The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 1

Christmas Programs At Churches. Pg. 12 THE KOROMO TRIBUNE i i i i THE KOKOMO DISPATCH VOL. LVHI-NO. 71 fnm Fra KOKOMO, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1941 TWENTY PAGES PRICE--THREE CENTS Nazis Reeling Indictaents i-k i i Are Returned In Retreat In Libya, Russia Hurriedly Leave Finns To Own Fate; British Score Heavily In Derna Area the Adolf battered invasion reeling In retreat in Russia north Africa, were reported to have abandoned their Finnish allies today Soviet announced huge ntw sains in the 17-, day-old counter-off entlve on the' centml front.

from -Icluinki (Ihe Klnn capital) tfaU morninx aay that all German troopn have been withdrawn from Finland In the Brttlnh radio declared. The broadcast said Finnish lines had been sbtitlered between taken Onega and Ladoga by a red army drive la the vicinity ot the railroad. The admitted that Run- forcea had penetrated their By Grand Jury 2 True Bills Filed Against Charles Murphy I.lriit. C. Kmmmu, above, of tin; nir com hat force has emu Urn at ueverl arrived In Honolulu with Instruct- Four indictments, naming three persons as defendants, were returned by the Howard county grand jury in circuit court about noon JFridaj Two of the true bills were against the same person, Charles Mur phy, 825 Taylor street.

They' charge him with embezzling in payment for insurance' policies allegedly sold by him. An indictment for encouraging; child delinquency was returned against a Kokomo man, and one for issuing a fraudulent check was handed up against a non-resident! of Indiana, Their names will be made public until after their arrest. As soon as the jury reported, Sheriff George Scott served a warrant on Murphy and arranged to serve in the other cases soon as possible. Bond for the Kokomo men was to be set by Judge Forrest E. Jump Friday afternoon.

Failed to Deliver Policy One of the indictments against Murphy charges him in three countn with converting $10 to his own use, obtaining money under false pre- Japanese Intensify Sea-Borne Attacks they wero quickly lo amume command of the' lenses and Ut lareen y- T1 bil1 lodged by strong counter i Hawaiian department, according to ccusc3 th defendant of accepting but aid 35 Selectees according lo report! received in! announcement by Secretary of War Bern, Switzerland, from DNB, Stinwon. H(i will relieve Lieut. Gcn- offlclal Hgcncy. -ral Walter C. Short.

rilhllnc In Violent Fighting wan extremely violent, 1 the agency said. Much of it was i I 11 TV waged io unowotorms with tempera-' Jf near zero, fahrenbelt. DNB bluntly acknowledged that the Russians continued their pressure all along tbe lino, supported by powerful of artillery and armored On the Libyan desert battlefield, British troops were officially reported to have captured Derna airport, 100 miles northwest of Tobruk. Itself was said to be still In axil British forces were reported advancing "in all directions" west nod north of Meklll, 40 miles below Derna, with the Germans and Italians -fleeing in two bodies--one heading toward Derna and Rural Board Gets Big Call The first draft call since the sum from Earl Kaufman int on an Insurance policy, the jury charges was never delivered to Kaufman. Murphy also was indicted on charges of accepting- $8 from O.

Glen Weiscnaucr as an insurance payment and converting the money to his own use. This bill is in two counts, alleging that the defendant fraudulently converted the money and obtained it under false pretenses. It charges that Murphy did not deliver a policy to Weisenauer. Both transactions in which Murphy is accused of illegal acts were said to have occurred April 25, 1939. Probes City Material Handling The jury failed to vote an indictment fin connection with an alleged United States went to war has been conversion of city materials, sup- received by the two Howard coun- plies ct ui menl ar labor to pri- ty selective service boards, re- I a U5e although it did investigate qulsitloning 35 men for December such a compraint.

29. The jury's report on its deliber- i ations, which were begun December other toward BengMi on the gulf ot Sir to. Board No. 2, and nine from Board The thrust to Derna airport No. 1.

The county board is asked meant that the British had fought to supply a larger number than 1 their way approximately 195 miles the city board because the city the desert from the Egyptian board has filled one or two more showed that of 47 witnesses ith I evidence 2 More Attacks Made on Wake But U. S. Marines Hold Tiny Isle Washington, Dec. jTJavy Department today announced -v additional enemy air attacks Hear Admiral Chester W. I.imiti| on Wake lsland one of wnich was (above) has been ordered to com-j dcaoribed as "comparatively light" nrand of the TJ.

