The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 1

i APANES FLOCK Allies Abandon Rangoon; Japs Bomb Island Key to India BAKERSFIELD WEATHER Temperatures High Wednesday C0.4 Low Thursday 35.6 (Weather forecasts withheld at request of military authorities.) Vol. 54 14 PAGES BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 27, 1942 TWO SECTIONS No. 181 Awarded Fontaine Academy Gives Half-Prize to Welles; Willkie Urges U. S. Offensive Action Gary Cooper TTOLLYWOOD, Feb.

27. (A. P.V- Joan Fontaine and Gary Cooper were given gold statuettes as the outstanding actress and actor of 1041 at the movies' first wartime awards meeting today. Miss Fontaine won for her portrayal of a woman who lived in constant fear that her husband would kill her. The picture was "Suspicion," produced by RKO.

Cooper wan acclaimed for his role as the World War's No. 1 hero, Sergeant (MvJ'O York In Warner Brothers picture of that name. Miss Fontaine lost a bet to Wendell WHIUIe, speaker of the evening, who wagered $25 to her $10 that Nlie would win. She paid off promptly. Other uomlnccs.for the best actress were her sister, Olivia de Havllland: Bette Davis, already a two-time winner, Greer Garsoii and Barbara Stanywck.

Other male nominees were Orson Welles, Gary Grant, Walter Huston and Robert Montgomery. Twentieth Century-Fox won the best 'picture award for the first time since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began giving Oscars in 1028. The film was "How Green Was My Valley" and it won major honors for two of the men who helped make it great. John Ford, now a lieutenant commander In the navy, was awarded a gold statuette for his directorial work on film, adapted from Richard Llewellyn's best selling book. Ford also won best directing Oscars in 1935 and 1940 for "The Informer" and "Grapes of Wrath'." Donald Crisp's work In "How Green Was My Valley" won him the award for (lie year's best male lupportlng role.

Mary Astor was proclaimed best supporting actress for Warner "The Great Lie." Lieutenant Jimmy Stewart, in uniform, and Ginger Rogers, who won the 1040 Oscars, made the presentations to-Cooper, Fontaine, Crisp and Astor. Crisp, a World War veteran and a captain in the California State Guard, also WHS in uniform. Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane," nominated for nine major and minor trophies, received only one original screen play. Welles and Herman J. Mankewiecz shared it.

Walt Disney as usual carried off special honors, for "Fantasia" and "Dumbo" and was given the Irving Thai berg memorial trophy for most consistently high production achievement. The dinner, once called off because of the war but reinstated, lucked most of its usual glamour and fanfare. There were no searchlights outside. Men wore business suits or army officers were guests. Feminine stars 4 yielded little to the informality, however.

They appeared in eve- nine dress, adorned In furs, jewels, flowers. Willkie departed from a prepared address to assert "If and when an air raid of any proportions conies to Los Angeles, there will be no debate about it." He arrived In the midst of a controversy over Los Angeles' blackout-anti-aircraft tire at still unidentified planes Wednesday morning. "It is very interesting to be here while you are discussing the ject of the air raids. It was just about a year ago that I was in England, and if and when an air raid of any proport? as come to Los Angeles, there will be no debate about It. "Quite seriously, when it does come, the tears, the death and the destruction will give you a true Joan Fontaine realization of the beastiality of totalitarianism and will give you a dedication of the cause of democracy such as you have never heretofore known.

"In England everybody without exception is bound to a common cause and it was Hitler's bombs that finally put the final, rivets in those bindings. I hope that we in America are about to come to complete unity without that, but I have no doubt that if it does come, every last element of appeasement will pass from the people's minds:" In his prepared address, Willkie praised the movie industry as be- Mary Astor lug "among the first to appreciate fiijly true American (anti-axis) FiTnent and to offer pictures reflecting that sentiment and disclosing the vicious character of Nazi plotting and violence." Turning to the war. he pleaded: "Let's begin to strike! "We will not win this war on the defensive. We want our navy seeking out the enemy, not hanging on our shores for fear the enemy will seek us some of.our distinguished senators have suggested. "We want our armies nenetrat- Ing every active front.

