britons still dominated by the "old fear complex" toward Russia, he said, they "must not be allowed to influence our relations with Russia in the reconstruction of Europe or we plunge the world again into chaos." "Delay," he cautioned, "will add to the suspicions between this country and the Soviet which have not because of their historical foundation completely disappeared." Would Strip Agency of Power to Direct Morale-Building Activities.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 move to strip the Office of Civilian Defense of authority to direct morale-building activities developed in Congress today as the House resumed debate on a 5100,000,000 OCD appropriation fund which has aroused a storm of controversy over the posts given Hollywood's Melvyn Douglas and Dancer Mayris Chancy. Senator Taft (R-Ohio) said there seemed little doubt if the House failed to circumscribe the bureau's powers a strong effort would be made in the Senate to do so. "I think the OCD ought to be limited in its activities to the promotion of purely defense preparations," Taft told reporters. "I don't believe there is any crying need to build up the morale of the American people, but if there is, it ought to be handled by some other agency that doesn't have such a big primary job to do." He suggested the Office of Facts and Figures, headed by Archibald MacLeish.

In the meanwhile Douglas, the screen star who has been one of the main targets of congressional objections to OCD personnel selections, asserted that he had been appointed to head the arts section on a "without compensation" basis. When his appointment was made public last week an OCD official said Douglas would receive pay at the rate of 58,000 a year, but only for time actually spent on the job. The other main topic of debate was the appointment of Miss Chaney, dancer friend of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, as head of children's activities in- the physical fitness division. Miss Chaney, defending her job last week, said she had not yet received any of her $4,600 a year salary.

FAVOR RAISING DEBT LIMIT TO 100 BILLIONS WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 1 leaders in Congress plan to propose soon that the national debt limit be raised from the 565,000,000,000 fixed last year to 5100,000,000,000. Chairman George of the Senate Finance Committee indicated yesterday they had thought of asking first an increase to $85,000,000,000 but finally decided most members would "want to do it all at one jump." The debt stood at 560,193,958,101 as this week began. President Roosevelt's $59,027,992,300 war Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 was calculated to push it to $110,420,000,000. AUCTIONS Feb.

nth. Public auction south ol Hudson. Vtrgll Piter, auctioneer. See adv. on Market Page.

Feb. llth. AucUon southeast of Clayton. Llnehan, auctioneer. See adv.

on Market Page. Feb. llth. Public auction west of Adrian. Fred C.

Greenwald, auctioneer. See adv. on Market Page. Feb. 12th.

Auction west of Adrian. A. V. Rogers, auctioneer. See adv.

on Market Page. Feb. 12th. AucUon sale north of Clinton. r.

D. Merlthew, auctioneer. See adv. on Market Page Feb. 13th.

AucUon northwest of Morencl. lanohan Llnehan, auctioneers. See adv. Market. Pa PP.

GM EXPECTS TO HAVE 342,1 Figure Indicates Terrific Demand War Will Make on American Labor CO-OPERATION STRESSED By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DETROIT, Feb. workers and the general public saw today in General Motors future employment estimates the terrific demand war will make upon American labor. The corporation, says President C. E. Wilson, expects to employ 342,00 workers, far above its record number, when it hits full speed on defense Before that great figure is attained, at an unspecified date, Wilson's estimates point to a swift 148,000 employees in March of this year to 185,400 in June, 235,000 in September, 272,000 in December, and 325,000 in June, 1943.

General Motors' record employment of the past was 235,000, the total which Wilson said would be reached next September. The estimates, made public at a time when unemployment is widespread in the automobile industry oecause of the war-time conversion layoffs, were given by Wilson at an unprecedented meeting with unionists. The GM chief, with Harry W. Anderson, corporation -vice president in charge of personnel, attended a national conference of the United Automobile Workers (CIO) yesterday. At no other time has a high General official met with the union as such.

