Carbondale Free Press from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 1

SHOP EARLY Don't delay your Christmas Buying. Shop Now. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED WIRE The Weather Cloudy, light snow tonight and Friday; colder tonight, much colder with cold wave Friday. VOLUME 37 CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 12, 1940 NUMBER 88 BRITISH CAPTURE 20,000 ITALIANS IN EGYPT DRIVE Report General Retreat On Egyption Front LONDON, Dec. tho British claiming more than 20,000 prisoners and reports to London of a general Italian retreat, Prime Minister Winston Churchill told Commons today it would not be surprising if at least the best part of three Italian divisions were trapped in the Egyptian desert.

A communique from Cairo said "the latest estimate of prisoners taken exceeds 20,000 with tanks, guns and equipment of all Thua was summed up briefly the British view of the results of tho four day British offensive which carried their mechanized forces to the Mediterranean coast and into the Italian base at Sidi Barrani, advance Egyptian post of Marshal Rodolfo Grazlani's forces. Churchill, cheered wildly he spoke, said 7.000 Italian prisoners already had reached Matruh, the British camp at the railhead of the line running eastward across the coast to Alexandria. Report Heavy Losses ROME, Dec. fighting In the Buqbuq zone of Western Egypt, west of Sidi Barrani, with heavy losses on both British and Italian sides was reported today by the Italian high command. Its communi- que did not state whether Sidi had been evacuated by the Italians.

(The British yesterday claimed Sidi Barrani, Fascist outpost, 70 miles inside the Egyptian border, had been taken by their forces. Buqbuq Is 35 miles west of Sidi Barrani.) On the Albanian front the Italians NEW ITALIAN NAVAL CHIEF ON JOB Vice Admiral Arturo Riccardi, 62, newly-appointed chief of the Italian naval staff and undersecretary of the navy, Is pictured above. Photo was taken when Admiral Riccardi inspected -a guard of honor of the Royal Irish Fustliera when he visited Malta shortly before the war, said they repulsed sporadic Greek attacks with the capture of prfs'drrgrs and arms. The British again attempted to invade the Tessenei zone in Eritrea with tanks and armored cars, but were repulsed, the communique said. A British post, identified only as being on the Sudan frontier, was wiped out, the high command assorted.

STELLE DELAYS APPOINTMENTS FOR COUNCIL SPRINGFIELD, Dec. of protective measures against sabotage in Illinois communities having key defense industries will be sought by the Illinois Emergency Defense Coun.cH soon to be appointed by Gov. John Stelle. This was one of the suggested activities on the council's program, approved yesterday by the Governor. Mr.

Stelle deferred, however, the appointment- of the nine-member group which is designed to coordinate all national defense effort in the state. As approved by tho Governor, the council's program called for "measure to guard against sabotage and subversive activities, by the legally constituted authorities." These measures were defined as taking "steps to strengthen local fire and police protection and surveillance in key defense localities such as Rock Island, Rockford, Belleville, Rantoul, Wilmington end East Alton." Other phases of the council program included studies of consumer goods costs, protection against fraudulent "war charities" solicitations, studies of industrial, farm and highway resources and facilities, and efforts to "cooperation between labor and management" to forestall industrial stride. Governor Stelle said he probably would appoint the members of the council next week. Members will serve without pay, but the legislature probably will be asked to appropriate funds to employ a research staff. Services Held For R.

A. Hempleman Funeral services for R. A. Hempleman were held this afternoon in Tamaroa. Burial was at Tamaroa.

Mr Hempleman died last Monday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. E. McCloud, In East St. Louis.

He was the of Mrs. H. E. Clyburn of Carbondale. STELLE DENIES WASTING STATE HIGHWAY FUNDS Says Expenditures Are Not Out Of Line SPRINGFIELD, Dec.

(AP) Gov. John Stelle asserted today that records of the division of highways showed. there had been "no outlandish spending" of state highway funds during his tenure as chief Contracts during the last three months this year will total slightly less than $4,000,000, the Governor said in a prepared statement denying "about tremendous spending and the award of large contracts." Expenditures for highway Improvements under his brief administration, Governor Stelle said, have been "much smaller than for the corresponding period in most previous years since 1927. "Much has been said about tre- contract awards 634,018, were listed at Announce Funds For Construction away, engineer in charge construe- NAZI PLANES REPULSED BY BRITISH R. A.