S. Pacific fleet, re-; a the other "in greater force." placing Admiral Husband E. Kim-, In Us rc ar communique the mel, on orders of Secretory of the. department said there were "no new developments to report" in the Atlantic, the eastern Pacific, or the Far East. Of the central Pacific the com- munique read: "There have been two additional air attacks by the enemy on "Wake island.

The first occurred on the night of the 17th-18th and was comparatively light. The second was in greater force and occurred in the forenoon of the 19th. Wake island continues to counter these blows" Earlier, the War Department announced "there was a marked increase in enemy air and ground reality activities" in the Philippine area during the past 24 hours Kokomo Gives 20 Gallons Of Its Blood Red Cross Unit Accepts Donations A grim reminder of the of war was brought to Kokomo i There was heavy bombing over Fnday when thcjnobile unit of Manlla and over the city Uolla on the island of Panay, south of Luzon," the communique added. "There is nothing to report from other areas," the communique-- number 18--said. 2 Waves of Japanese Fliers Over Manila Manila, Dec.

waves of Japanese bombers, flying at 30,000 feet, flew over the vital base at Cavite, in Manila in less than two hours today in short, quick thrusts and the first left a giant column of smoke billowing 20-Year Age for Draft Accepted By Joint Senate-House Committee American Red Cross unfurled its banner, a red cross on a white field, at the Elks club, and began the collecting of 20 gallons of Howard county blood for the use of the U. S. Army and Navy. The donation of a to aid Uncle Sam's pint of blood fighting men captured the imagination of How- Over 1,000 per- Some 180 receiv- ard county folk. sons volunteered.

ed notice from the local Red Cross office to report during the two days the unit is scheduled to be in the city. Others will be given an opportunity later when the unit returns. Donors through the routine. Each was examined for blood pressure reading, heart action and given other tests to determine their physical fitness for the donation. Takes Only Few Minutes The actual process of obtaining the blood takes only a few mo- lations by 44 persons.

Thirty- merits, but those in charge insist frontier since November 18, when the new campaign was- launched American-made tanks and Planes, A British spokesman said imperial troops hat! captured Gozala. 40 miles west of Tobruk, on Wednesday mprning. On the Russian war front, Soviet dispatches said that the red armies had reached the approaches of Kuza, 50 miles due west of Moscow, and that "the rate of our offensive in growing noticeable." The Russians reported heavy blows were being struck at German rearguard communications to disorganize Hitler's already headlong retreat from Moscow. Trains, trucks and buses were subjected to the pounding and the Soviet Information bureau announced tbe destruction by red aviation December 17 of about 750 loaded with troops and sup. plies, and a number of buses, while 10 trains were reported set on fire and upwards of 6,000 men annihilated or dispersed.

Soviet ground forces, furthermore, were said in Moscow to have destroyed 106 German trucks, an ammunition dump and a military supply depot on a single day on the Moscow front. Altogether, said the Communist party newspaper Pravda, the Russians' recaptured 138 more villages on the central front. While axis fortunes waned in the winter-frozen land of the Soviets and on the sands of North Africa new and important blow to the Rome-Berlin aggressors was ob-l llqucly dealt by Spain. quotas than Board No. 2.

Both boards have a sufficient number of men classified and physically examined to fill the quota. The contingent will leave the courthouse at 8 a. m. on the date mentioned, and will travel to Fort Harrison by special bus. Another Exam Scheduled An army examination for other local registrants is scheduled to be held at Fort Harrison January 7, and those who take this test will return home the same day to await notice of induction.

Fifteen men underwent a cursory physical examination at the Kokomo national guard armory Wednesday. Although the total county quota for December was 35, the contingent will be one man short. One of the men listed by Board No. 2 three of the cases investigated were (Continued on Page Two) Holiday Trade In City Good, Merchants Say Stores To Remain upon a 15-minute rest period following. Each person is given refreshments, donated by the club, of a nature needed in each individual case.

No faintings were reported in the earlier hours. Men outnumbered the women donors the first day, not because the women did not volunteer, scores did, but it so happened the local office called more male donors. Policemen, firemen, bankers, WPA 30 Minutes Needed Knox were greeted at the Elks in the sky by local women, who directed them A communique issued by the U. S. Far Eastern command said reports of bombing by the second wave of planes had been received at 4:20 p.

m. (8:20 a. m. C.S.T. Friday), nearly ttuee hours after the raiders flew over the Manila area.

