The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 1

Sixth Column Turns On SpiMu Pg. 7 THE KOKOMO TRIBUNE THE KOKOMO DISPATCH City i i Lateat VOL: sz (BP--VatM Pnai AP- KOKOMO, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1,1942 TWELVE PAGES PRICE--THREE CENTS Kokomo Takes Hew Year's Eve In Usual Way Both Serious And Frivolous In Observance waa expected, Kokomo ob- Mrved Hew Year's eve In the tra ditlonal manner, with a mixture of serious and the frivolous. Watch in churches and constituted the serious part of the observance. Libations and dancing in asd moderately wassail In taverns made up part. There good attendance at both of gatherings.

Those who went to the aeriouc sort, sought comfort from religious reflections. Those who went to the frivolous sort hoped for release for a little while from the woes of a troubled world. While the people entered with! earnestness and enthusiasm into traditional forms of recognizing the calendar change, it was observed that even at places where conviviality reigned, there was a msasore of restraint upon the part of practically all. In times such as ths present, it is next to Impossible for anyone to be convincingly carefree. Business Closes at Bosk Busliuies In general closed early Wednesday evening, and management and sales In and began a holiday period last Ing until Friday morning.

In the earlier part of Wednesday evening, the downtown district was practically descried. A little later, the scene was enlivened by people going to the theaters or betaking themselves to taverns or clubs they had planned to watch the old year out and the new In. Investigation revealed thai at all watch parties' of a religious kind was larger- than usual, and that a particularly rev erenl spirit marked all such gatherings. After all, there is something In human nature which In times of trouble causes It to seek comfort; and sliength ln religious contacts and spiritual reflections. In the main, the celebration In the" downtown- area was orderly.

ureas and little unseemliness on the streets, and rtpprta Indicated more than usual restraint was being exhibited by practically, all who bad given the At midnight the usual clang- teg of belto, sounding of and crash of gunpowder salutes. This, however, was not unduly prolonged, there bvlng Just enough -Suitably to proclaim that the new year 1M1 bad been and that tin-old yew 1M1 no longer existed save as a memory. Taverns, conforming to regulations, mippUed service until 1 o'clock, then courteously asked their guests to and closed theli doors. They are not to be reopened until 6 o'clock Friday morning. WMMMM the End At mualc, 'dancing and general merry-making marked the evening.

At some of them the celebration was still going in peak ftm long after midnight. The row to be a holiday and all participants were for making the most of their opportunity put away dull care for little while and forget forebodings. And so one-more New eve passed Into history in Kokomo. As it went It is likely that there was In every mind a bit of wistful wondering as to whether such a New Tear's celebration will be possible here or anywhere else in the world at the end of the twelvemonth which lies immediately ahead. HIS DUTCH UP Commander of those Dutch wa and ulr forces that have been Icing such a grand Job the Japs Is Vice Admiral E.

15. 1 HeM- rlch, above. Red Army Takes Important City MOKWW, Thursday, Jan. The army announced today the recapture of the important city of Kaluga, final defeat of Col. Guderian's tank army, and routing sixteen German divt- aiona twinpriclng six entire army on the entire central front In 1 1011 special brigade Hitler's black-shirted elite flown to the front from Cracow, Poland, been routed.

special communique said. Nail invader, are fleeing under heavy blows of the Pnnalnz a abandoning military equipment and even their winded they aeek to hasten their escape, the Soviet communi Many Calls For Records Reach Clerk Regulations Are Pointed Out With applicants for birth certificates flocking to his office every day, Robert J. Hamp, county clerk, is finding that the demand interfering seriously with the regular duties of his office. He again urged Wednesday that living In Howard county but who were born outside tbe state of Indiana, should write to the health departments of the or counties where they were born, if they want to establish proof of their birth. Should Send Such persons should send self- addressed envelopes and write to the State Board of Health's of vital or the board of health's bureau of vital statistics.