F. LONDON, Dec. air raiders stabbed twice at London today without penetrating the capital's defense after pounding the industrial Birmingham area and surrounding midlands towns during the night with incendiary and' explosive bombs. London was under air raid alarm overnight for hours. Among buildings hit in the Birmingham area were six churches, 11 schools, two movie theaters, private homes and public shelters, according to British (which seldom tell of military objectives hit by raiders).

Following the usual pattern, the first night raiders dropped incendiaries, which guided the second wave with its explosives. Many fires were started. The anti-aircraft barrage in the Birmingham area was heavier than ever before there, since tho start of the air siege. i. Two formations of axis warplanes attempted to penetrate to London by way of the Thames estuary, but they were reported turned back.

The Air Ministry disclosed the first case of a victory scored by a British fighting plane newly-equipped with cannon. The RAF pilot reported, he shelled a Messerschmitt 109 and saw it explode into bits a bursting anti-aircraft shell." Four enemy aircraft were reported by the Ministry of Information to have been destroyed today. AMBASSADOR DIES; MAKES PLEA U. S. AID ON SEAS ROUTES OPEN Lord Lothian Asks For Assistance From America WASHINGTON, Dec.

British plea for, assistance from the United States on thd seas posed 0 major "aid-short-of-war" question to day for President Roosevelt's decis. his return from Carribbean. mendous spending the award of large-contracts since I have boon governor," the Stelle statement said. "I have had the -division of highways make a thorough check of its records to determine the truth of these reports. "The figures show that this year the award of highway contracts has been much smaller than in many previous years.

The high point of the last 14 years was reached final quarter year of the Governor Emmerson administration when total of highway contracts- awarded was $8,709,793. "My policy has been to hear the pleas of all citizens who; come here' to urge that be made In their counties. The figures show that there been promiscuous granting of 'these requests and ho outlandish, spending'of the state's highway funda this year." A comparison of final-quarter highway contract figures for the last 14 years, made by the Governor in his statement, showed that in two years since 1930 the amounts were smaller than the $3,943,195 shown for the last three months of this year. Un the full quarter of 1937 when they were shown $2,752,494 and in 'l938 they amounted to $2,844,260, For the last three months of 1939, no leave'Miami before Monday at Duke Of Windsor Passes Examination MIAMI BEACH, Dec. his wife continued her satisfactory recuperation today from a serious tooth extraction, the Duke of Windsor took the opportunity to undergo a physical 'examination and with flying colors.

reported the at 46,. in excellent, health and physical condition. Their report confirmed the of his youthful, almost appearance. Scrapped, plans for returning to Nassau on a steamer tomorrow because of Duchess' de- eloped more seriously than expected. Capt.

Vyvyan art aide, said it certain couple could former general the earliest. German Submarine Sinks Four Ships BERLIN, Dec. Ger- CHICAGO, Dec. man submarine reported today totaling more than $25,700,000 will be to have ferreted out a British convoy available tor the state's 1941 road an sunk iour'ships 30,000 building program, says C. M.

tons. A Nazi dive also was tion of the Illinois highway depart- credited by DNB, official German ment. Part of i this money, he told convention'of the Illinois Road Builders Association yesterday, would be used a manter plan, of construction calling for the "face- lifting" of hundreds of miles of obsolete main highways. news agency, with sinking a 2,000 ton ship with two direct hits southeast of Clacton-on-Sea, and tanker heading for the Thames was reported bombed and sunk. 'A third ship of.

tons was damaged by German planes and left sinking, DNB declared. The need now' for such assistance to maintain the vital food and supply dnes to the beleaguered British Isles was emphasized by Lord Lothian, the British ambassador, in a speech read him last night before the Amer- can Farm Bureau Association in Baltimore. He implied that not only cargo but fighting ships were needed for the critical year of war he saw "With your help and airplanes, munitions, in ships and on the sea, in the field of finance," the ain- declared, "we are sure of "If you back us," he pledged, "you ill not be backing Quitter. It is or you decide whether it is to your nterest to give us whatever assist- may be necessary in order to make certain that Britain shall not fall." Lothian's appeal for seaborne assistance, and the implication it appeared to carry, was variously interpreted in official quarters here. Some thought it meant merchant shipping to replace British losses and a bid for more destroyers to follow the 50 the Royal Navy obtained in the September trade.

which gave the United Stales sites on British in the western hemisphere. Others, however, regarded It as an overture for eventual help from the U. S. fleet, perhaps in convoying shipping or. in some arrangement that would free British warships in the Pacific and elsewhere for service in European waters.