The Far Eastern command also announced that "military objectives" in the vicinity of Tarlac province, northwest of Manila on Luzon Island, were bombed Thursday afternoon by a small number of Japanese planes. No American aircraft took to the air when the high-flying planes roared over in hit-and-run tactics. The Japanese maintained an unbroken formation and flew straight over the target. The afternoon communique said planes were in the first group. workers and just plain everyday Nine were in the second group, folk all passed along the line will- which caused an alarm in Manila ing- to do their "bit." It was a cross section of Howard county IO 9 ClOCK -citizenship, the donors on the first clay.

First City for Unit Kokomo had the honor of being Christmas trade was good in Kokomo Friday as the shopping period for the holidays 'drew toward a close. Late shoppers filled the stores 01 tne men listed by Board No. 2 an merchants reported a gratify- for induction was killed in an auto- i ng business. Despite the omnipres- moblle accident near Kankakee, early Thursday. He was Keith Parkhurst, 804 East Jefferson street.

The nine Kokomo men who will leave December 29 are as follows: Claude Nathenial Dickman, 1134 Home avenue; Carl Loraine New- ence of war, purchasing was reported nearly up to par and the prices are in line with prices that prevailed at Christmas time last year. Merchants have arranged to keep their stores open until 9 o'clock Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday On Wednesday i ucouay jiigjjia. vJi vreuneaaay ton, 1311 South Washington street; night, Christmas eve, the stores will Bobert Edward Shilling, 417 South remain open until 6 o'clock. This Western avenue; Kenneth Freder- schedule will accomodate the needs ick Bachelor, 412H East Superior customers making last-minute street; Elonzo Edward Webb, Mor- purchases. onci, Arizona; Clarence Dunn, A wide selection of desirable gifts the Tunisian Bon.

Some 1,000 5,000 Italians Lost In Naval Engagement Tunis. French Tunisia. Dec. 15 5,000 Italian seamen lost their lives December 12 when British naval units sank two Italian cruisers a destroyer and three transports off town of Kclibia on Italians were res- and are being treated for burns and other injuries, in cities along the Tunisian coast. The Italian cruisers sunk were the 5,000 ton Giussano and Alber- leo Da Barbiano which normally carried complements totalling 1.000 men.

The attack was said to have occurred at midnight December 12. Fair and Colder Weather Forecast Indiana--Fair to partly cloudy this afternoon and tonight; slightly colder in northwest portion, and near; the Ohio river tonight. Tribune Weather Bccord. Far 24-hour period ending Thursday midnight: Maximum, minimum, 39. At 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, 53.

Heading December Maximum. 49; minimum, 30. Sin, Mt Friday at 4:19 p. m. rises Saturday at 7:06 a.

m- East Morgan street; Robert Lee Stroup, 226 South Union street; George Francis Cameron, 516 South Wabash street; James Horace Parigen. 418 South Main street. Board No. 2 Contingent The 25 men designated by Board still is available for the busy shopper who has a long list to fill and such a short time in which to complete it. Toy land has a military atmo- shere, with a wide variety of toy soldiers, pup tents, minature can- are as follows: Kermit T.

Ludwig. 319 10th Street, Evanston, Wyoming; Jesse L. Sweat, Oliver Springs, Adna Charlemagne Saul, 1104 South Wabash avenue, Chicago, Wayne Delbert Langley, Windfall route Clyde James Chapman, 16 Logan street, Peru; Joseph Raymond Glenn Cherry, Ballard. Kokomo route Converse route No 2 at the same time non, tanks, trucks, 'planes and warships. However, in addition there are the old reliable toys such as games, hobby-horses, tricycles, mechanical gadgets, cut-out books, story books, thousands of dolls, etc.

In the department for boys of school age the gamut of choice runs from sweaters and military sets to shirts, pajamas, ties, gloves and sports wear. For girls of school age there is a wide choice ranging from dresses, blouses, skirts to pajamas, socks, jackets an dother items of wearing apparel A brilliant selection of wearing apparel, furniture, radios, electrical appliances, jewelry, toiletries, is available for older persons. Spain Is Neutral In Pacific Conflict Madrid, Dec. announced today that she is a nonbelligerent the Pacific war involving Japan on one side and the United States and Great Britain on' the other. The announcement of the Spanish position followed reports that Spain would declare herself a neutral.