We want our fighting planes leading our bombers to their goal. It sickens me to think of America in terms of defense. the vicissitudes of totalitarianism have taught us anything, it is that those who win strike first. "Let's begin to strike! Let's begin to win!" AlienProbels Demanded in County Ousted Nipponese Move to Kern, Stir Protest By DICK BEAN ALARMED by a "heavy in- flux of Japanese lo Kern county during the last 48 hours," Kern county officials today placed in the hands of General John L. DC Witt, fourth army commander, a telegram pleading for "immediate Investigation 1 of the Japanese situation in Bakersnekl.

Delano and other Kern communities. The telegrnin represented the opinion of the Board of Supervisors hut both alien and citizen should he removed far from the vital industries and military objectives of Kern county and lodged in onmps. Dispatching of the telegram yester- at a special meeting of the supervisors followed District Attorney Tom Scott's announcement that police and sheriff's officials have reported "an alarming influx of Japanese who are moving to Kern from other California areas from which they have been forced to depart on order of federal officers." District Attorney Scott charged that the border of the "curfew zone" delineating California areas in which Japanese and other aliens' movements shall be restricted should be moved eastward to include nearly all of Kern county. The line now cuts through Kern in the middle of Taft, incorporating the territory west of the Coalinga-iMaricopa Highway. It leaves open nearly' every industrial or military installation vulnerable to sabotage.

The telegram, which was signed by Sheriff John Loustalot, Chairman Charles W. Wimmer of the Board of Supervisors, Chairman A. W. Noon of the county defense council and District Attorney Scott, read: Due to the resident Japanese, both aliens and citizens, and due to the influx of Japanese aliens and citizens into Kern county and due to the present restricted area designated by you, all our vital industries and vulnerable spots such as many oil storage tanks, high pressure wells, army air fields, army practice lauding fields, Gardner Field, Minter Field and Muroc Field, refineries, absorption plants, vital and necessary bridges, electric high tension lines, major oil and gas pipe lines, pipe-line pumping stations, the many tunnels on Tehachapi mountain where Southern Pacific and Santa Fe use same tracks, are open to attack and sabotage. "We request that you conduct an immediate investigation into this matter with the object in view of protecting these vital and vulnerable areas." Sheriff Loustalot.

Police Chief Robert Powers, of Bakersfield, and Police Chief H. L. Martin, of Delano, have reported Japanese are coming House Rejects Move British Leave New Jap Armada to Ban 40-Hour Week F. D. R.

Hits "Riders" on Needed Bills, Opposes Lengthening of Work Period WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. (A. HOUSP today rejectnl an amendment to the second war-powers bill to suspend operation of the 40-hour week und extra pay for overtime during the emergency. The, action came on a standing vote of 226 to 62 on a proposal offered by Representative Smith Administration leaders earlier in the day had expressed fear that the amendment might be accepted and debate was sharp.

ASHINGTON. Feb. 27. (A. I'.) President Roosevelt condemned today, ns a very reprehensible method of legislating, what he called the attaching of riders that ought to be vetoed to measures which cannot be vetoed.

The chief executive told a press conference that since 1913 he had had the Idea it was not quite fail- to Congress or the country to attach riders to appropriation measures when the riders were not germane. His remarks arose from the plan of the Senate farm bloc to tack on to a pending war appropriation hill an amendment designed to prevent sales of government-held farm products below full parity prices. The Senate already had approved legislation which included this prohibition, but the farm bloc took steps to clinch its victory by putting substantially the same provisions into the huge war appro- priation so that the danger of a presidential veto would be lessened. Although he confined his remarks originally to riders on appropriation measures, Mr. Roosevelt told reporters that his words also were applicable to riders on all types of legislation.

He said a question of legislative ethics was involved. Ity making it clear that his views extended to riders on all types of measures, the chief executive indicated that he would look with disfavor upon adding to a war powers bill pending in the House an amendment which would suspend the 40-hour week while the war lasts. It was learned from a high administration official that the government thinks the general effect of this amendment would be, principally, to eliminate payment for overtime. And this would apply in (Continued on Pauc Tti a) Capital of Burma 'A "Ghost City" of Ran goon Waits Jap Forces State Senators Urge Army to Hasten Jap Evacuation RESNO, Feb. 27.