in the county where they were born, the clerk said. Anyone writing such a letter should give his name, date of birth, name of his father, and maiden name of his mother, and should request that the bureau send a blank form to be filled out Jn case no record of his birth can be found. If these precautions are taken, the should get early replies at a small cost, Hamp. Give Courta Power Mil legislature, recognizing that old-age assistance applicants encounter difficulties in establishing the date and place of their birth, passed a law giving circuit throughout Indiana the power to determne these facts after a hearing. The legislators could not foresee, of course, that the country would be plunged into war and that being an American citizen would be a prerequisite to obtaining a Job in any defense Hamp has appeared before several local labor organizations and other groups to explain the situation, and to point out what requirements must be met before an applicant can obtain a certificate.

Crept Campaign Now Totals $12.115 The Red Croas campai In How- awd county'to raise 138,000 for war tteyew with a total tU415.Sa. according to-an an BOttacsfMnt of S. Swayse, chalr- of the local drive. -Weafcara have been somewhat laandlcapped during holiday period, a when almost esw ta very busy with the yule sea- bat with the, coming of the yew the campnign expected to be pMhed to completion. A unber of industries have yet of the solicitation tha workers la the plants.

1 Indiana Weather Italn mta, rain and mow catand north porim Thursday. wanner, highest 4045 south and 35. tt north portUin, beeoralng colder west porton' by night; wind lacreaslnx l.o 3049 mJi.h Indiana Gets 2,717 Tires In January Washington. Dec. Office of Price Administration drove home the full effects of the nation's tin rationing program today by establishing drastic January quotas prohibiting some counties from selling more than one new tire for a passenger automobile and limiting hundreds of others to sales of ten or less.

Set up on a county-by-county basis, the quotas will limit sal's throughout the United States and its territories to approximately 357,000 tires next month, ranging from IDS in Alaska to 36,680 in Texas. Price Administrator Leon Henderson said he believed the quotas would be adequate to maintain operations of essential vehicles during the month and added that he hoped future quotas' could be increased. "There is no need for people to get panicky," he advised. "The fact that ft rationing plan is going into effect on January 5 doesn't mean that everyone is going to get a flat tire at 12:01 a. m.

on January 5." The January quotas by states included for Indiana Passenger cars, motorcycles and light trucks, 2,717 tires and 2,274 tubes; trucks and buses, 8,413 tires and 5,361 tubes. British Blasting Rommel's Forces Cairo; Eypt, Dec. tteh tanks and airplanes hacking away at the remnants of Gen. Erwin Rommel's Libyan army were reported tonight closing in for a New eve kill of the desert troops pocketed along the Gulf of Slrte at Agedabla. tii aiciaMy announced that the German leader hurled his dwindling tank and infantry enveloping southern British arm in an attempt to prevent encirclement "A heavy engagement ensued in which again inflicted considerable damage on enemy armored fighting vehicles and motor transport, the communique said.

15 Traffic Deaths Here During 1941 5 Others Result From Accidents; 74 Coroner Coses Deaths from traffic in Kokomo and Howard county numbered IS during 1M1, figures announced Wednesday reveal. This total was one fewer than that for 1940, Dr. E. H. Showalter, county coroner, reported.

The coroner reported a total of 30 accidental deatha in the county during the year. These included the 15 traffic fatalities, two cases of suffocation, one death from an one as the result of a fall- Ing boiler, and one accidental gas poisoning. Accidents Listed The accident fatalities and causes were listed as follows: January 7, Fred Breedlove, 715 North Bell street, fatally injured in tbe fall of a boiler at his home. January 2C, Mrs. Nina Lewis, Tipton county, automobile accident on U.

S. road SI south of Kokomo. March John Edward Starkey, 310 West Markland avenue, gas poisoning in garage at bis home. April 5, Ward S. Haynes, auto- train crash at a crossing four miles north of Kokomo.

April 19,. Charles R. Guge. 318 East Murden street, auto accident on a county road. May 23, Max Wayne Watson, Sharpsville, auto collision seven miles south of Kokoroo.