Speculation Lothian's remarks might prelude a request i'or actual American naval vessels' assistance sprang from statements in his Baltimore address. Emphasizing that the British navy is now. "strung out terribly the ambassador predicted even greater German submarine and sea-raider attacks on British shipping in the coming months. "You are the center of that great ring of Gibraltar, Cape Town, Suez, Singapore and which I should add, Hawaii and Panama," Lothian said. "As long as these fortresses stand, the war, with its aerial bombardment, Southern Illinois, Egypt's aggressive', organization -to'bring bigger and better industries to southern Illinois and to assist institutions and industries already located here, has gone on record as -favoring the proposed purchase of approximately 30 acres of land in the Southern Illinois Normal University's expansion campaign.

As an aid to the college and with the definite need for more facilities at the school in mind, directors of Southern Illinois, Inc. have written several letters to Gov. John Stelle and Finance Director Al Carter urging their approval of the purchase. The Carboudale Lions Club, following suit with other civic organizations in the community, adopted a resolution endorsing the proposal at a board of directors meeting this week which was forwarded to state offi- in Springfield. Edward Miles, business manager at the S.

I. N. said this morning that school authorities were planning on an immediate visit to Springfield to present facts and merits of the proposal to the proper authorities so roll up to your 1 shores devastate your towns and' cities, Almost alone among the nations you still have the chance of making your country immune from the devastation of war, not pacifism or attempted appeasement of the dictators, but by helping to maintain the frontiers I have described. 'But if the war will inevitably cross the oceans and roll up against your shores." If Lothian" had. outright assistance in mind, the veiled suggestion 'forth: no outspoken ad(Continued on page three) Southern Illinois, Inc.

Backs College's Land Purchase Plan that action can be taken, without further delay''to the construction of the diagnostic laboratory which, if the school buys the new territory will liave to be relocated. The relocation of this project has been unofficially approved by the State Department of Health which is momentarily holding up construction in accordance with the wishes of the S. I. N. U.

Mr. Miles pointed out again today that the expenditure of $15,000 for the new price which real estate dealers have said to be a real not in any way affect the state's budget since the entire sum would be taken fi'om the Income Fund at the college which was collected in the form of tuition from the students. The civic organizations and the townspeople of Carbondale have given their support to the proposal in an effort to find a partial solution to the congestion on the campus which has been caused by the record enrollment. New facilities must be if the school is to continue to serve southern Illinois in the future as it has in the past. Dutch Destroyer Captures German Ship Near Cuba WASHINGTON, Dec.

The Dutch destroyer Van Kinsbergen, a surprise companion of British on Atlantic blockade duty, to- lay had accounted-' for the last of hre'e German merchant ships winch dipped out of the harbor at Tampico, Mexico. The Van Kinsbergen took posses- Jon of the Rhein, 6,031 ton German reighter, off the coast of Cuba, naval here.announced last night. This terse statement was the first ntimation here that Netherlands yarships were operating in conjuuc- ion with British in western waters. The navy reported the freighter's sfazi crew attempted to scuttle their essel to prevent its seizure by the ran Kinsbergen. Another German freighter, the 5,033 on Idarwald, which steamed out of with the Rhein Nov.

29, was icuttied by her crew Sunday when ntercepted Diomede. by the British cruiser Father Of Louis Renfro Dies; Will Be Buried Friday John Thomas Renfro, father of jouis Renfro, with whom he made his died last night. He was. 78 old. Funeral services will be held at he Huffman Funeral Home tomor- ow morning at 8:30 with Dr.

M. S. GREEKS TAKE LARGE GROUP OF PRISONERS Italians Fail In Two Counter Attacks In North cannot in any real sense of the word Harvey in charge. Burial will be in Onto he Renfro cemetery near Grants- urg in Johnson County. Mr.

Renfro, who had lived in Car- londaie for the past years, is survived by two sous, Louis of Carbondale, and C. M. Renfro of Vienna; two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Henderson of Carbondale and Mrs. Arista Pickens of Vienna; ten grandchildren arid two great grandchildren.

Harry Giannakos Dies In Hospital Harry Giaunakos, former resident of Carbondale, died about 7 o'clock yesterday morning at the Anna State Hospital. He was 50 years Services AVill be' held at tho Huffman Funeral Home at 2:30 tomorrow Eifternoon -with: the priest of the Greek Orthodox church of East St. Louis in charge. Burial in Oakland cemetery. He is survived by his wife and two children, all of Zeigler.