(A. California Senate interim committee on economic planning today announced it was asking the army to formulate and carry out Japanese evacuation plans as soon as possible. Senator Robert W. Kenny of Los Angeles, committee chairman, made public the committee's letter to Lieutenant General John L. Dewitt.

fourth army commander at the San Francisco Presidio, which pointed out that enemy aliens, particularly Japanese, operate and work on ninny California farms. The letter added that until the. army's intentions for handling the Japanese lire completed "California farm operators cannot plan their agricultural production, with the season of planting already hei-e." Tulare county In the San quln valley and the Woodland area in the Sacramento valley were cited today in testimony before the committee as typical agricultural areas disturbed by the unsettled Japanese situation. M. W.

Dula of Visalla, heading a Tulare county delegation to the hearing here, said Japanese were farming about 30,000 acres in that county. would like to see a co-ordln- tor named," he told tho Senate interim committee on economic planning, "to see that there Is no Interruption in production If those Japanese aro moved from the land." I H. S. Daley of Woodland, repro- senting the Associated Farmers. said Japanese produced about per cent of the tomatoes In that area and much of the sugar beets.

"In the past," he added, "most of actual labor on these Japanese, farms has been by Filipino workers but we expect that ma be changed," Daley joined with other witnesses In urging prompt federal action to settle the status of these Japanese but differed from tho others In declaring that some of the Japanese would remain loyal to tho United States under any circumstances. He suggested a psjvholo- gica test to determine which Japanese were loyal and that those found so be allowed to remain at their occupation under probation. The committee, headed by Senator Robert W. Kenny of Los Angeles, completed its one-day hearing last night. announced It would meet In San Diego March 11 to hear testimony on aircraft industry labor and housing.

RANGOON. Burma. Feb. 27. (A.

military headquarters announced today that looters and Incendiarists, operating here in the wake of civilian withdrawals from Rangoon, had been shot and that this treatment "has had a great effect." The British said the Japanese were using elephants In moving supplies to the front for their expected drive on British positions along (lie west bank of the Sliding river. LONDON. Feb. 27. (A.

German radio Mild today that Japanese forces had reached the suburbs of "blazing Rangoon." The Japanese have made no such claim themselves. Vtlitrit I'rrnn Lcatftl Wtre) plIl'XGKIXG, Fob. Anglo-American military reports indicated today British and Indian forces had virtually evacuated the Rangoon Lower Sumatra, 270 north of urea, leaving only a small' holding force lo resist the Japanese attack on the Burma Bombed Off Java Bay of Bengal Island Nippo Target; Invaders Wait Reinforcements Before Launching All-Out Smash on Indies Ily HOOKK D. (iltKKNE AMOClatcil Wur Editor JAPANESE warplanes were reported today to have at- tacked for the first time, twice bombing and machine- gunning the Andaman islands in the Bay of Bengal, 350 miles southwest of Rangoon, Burma, on a vital United Nations supply route to China, Russia and the Far Pacific. raiders hit at Port Blair, port of one of the island group inhabited by ferocious warriors of pigmy descent.

Calcutta and other Indian cities have already taken precautionary measures against a possible Japanese attack. In the battle of the Dutch East Indies, allied bombers smashed at a new Japanese invasion annmln of)' Hangka Islands, amltl Indications that the badly mnnled enemy was awaiting reinforcements before risking an all-out assault on the United Nations citadel of Rangka lion off I ho east coast of Bataan Luzon Fighting Slows lo Minor Clashes ASHINGTON, Feb. 27. (A. KlKlithi between light (Continued on Page Two) Allied Offensive Will Knock Out Hitler, States Litvinoff EW YORK, Feb.