The decree, published in today's official journal, was signed by Generalissimo Francisco Franco and his brother-in-law. Foreign Minister Ramon Serrano Suner, who is avowedly pro-Nazi and pro-Fascist as well as leader of the Spanish Falangist (Fascist) party. Wayne Samuel lies, Russiaville route Lou Berne H. Fox, Greentown route Willard Laverne McCoy, Greentown route Lyons, 1802 North Market Kokomo; Jerald Demming Massey, Tipton route Francis Clayton Henninger, Greentown route Verlin Fletcher route George Kokomo route Willard Laymond Richmond, 1327 South Union street, Kokomo; Houston Leo Stahl, 710 South Wabash street, Kokomo; Donald Jean Stroup, West Middle- (Cbntinued on Page Two) Kelley street. Miller, Kokomo Thomas Henry, Endorses Sale Altrusa Club heartily endorses the annual sale of Christmas seals, to aid in the national campaign against tuberculosis.

Investment in the Christmas seals means definite help for some one, and brings big returns in the specific benefits to citizens of our community. Mrs. Fred Weldon, President Altrusa Club. the first city in the state outside of Indianapolis to make the donation. Curtis Hodges, managing director of the unit, said other cities were anxious to head the list, but the activity of the local officers won the first visit for Kokomo.

Hodges also commented on the fine spirit displayed by local citizens in offered to make the donations. Dr. H. C. Winsauer, chief physician, Dr.

C. G. Culbertson, technical advisor, Mrs. Ruth Boswell, enrollment and four nurses accompanied the mobile unit to Kokomo. Director Hodges explained that the Eli Lilly company of Indianapolis, processes the blood, separating the plasma from the red corpuscles and then reducing the plasma to a powder form.

It is then available for use by mixture distilled water. By this process it is necessary to have a special type of blood, as the powdered form may be used for any type. It is valuable for use in shock, burns or hemorrhages. The unit will be in Kokomo Saturday and will return later to complete the collection from this county. Good Fellow Fund Previously Reported 939.44 Bobby Sweetspud i.oo Richard Bassett 1.00 John and Marjorie Ann Burget l.oo Star Needle Circle 2.00 Luauna Sue Johnson 1.00 In Memory of C.

K. Addington 2.00 Poor Man's Friend 1.00 A Friend .50 Primary Class of West Middleton Friends Sunday School l.oo In Memory of Harold, Max and Ralph Hinkle 1.00 Frank Morris 1.00 Francis Cole 2.00 Embroidery Club 1.00 Junior Club 5.00 A Friend 5.00 Phi Beta Psi Sorority 10.00 Carl C. Eikenberry Co. 20.00 Dr. C.

J. Adams 5.00 Deaconess Board Wayman A.M.E. Church 3.00 Women's Guild First Congregational-Christian 'Church 7.25 $1010.19 about 1:30 p. m. (10:30 p.

m. C.S.T. Thursday). The first raid was brief. Good Fellows Fund Reaches $1,010 Mark Few Days Left For Donations Donors to the Santa Claus fund of the Good Fellows had raised $1,010 Friday, and the fund will be kept open as late as Wednesday, December 24.

Contributions may be made on that day and will go toward purchase of the toys arid other gifts to be distributed to needy children. Scores of persons and organizations eager to share this Christmas with under priviliged children once again have made the Santa Claus fund a symbol of unselfishness and an insurance against keen disappointment in the lowly homes of underprivileged youngsters. time to close the fund is rapidly drawing near and is just time left for those who have not made their donations. You "may send your contributions to The Tribune by mail or bring them to this office. All children wishing to be remembered by the Good Fellows should get their letters in the mail either Saturday or Sunday, for it will not be possible to take care of-appeals received later than Monday morn- injr.

Plans for the distribution of the gifts, which is to be under the supervision of the T.W.C.A. chapter and the Howard county welfare department, will be announced Saturday. BULLETIN. Washington, Dec. legislation for the registration of all men from 18 to 64 inclusive, and making those from 20 to 44, inclusive, subject to military service was approved by the house without debate today and sent to the senate.