Delegates from UAW-CIO locals in 90 GM plants in the country, representing 190,000 workers, met here to decide upon new demands to be made in forthcoming reopening of contract negotiations. Both Wilson and union representatives took the occasion to voice expectations that it would lead to greater co-operation between union and corporation. 'We have more interests in common than in conflict," Wilson remarked in suggesting that co-operation was-vital in view of the war effort. P. Reuther, director of the union's General Motors department, emphasized "mutual 'responsibilities" of the union and corporation.

"I hope," Reuther said, "that the appearance of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Anderson here today will mark the beginning of a better type of relationship between the union and the type of relationship that will lay the base for maximum co-operation in our mutual responsibilities to the nation." Violent Blast Kills 14; 36 Are Wounded MADRID, Feb. 9 W) Riotous factions in Tangier were kept throttled by Spanish Morocco authorities under martial law today after the latest in a chain of mysterious, violent events laid to competition of Britain and Germany for Arab support in the Mediterranean war zone. The outburst was touched off by the explosion Friday of a time- bomb in a' taxi loaded with British diplomatic baggage on a pier.

The violent blast killed 14 persons; several other among 36 wounded are believed to be dying. The explosion destroyed the taxi, two other automobiles, part of the pier and the customs house. (Turn to TANGIER, Page 2) WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (JPh-A 526,495,265,474 appropriation bill, the largest in the history of any nation, and carrying funds for America's growing navy, was signed today by President Roosevelt. The measure, providing both cash and contract authorizations, contemplates adding approximately 25,000 airplanes to the Navy's sky force and enlarging the fleet for waging war in two oceans at once.

The legislation provides for war vessels ranging from battleships to torpedo boats and allocates another $5,000,000,000 for naval guns and ammunition. The additional aircraft provided in the bill raises to a total of 100,000 the number for army and navy use for which Congress has appropriated funds in the last 19 months. The measure also authorizes the President to lend or lease any of 1,799 small vessels, for which approximately $3,900,000,000 was appropriated, as well as any other naval equipment up to a total of $2,500,000,000. The unprecedented appropriation Dill received final congressional approval Thursday. Spreading Eastward In Heavy Fighting; British Positions Are Hard Hit Sub Wolf Pack Marks Up 21st Victim LEWES, Feb.

9 of the American tanker China Arrow expressed the belief today their ship was sunk by the same Axis submarine destroyed two other American vessels off the Atlantic coast within the 36 hours. The Socony-Vacuum Oil China victim of the underseas wolf pack was torpedoed, shelled and set afire 100 miles off the coast Thursday morning, the Navy Department announced. Her entire crew of 37 was saved by the coast guard after spending 56 hours in three open boats. The China Arrow's sister ship, India Arrow, was sunk Wednesday night and the freighter San Gil went down at midnight both in waters not far from the scene of the latest sinking. In all three attacks, the raider refrained from shelling the sink- ng ships until their crews had left in lifeboats.

Captain Paul H. Browne, 46, Mew York, said two torpedoes from surfaced submarine struck the China Arrow within a few seconds, setting her afire and destroying the radio transmitter. He and Kenneth W. Maynard, 20, radio operator from Bellingham, remained aboard 45 minutes attempting to send SOS signals over a makeshift transmitter. Maynard, who was typing when the first torpedo struck, said 'flames shot up all over the middle of the ship." Capt.

Browne said the sea was dead calm when the lifeboats pulled away. The submarine then fired between "15 and 20 shells" from a range of 500 "They could "easily" have shelled or machine-gunned us," the captain said, "but they seemed to have a pretty decent skipper. "I'll give the commander credit for that They did not touch the men in the lifeboats. They did hot talk to us. They just hung around until he were clear and then began shelling." Four crew members were hospitalized here.

Among them was Benjamin L. Logan, a seaman from Kansas City, who climbed off the rescue ship and walked several hundred feet before it was discovered his hip was fractured. The others suffered minor injuries. Nation Is On War Time For Duration WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 nation went on war time today, with all official docks moved ahead one the duration.