27. (U. Ambassador Maxim Litvinoff said last night that Adolf Hitler "could be destroyed by the summer" if the United Nations launch new offensives, and, at the same time, supply Russia so she may keep the offensive on the eastern front. Litvinoff, addressing the Overseas Press Club, said he was "speaking as a layman." It was his first on-t he-record speech since he came to Washington, shortly after the United States entered the war. "It is obvious that to deal Hitler a knockout blow would mean to smash the axis, and greatly to simplify all the other problems so that their solution would take less time and trouble," he said.

"We hear a lot about common effort of the United Nations toward achieving victory. But common efforts which do not include common fighting may not be sufficient. "It may be of little use to have large, well-equipped armies, say somewhere in the west, they are not in action while decisive battles are raging in the east. When such battles are over it may be too late for the western armies to serve their purpose." JAPS MAY ATTACK RUSS WHEN SNOW STOPS CHUNGKING, China, 27 (U. military informants increasingly certain that Japan is preparing to attack Russia, ex pressed belief today that the attack n-obably would be started between he time the winter snows stop and the spring thaw starts.

In attacking while eastern Siberia is still frozen, experts said, the Japanese would be able to move troops over frozen streams and lakes and would be able to strike before the Ice melted and freed the powerful Russian Far Eastern fleet for action. It Is reported here that this fleet includes 90 submarines. Military men said that in 1940 Russia had about 630,000 troops, 3000 airplanes and 2300 armored vehicles In Siberia, and that the Japanese at the peak of their strength last September had about 650,000 men in Manchukuo and Korea. According to reports here Russia has spent more than 8,000,000,000 roubles (nominally $400,000,000) in building 4000 blockhouses along the Siberian-Manchuklan frontier and In malting the cities of Vladivostok. Voroshllov, Kharabovsk and niagovlescheiiKk strong points.

It is reported also that the Russians have built underground airdromes. Estimates here are that the Japanese may now have not more than 350,000 men facing the Russians, but the Russian Far Eastern army has a tremendous area to defend. Hence it was believed that the Japanese might figure they had the advantage in initial striking power and maneuverability. FLASHES TWO LOST IN FIRE MARTINEZ, Feb. 27.

(A. Two men were reported missing and presumed lost and two others injured in a fire which swept an Associated OH tanker and a dock at the company's plant near Avon on Suisun bay. TANKER TORPEDOED MANASQl'AN, N. Feb. 27.

(A. American tanker R. P. Resor burned at sea today after it had been torpedoed about 20 miles southeast of Mauasquati. Two survivors were landed here.

DALADIER DEFIANT RIO.M, Unoccupied France, Feb. 27 (A. Premier Edouard Daladier opened a direct attack today on his "predecessors" in the war ministry, including Marshal Petuin, being just as responsible an himself for France's lack of war preparation. Prior to the testimony, the court announced it had declared itself constitutional and rejected a defense motion for discontinuance of the trial. SIAMESE TWINS DIE NEW YORK, Feb.

27. (U. Siamese twins, born yesterday to Mrs. Carmine Piociotto, 25. died today as a physician was deliberating on whether to cut the infants apart.

F.D.R. Awaits Okay on Alaskan Highway (A undated Prett I.taied Wire) WASHINGTON, Feb. dent Koosevelt told a pretss confer ence today that he was awaiting a definite recommendation from the war department before taking any action on a projected highway from the Pacific northwest to Alaska. House Okays Repeal of Pension Measure (U ited Press Leased Wire) WASHINGTON'. Feb.

House today approved and Kent to he Senate for final congressional otion legislation repealing the con- roverted penslons-for-Congress program. A conference report on the re- icaler was approved by voice vote. The repealer was a Senate rider an pay allotment bill. he conference report not only ex- ludes from retirement benefits members of the House and Senate, tho vice-president and cabinet members as provided for In the Senate, but also heads of Independent offices and agencies and members of major government commissions. Nazis Arm Norway Fear Ally Invasion (Associated Press Leaned Wire) MONTREAL, Feb.