Washington, Dec. joint senate-house conference committee agreed today to make all men from 20 through 44 years old subject to compulsory military training and to require the registration of men from 18 through 64. Chairman May (D-Ky.) of the house military affairs committee said the conference report, reached on legislation amending the selective service act, would be presented to the house immediately. He forecast its acceptance. Senate leaders said they would ask that chamber to approve the report immediately thereafter and the measure was ex- pected to go to the President later in the day.

At the morning session the conference group broke up in disagreement when the senate members insisted that the age for induction be lowered to 19 years and the house members insisted on 21. Administration loaders had encouraged the compromise 20-year proposal. Both chambers agreed to expand the present upper age limit for military service to take in men through 44 years, rather than through 35. Although the senate voted three times to keep the minimum age of 19, as recommended by army and selective service officials, senate conferees accepted the compromise fixing the limit at 20 years. Brig.

Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, selective service director, has said that final passage would be the signal for prompt enrollment of men in the undcr-21 bracket and those from 35 through 44. Pearl Harbor Might Have Been Saved, Naval Secretary Says Annapolis, Dec. Knox, asserting 'that 30 minutes' warning of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would have made "all the difference in the world," disclosed today that third and final wave of, enemy bombers met such a devastating barrage that it turned away without hitting a single objective.

The navy secretary, speaker at graduation exercises for the Naval Academy's class of 1942, said Japan's assault on the great Pacific naval base was a "damning account of infamous treachery" such as "was never recorded in the history of the world." "There is no question at all, in the light of what transpired," he said, "that half an hour's warning of the approach of the Japanese planes would have made all the difference in the world. Third Attack Failed. "I say this with considerable confidence because that assault was divided into three attacks. The third assault came two hours after the first one. With all of the resources that were left we were ready, and that attack never got home.

"It encountered, as it approached Pearl Harbor, such a barrage from every gun and svery ship that the enemy planes had to sheer off, and not a single torpedo found its mark or did the slightest damage to our ships or to our equipment ashore." On the other hand, he told the midshipmen, "we ought to have been on our guard against treachery. If we had studied Japan's record in the war with Russia when, in a similar manner, they descended upon the Russian fleet at a moment when those two nations were still at peace and destroyed that fleet without warning --if we had studied that and remembered that, we would not have been surprised." But the attack did serve a useful purpose, he continued, because it drove home "with frightful force upon the minds of our military leaders the Importance of guarding against surprise, the importance of never underestimating the boldness and resourcefulness of the enemy; and upon the civilian population, it.drove home with a sense of horror the treachery of the foe we have to defeat. Country Now "This gave us what we must have and now do- have--a completely united country for the prosecution (Continued on Page Two) Pass Powers Bill Washington, Dec. The house today passed and sent to 'the senate a bill giving the President broad, wartime powers to control all communication facilities in the nation, whenever he deems such action necessary for prosecution of the -war. Allied Council Is Considered At Washington F.D.

Says Talks Already Held Washington, Dec. 19--OIE)--Formation of an inter-allied command to direct world wide operations against the axis has been under discussion here every day for weeks, President Roosevelt told a press conference today. He refused, however, to discuss details of the talks which are aimed at mapping grand strategy In the war of the United States, Britain, China, the Soviet Union, and their allies, agalnat Germany and Italy in Europe and Africa, and Japan in the Pacific. Mr. Roosevelt wag asked whether a major conference ot the democratic powers involved in the war would be held in this capital, and he replied that discussions had been in progress here every day for weeks.

There has been some speculation that an unidentified high British official, probably a cabinet officer, is in town or enroute to participate in the discussions. But thus far there has been no confirmation of that rumor. High British and Russian military officials have arranged conferences in Moscow, but It is not known whether those talks have a direct bearing on the conversations here. Secretary of State Cordell Hull said yesterday that he does not know of any American participants in the Moscow talks. Fire 8 Planes Tokyo, Dec.

19--(Official Radio Recorded by United States heavy bombers were set afire and six fighters were shot down in Japanese air raids yesterday on air bases in the vicinity of Manila, the army section of the imperial headquarters reported today. Her Husband Has Far Too Much 'It' To Get Jimmy's Letters Chicago; Dec. 19--(RE)--Mrs. Jimmy Stewart is heading for Fort Warren, to start a bonfire. She Intends to build the fire with fan mail, and she wishes the army would find a better way of distinguishing between letters for Corp.