The changeover, was somewhat comparable to the action'taken by other belligerent nations when the war began more than two years ago, and goes a step farther than "daylight saving" time established in the last war. In that conflict, this nation moved clocks-up only from March to October. "War Time" President.Roose- velt so named effective by law at 2 a. Standard Time in each of the four time zones which divide the country. Transportation services and the radio industry looked for little confusion.

Indeed, they have been advocating the nation-wide step on a year round basis to supplant summer daylight time observance. Proponents of the measure, including President Roosevelt, have asserted -that the advanced time would contribute to the nation's available electric power supply by leveling off some of the demand peaks. One pre-war estimate was that 750,000 kilowatts of power capacity, equal to about 1,000,000 horsepower for industry, would be saved. The Federal Power Commission plans to make a detailed study in an effort to measure accurately the effect of "daylight saving' 1 time. There will be no immediate changes in transportation or radio schedules as a result of the new time standards.

In other words, the commuters' special will pul out at 8:15 a. as usual, anc favorite radio programs will, be toed, iat.thejj;: as the' do'cR goes," But the' ci6cks win be showing War Time insteac of the old Standard Time. CAPITAL IS Believed Prelude to Attempt to Invade Java BATAVIA, N. E. Feb.

9 Japanese planes made their first raid of the Pacific on Batavia, capital of The Netherlands East Indies, today in an intensifying series of air attacks believed here to be a prelude to an attempt at invasion at Java, center of the United Nations' resistance to the Japanese in the Southwest Pacific. Enemy activity also was reported over other parts of Java, Sumatra and Borneo. The NEI high command said Japanese patrols were pushing south from the charred oil port of Balikpapan on the East Borneo coast "apparently planning to reach Bandjermassin," important trade center on the south shore of Borneo facing Java. The port was said to be a prime Japanese objective as they attempted to forge an arc around the vital citadel of Java in preparation for invasion. Palembang, oil cerjter in southj east Sumatra, was bombed again but the communique said there were no allied losses.

At least two and probably three enemy planes were shot down over the great naval base of Soerabaja Saturday. MORE THAN 30 DEAD IN U.S. SUB DISAS1ER WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 More than 30 men went down with the U. S.

submarine S-26 after a collision with a naval escort vessel off Panama the night of Jan. 24, the navy has disclosed. Two officers and a seaman who were standing on the bridge during the submarine's surface operations were the only survivors. The navy said it had abandoned all hope for- the men who went down with the undersea craft- Their names were not disclosed, but authorities, said the normal complement of such a submarine was four officers and 35 men. Paved Way for Hitler's Armies on Eastern Front BERLIN (From German Broadcasts), Feb.

9 Fritz Todt, who literally paved the way for Hitler's armies, has been killed on the eastern front With wide, black bands of mourning, the German press told its readers today that the famed Todt was killed in an air accident yesterday "while carrying through his military tasks in the east." He was 50 years Todt, who was Reichsminister of munitions as well as a construction wizard, has been presented to the Germans as the master builder, the super-engineer, ever since his completion of the Siegfried Line to guard Germany's western front. A state funeral was ordered in his-honor. Death overtook Maj. Gen. Todt "in the east" amid the scenes of his greatest humiliation, for the roads and bridges which his thousands of engineers and pick-and-shove workers hastily patched up in the east were designed for a quick passage to for a withdrawal.

In Poland, in The Netherlands Belgium and France, Todt's always at the heels of the army with their picks and pontoon: had shared in the praise meted out to the warriors. "In the east," where Todt and his men had gone last summer to speec the movement of Hitler's armies into Russia, the "organization Todt" faced new obstacles and new tasks. The army was stalled and not even Todt could smooth a way through the stubborn Russians, the trackless wastes and the mounting snow. Excellent Engineer Almost everyone who saw Todt's handiwork acknowledged that he was indeed an engineer of the first order and an organizer of talent The work of his organization in putting down bridges to replace the hundreds dynamited by the Dutch Belgians and French drew praise from even his country's enemies. Todt was the fourth high-placed Nazi to die in unusual circumstances since the war began.