Mr. Giannakos was born in Greece but had been a resident of' the ATHENS, Dec. forces were reported today to have attempted counter, attacks at two points in the northern sector of the Albanian front, only to be driven, back by the Greeks with heavy losses and lose the positions from wliich they attacked. The Greeks were said to have captured a large number of prisoners and much war material. Meanwhile Greek fighting men driving up the South Albanian coast from Porto Edda toward the heights of Cliiniara, 20 miles to the north, met scant resistance from retreating Italians, a Greek spokesman asserted today.

The Italian retreat of the extreme left toward the heights of Cliimara is continuing," the spokesman declared. More to the north Italians showed resistance which was very stubborn but our troops were not held up." (From" Ohnd, Yugoslavia, came dis- patchjjs saying' Fascist forces had wiped out minor Greek gains northwest of Moskopole and west of Pog- radetz, in the northern part of the Albanian front, where the Greeks are concentrating in a 'drive on Elbasani.) At one point in the northern sector, the spokesman' "picked Italian units" counter attacked in an effort to recapture important heights, but the attack was repelled with heavy loss to the Fascists. "In the region of Premet and north of Premet the thrust toward interior Albania continued and Greek troops succeeded in occupying heights of very strategic importance," he added. "More to the north, the enemy was thrown back from; very strong positions 1,800 meters, (about 6,000 feet) high, which the enemy defended seriously." He said the offensive continued despite snow and rain in. Albania.

The Greek high command-said only that -'the advance was continuing despite' "fierce reactions of the enemy" and, added that "prisoners and booty have fallen into our hands." (Police in Bitolj, Yugoslavia, ordered all non-resident newspaper correspondents covering the. Italian- Greek conflict, from the Yugoslav border to leave the district today. explained the' order iwas a LORD LOTHIAN DIES SUDDENLY IN WASHINGTON Appointed to Post Here In 1939 By Great Britain WASHINGTON, Dec. Lord Lothian, the British ambassador to the United States, died today. His embassy made this announcement on the decease of the man who has represented Britain's interests in the United States since four days before his country declared war on Germany: "The British em'bassy deeply regrets to have to announce that the marquess of Lothian died early this morning.

Lord-Lothian was taken ill on Sunday night and although he continued to improve during Monday and Tuesday, he suffered a relapse last night. The cause of death was a uremic infection. Death occurred at I a. m. (GST).

Lothian, 58, had been indisposed several days. He cancelled an appearance last the American Farm Bureau. Federation in Baltimore. In the Baltimore speech Lothian reiterated a stand he had taken with increasing seriousness in recent England would triumph in the war if given American aid. The six foot envoy, who succeeded Sir Ronald Lindsay as the British ambassador here, had won a high place the esteem of members of the diplomatic set.

As early as 1916 he took an important place in the British government. In that, year he became secretary to Prime Minister Lloyd as Lloyd and was George. George's He was known "Col. House," Carbondale 9 years. U.CA.U.

tfc fcrf 1 i. i States for over 30 years. He lived in measure protect 'Yugoslav neu- affairs until a new is'ap- trality.) credited having written many sections of the Versailles treaty. 'Lord. was a Christian Scientist and had written much about faith.

he arrived here in August 1939 it wns his fifteenth journey to the United Stat.es. As secretary of Rhodes Trust, he had visited 44 of the states and prided himself on iiowing something about American public opinion. Lord Lothian" once believed that Adolf Hitler was "earnestly" desirous of peace, and he advocated an Anglo- German pact. Lord Lothian returned only recently from a visit in. London and started public dirc-jssion of financial aid to Great Britain by declaring that country's finances were running low, Secretary of State Hull, on whom Lord Lothian usually called at least once a week for long and 'informal talks on mutual Anglo-American problems throughout the world, arranged to go to the embassy to express his regrets.

Word was sent President Roosevelt in the Caribbean. Lothian, returning recently from an official visit to London, raised publicly the question of financial aid to Great Britain by declaring his country needed "planes, munitions, ships and finances." Lord Lothian was popular alike with government officials and newspaper llien. When he called at the state department, he talked freely with newsmen, sometimes "off the record," in contrast to the more formal and aloof attitude adopted by most previous British ambassadars here. The problems-of the war and especially those of getting material American assistance imposed a heavy strain on the ambassador and this was believed to have contributed to his Avoiding large social functions in favor of small dinner discussions with select groups of Americans, Lothian displayed an unusual understanding of Americans and American public opinion. The ambassador was a bachelor.

Neville Butler, counselor of the embassy, will', be in Icharge of British pointed..