Jimmy Stewart, tbe movie actor, and her husband, Sgt. Jimmy Stewart, a former Chicago railway ticket agent. Mrs. Stewart laughed when she first learned that her husband was receiving some of the mail intended for the Hollywood Stewart, who is stationed in California. But she packed her bags for a holiday visit to Fort Warren after her husband sent her one of the letters.

She said it was from a woman who "threatened to cry under the barracks window." "I'm not worried unless some of these women really get to know him," she said. "He's got a lot of personality and he's not bashful. There's going to be a bonfire of those letteri when I set to Fort Warren." Hongkong's Fall Seems Imminent; Greater Activity Over Philippines BULLETIN. London, Dec. resistance by Britain's embattled Hongkong garrison was indicated tonight by a Reuters report of a Domei announcement that fighting there a.nd on the Malayan front overshadows any other in the Far east.

(By The Associated Tress.) Japan's sea-borne invasion armies were reported to have unleashed a heavy new offensive against Luzon Island in the Philippines today, while 600 miles distant on the China coast, the fall of the great British stronghold of Hong- icong appeared imminent. Greatly outnumbered, the Hong- song garrison apparently was still nolding out late today. A Reuters (British news agency) dispatch from London quoted a lerman broadcast of Tokyo reports acknowledging the British still held key positions on the island. A U. S.

war department bulletin reported "A marked increase in enemy ai" and ground activities" the Philippine theater during the past 24 hours. The war department gave no details land operations, but presumably the Japanese were strik- ng out with new fury from their three main beachheads at Aparrl, 250 miles north ot Manila; Vigan, 200 miles northwest, and Lcgaspl, 250 miles southeast. Report Heavy Bombing. "There was heavy bombing ovet Manila and over the city of Hollo on the Island of Panay, south ot Luzon," the communique said. Outlining the military situation af of 8:30 a.

(c.s.t.) the war department said there was "nothing to report" from other American-defended areas of the Pacific flict. A short time later, the navy department announced two new Japanese aerial attacks on Wake Island, about half way betwen Hawaii and the Philippines, where a tiny band of U. S. us more Marines have been' standing off assaults for nearly two weeks. "Wake Island continues to count- these blows," the navy's com- munique said.

Simultaneously, President Rosevelt nominated Douglas MacArthur, commander of the U. S. Far East army, to be a full general. He is a former chief of army staff. In the siege of Hongkong, a city of 1,000,000 population, fortified at a cost of $40,000000 Tokyo reports said that Japanese troops in a violent night assault had already captured half of the island.

They said complete capture was only a matter of hours. Claim Capture of Fortress, Without confirmation elsewhere, the Japanese-controlled Saigon radio broadcast a report that Japanese troops had captured "the fortress of Hongkong. 1 A Berlin radio broadcast said that Sir Mark Toung, Governor and commander-in-chief of Hongkong, had escaped from the colony to an unknown destination. The colonial office in London, however, denied that Sir Mark had fled the beselged colony, declaring that it had been "in telegraphic communication with the governor this morning." London military sources, acknowledging a Japanese landing nl considerable force on the island, reported tersely: "Heavy fighting is going on and the position is serious." Only a comparatively small garrison of British and Imperial Indian troops was reported defending the 100-year-old British crown colony, once faced as a pirates' hideaway and in modern times one of the world's major seaports visited by 50,000 ships a year. The Island, with its capital city of Victoria, lies off the China coast at the head of the South China Sea.

Take Jardinc Hill. Domei, the Japanese news said Japanese troops and blue-jackets in a swift, thra-point invasion captured Jardine's Hill, rising 1,420 feet in the center of Hongkong island, after two and one-half hours of fighting and reported that "Japanese guns and planes are furiously battering the enemy." Dispatches broadcast from Tokyo said Japanese forces, storming across the mile-wide channel separating Hongkong Island from the Kowloon mainland section of the colony, opened the attack at 1C p. m. Hongkong time last night. Striking in the darkness, the first landing parties captured shoreline pillboxes in bitter hand- to-hand fighting, the dispatches said, and then set off flares to signal the location of beachheads to reinforcements waiting on the opposite mainland.

"Japanese forces are now pushing the enemy in a mountainous region in the southern part of the island," Tokyo reported. Hongkong had twice rejected Japanese demands for surrender, despite the apparently hopeless odds..