Less than three months ago, Col Gen. Ernst Udet, brilliant designer for the German air force, diet "while testing a secret weapon." Col. Gen. Werner von Fritsch who had fallen into ill graces Hitler as chief of staff of the army died in action in Poland while on a patrol task ordinarily assigned a subordinate. Field Marshal Walther von Reichenau died last month of a "heart attack" while on the defensive with his troops in the Ukraine.

JAP AIR ATTACeS EOUGHT SUCCESSFULLY RAF Scores Biggest Bag of War in Battles Over Singapore By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SINGAPORE, Feb. 9 Strong Japanese forces which landed during the night on the northwest coast of Singapore Island are spreading eastward in heavy fighting, British headquarters announced today. British imperial forces are endeavoring to "mop up the enemy," said a communique, but the re- ults of the action are not yet known. Japanese batteries on the Malayan mainland and Japanese dive- bombers, meanwhile, subjected British advance positions to a heavy bombardment. At the same time Japanese air raiders appeared over Singapore city, on the south side of the island, but were met by British fighters, which battled them successfully.

The Japanese landing was effected from boats between 11 p. m. last night and 1 a. m. today, under cover of an intense artillery barrage.

Between Sungei Kranji and Pasir Laba, west of the narrow causeway which formerly linked Singapore with the Malayan mainland. "Our forward troops were pushed back in some places and there has been some enemy infiltration eastwards," the communique' acknowledged. There were no indications of attempted invasion thrusts elsewhere along Johore Strait, but the British said that Japanese bombers and fighters had been pounding their defenses everywhere since daybreak. British "hurricane fighters roared aloft to intercept the Japanese planes and were reported officially to have scored their biggest day's bag of the war over the beleaguered island. In all, the British said, their fighters shot down three enemy planes, "probably" destroyed three, others and damaged 13.

British planes also strafed and damaged a Japanese lorry and returned to their bases without a single loss, the communique 1 declared. Today's air victories were said to have brought to 73 the number of Japanese planes definitely shot down over Singapore. In addition, 27 more were listed as probably shot down. Advices from the front said that Australian troops were holding the sector where the Japanese effected their landings and were reported to be bearing the brunt of the fighting, but British, Scottish, Indian troops and Chinese volunteers were said to be lending a hand. (Turn to SINGAPORE, Page 7) By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW, Feb.

pressed German troops laid vast mine fields in the Donets Basin today in an attempt to halt the onrushing Russians, but the forces of Marshal Timoshenko surged forward over the snow-drifted steppes. One mine field nearly two miles long was discovered and Red Sappers cut five lanes through it At another point, the Russians said they extracted 2,600 anti-tank mines buried beneath the snow. Despite these and other obstacles, the Russians swept three more Donets villages clear of the Nazis. Eighteen other populated places were captured on the central front as the Reds pressed toward Smolensk. Heavy artillery was said to have destroyed ten German planes on the ground near the front lines.

While front line news was scarce, dispatches told of rear line destruction by the Red army from Sevastopol to the northwestern sector beyond Kalinin. Russian scouts slipped through heavy German lines at one point and blew up an anti-tank post killing ten Germans. In the past four days, Sevastopol and planes have smashed nine artillery batteries hurling shells into that besieged Crimean naval base. On the southwestern front, the Russians said 20. members of the first Rumanian division had surrendered with their junior officers, complaining of treatment from the German command.

The Russians said the Rumanian captives fought German prisoners- They complained that the German commanders" had assured them of artillery and German infantry support which did not materialize. to RUSSIANS, Page 7).