Norwegian legation here said today It had learned that the Germans have undertaken extensive military preparations along the coast of Norway because they fear an allied Invasion there. Some harbors have been closed, the legation reported, and Selbjoerne fjord outnlde Bergen had been "blocked ut Fondoey, Stordocy and Kalsund because of information indicating a possible attack on Bergen." Much of the harbor at Stavenger also was said to have been closed to shipping. MEREDITH ENTERS ARMY HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 27. (U.

P. Film Actor Burgess Meredith re ported for duty as a private at For MacArthur tods.v capital. Fliers of tho American volunteer were reportedly lu- fliellng heavy casualties on tho invaders with bombing anil machine- gun nttacks on the enemy. Tho ChuiiRkliiK radio snltl that sillied iiir units in Hiirtuu have, shot down more Ihnn CO enemy pianos in tho past 4S hours. The American volunteer Kroup of tho Chinese air force, and H.

A. collaborating In Murrrm, down '21 Japanese planes yesterday and probably downed seven more, the New Delhi radio reported. "(Jhost City" (New arrivals In Mandalay described Rangoon, the once-proud capital of population, as city of ghosts" given over to few policemen and soldiers before tho threat of the Japanese advance. (KcmnantH of lease-lend material on tho docks apparently had boon fired under the scorched earth policy desolating that long-time gateway lo China's 13urmn road supply lino. (About 100 trucks which could not be assembled In time to net them out of the invaders' reach were ainom: supplies reported destroyed.) It was presumed here tho main allied forces from Rangoon had moved northward to 1'ogu, eliminating the possibility that Japanese pincers on the.

capital would trap large forces as at Singapore. Move to Mandalay Tho troops reported moved from Rangoon would be available for tho heavy fighting expected on tho plains area south of Mandalay und also along the mountainous eastern border of Burma. Military experts expect the Japanese to drive through central liurnm toward Promc and TUOIIK- no, 185 miles north of Rangoon, and to supplement this drive with an attack from northern Thailand buses. Information here yesterday disclosed at least 60.000 Japanese troops, Including mechanized, para chute and air units, have been con centrating near the Thai-Burma border to strike Into Burma's Shan states, possibly against Mandalay. This Intent blow In nn allliM toroffonslvo which now appears to have shifted most of Its wnlglit to Java's wont, whore the Japanese have driven to the shore of narrow Sunda strait, was carried out simultaneously with a third successive bombing raid on Valoinbang.

enemy- hold oil center In south Sumatra. There the bombers touched off new flrfrs to add to tho previous devastation In this area. Claim New IlaHO (The thrPiU to Java from tho west was pointed up by a Tokio claim that a Dutch naval base, on So- mangka bay at the southern end of Sumatra had boon occupied. The Dutch yesterday acknowledged that Japanese forces hold Telokbetoeng, 40 miles to tho cast Three Japanese planes bombed and-machine-gunned 1'ort Blair on Tuesday and Thursday, executing Japan's farthest thrust to tho west since tho war began. Two civilians were killed, five wounded.

The Andaman Islands are strategically important as a base for possible Japanese Invasion of Ceylon or India. Hard hit by shipping and piano louses, the Japanese nmdo no claim of tightening the siege of Java, heart of the Dutch Kast Indies, where it was disclosed that "many thousands" of American, British ami Australian troops were grimly anil with some eagerness awaiting the Invaders. "FlKhl like wildcats and fight like hell!" was the official HloKUli. A bulletin from X. K.

I. headquarters said there had been noticeable slackening in Japanese air assaults during the past few days and It was apparent that the arrival of cannon blasting American flying fortresses und other aerial reinforcements hud lit least tempered Japan's superiority In the skies. Attack Sumatra Besides pounding Japanese ships off Hangka Island, United Nations bombers also delivered violent attack on military targets near Japanese-held Palembang in lower Sumatra, starting big fires. Australia's air force htruclt aiu-w at Japanese-occupied Rubaul, New Britain island, Netting tiro to wharves, shipping, military installations and airdromes. A Dutch communique said nine Japanese bombers raided the allied on both sides rontinuhiK on the Hainan front In the Philippines, the war department reported today, with (jicncrnl Douglas Mao Arthur's troops holding advance positions representing gains of I to 8 kilometers along; the entire front In the last 48 hours.

(These Rains were from a little over of a mile to almost five miles. A kilometer is .621370 of mile.) The text of the communique: "1. Philippine theater: "KIttlitinK on (be taan front with light forces en- KUKed on both sides. General MacArthur's troops are holding advance positions which represent gains of from 1 to 8 kilometers along the entire front during the past 48 hours. The greatest vance was made on the right of the Hun north of Pilar.

Our troops are being subjected to a relatively light enemy air and artillery attack. "There has been no firing on our fortifications from enemy artillery positions mi the Cuvite shore for several days. There is nothing to report from other areas." Vichy Gives Pledge to F. R. It Will Not Assist the Axis naval base at Soerabaja.

In western Java, but declared that "our fighters soon drove the enemy away" and ail bombs fell In tho sea. Unofficial complications Indicated American and Dutch forces alone hud aunk or damaged at least 232 Japanese ships, heavy blows to program of conquest dependent upon long sea linen. OC the stricken vessels, 121 were listed definitely sunk. Jap Ships Hit Allied announcements last day related that a Japanese cruiser was blown up and two cruisers and two destroyers were certainly damaged in tho engagement and even an early radio announcement that the United Nations had lost one destroyer was not borne out In communiques. Lieutenant General Heln Ter Poor- ten, commander in chief; of, Netherlands Indies army, welcomed the "many thousands" of allied soldiers to Java in a broadcast from Batavta lust night.

"I know your gallant record In the history of he said, speaking in English. "I know I can rely on you Americans, Australians and British to fight equally gallantly now alongside us Dutch." The general said there was room for blind optimism concerning the corning battle for the last great allied bastion in the western Pacific north of Australia, but that there was none for pessimism either. JAPS CLAIM OCCUPATION OF DITCH NAVAL BASE TOKIO (From Japanese Broad- oasts). Feb. H7.

(A. forces la southern Sumatra have occupied a Dutch naval bitae on Se(Continued oa Paue British Navy Loses Old U. S. Destroyer Untied Prtm Leased Wirt) LONDON, Feb. admiralty reported tonight that the former American destroyer.

Belmont, has been sunk. The Belmont is the former American destroyer Aullck, 1190 tons. Next of kin of casualties have been advised, the admiralty said. It did nut indicate where or when the destroyer was lost ASHINGTON, Feb. 27.

(A. The Vichy government, In response to representations by President Roosevelt, has assured the United States that It will not lend military aid to any belligerent, particularly any aid involving French warships. Kunmer Welles, acting secretary of state, made the disclosure today, after growing speculation In Washington and elsewhere that tho French fleet, still a powerful element, was headed for German control. Welles said that Mr. Roosevelt hud warned Vichy on February 1" that if the French shipped war materials or supplies to the axis powers it would place itself in the category of governments assisting the declared enemies of the United States.

Besides the warships' possible use by the Germans, a disturbing report heard here was that the French had permitted supplies to reach the Nazi forces in Libya via. French Tunisia. The United States, however, still is awaiting further clarification of certain questions, Welles assorted, before determining the status of United States relations with Vichy, Referring to the assurances received from Vichy, he "While this statement of French policy is of value in estimating the relations between this government and tilt) French government at Vichy, further clarifications with regard to other important questions are awaited by this government before It will be enabled to complete its examination of the present situation." VICIIYITE "WILL, NOT ADMIT" BRKAK POSSIBLE VICHY, Unoccupied France, Feb. 27. (A.

authorized source declared tonight that he would "not admit" that there could be any question of a diplomatic break between the Vichy government and the United States. (Apparently he referred to a broadcast today by the German-controlled Paris radio asserting that such a possibility had arisen.) At the same time an official statement denied reports, attributed to French quarters in London, that a Japanese, commission of 12 members hud arrived in Madagascar, French Island colony In the western Indian ocean. INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Arvln Theater li-o Arena llrock'g Laundry Cunrideutlully John Service. tidily, 13 Club Fox Umuuda Xbvator Hotel Kl Furniture Kern Club Kern Theater Lee. Ur.

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