Killed In Train Crash June 4, Ralph Frederick Walt er- myer, 217 West Jefferson street, train-auto crash in Kokomo. June 12, Schuyler Rees, 1230 West Walnut street, utruck by automobile on a Kokomo street. July 24, Carolyn Sue Jackson, age three months, suffocation from bedclothes. August 29, Curtis Dearringer, 624 South McCanh street, explosion of a compressor at the Continental Steel mill. August 30, Leonard Randall, 1600 North Com Hand avenue, auto- train crash at Morgan street crossing.

August 31, Robert William Small, South Buckeye street, automobile crash in Harrison township. August 31, Walker Wayland, 220H North Buckeye street, automobile crash in Harrison township. September Dillard Lee Waits, Kokomo route 5, train-auto collis- aion. September 29, Clarence Waits, Kokomo route train-auto collision. Auto Accident Fatal, October 6, Sherman S.

Goldsberry, 1710 North Bell street, automobile accident near Galveston. October 24, William Wallace Burke tt, 814 East Fowler street, automobile collision tfve miles east of Kokomo. October 27, James R. Morrissey, Peru, of injuries received in an automobile crash on U. S.

road 31 south of Kokomo October 25. October 28, James Richard Hollingsworth, two old, suffocation from bedclothes. November 9, Daisy Loretta Higgins, 626 West Virginia avenue, of Injuries received November 7 in an automobile accident at the corner of Taylor, and Washington streets. Dr. Showalter said he investigated a total of 74 cases during the year.

Causes of death, other than accidents, were as follows: heart 'disease, 29; cerebral hemorrhage, five; nephritis, one; suicide, nine; pneumonia, three; asthma, one; tumor, one; acute indigestion, one; acute alcoholism, one; internal hemorrhage, one; and tuberculosis, two. Manilla Must Surrender Soon to Invading Japs Japanese strategy to ring Singapore witji bases and seized territory before trying a direct attack becomes apparent through direction of Nipponese thrusts. Map shows how Japs attempt encirclement. Weary Math Prof Aided by Machine Mansfield. Dec.

Dan B. Haber, a junior high school mathematics teacher here, Invented a mechanical grade averager that is a great time-saver. "A Russian adding abacus--centuries old in principle--that I saw in a hotel in Odessa in 1938 while abroad gave me the germ of an idea for the averaging machine," Haber said. The machine is so simple that a fourth grade child can operate it, but development the calculator took months of mathematical gymnastics and planning. It is operated by means of a "puncher" placed in a slot opposite the grade to be averaged.

The machine computes averages for from one to 24 degrees with the result appearing in a small traveling "window." 2 Policemen Leave Force; Given Gifts 3 New Men Start Work Thursday Policemen are called upon to perform many, duties, many not so pleasant, but that of saying farewell to brother officers leaving the force is one duty always accompanied with a tear in the eye. On Wednesday afternoon, as the tricks were changing, Bert L. Etchison, after 31 years of public service, and Archie Thompson, after 21 years on the force, turned in their badges, shook hands all around and left headquarters with the best wishes of the department. Each man was presented with a lounging robe, a pair of slippers and a tie as a farewell'gift from the force. Etchison also received a gift of a billfold and money from the merchants of the south side.

Chief Clinton D. Jackson spoke the praises of the fellow officers, and commended Etchison and Thompson for- their faithful services to the community in the long years they were with the department. Would Enlarge Force Etchison in leaving said it was his belief that in these troublesome times the department should be expanded by the addition of some 10 or 12 officers. This, he said, was his observation after his many years with the force. Both he and Thompson thanked their buddies for past kindnesses, and said they were leaving the force with nothing but good will for those still on duty.

Thompson and Etchison will be eligible for a pension. Neither had any plans for the future to announce, other than a desire to enjoy a good rest. Alva Underwood from now on will wear badge 1, that handed in by Etchison. Other officers will exchange badges according to the term of service. Bobert Hobson, Robert Birch and Paul Brown, the three officers recently appointed, were sworn in Wednesday afternoon, and will begin their duties with the new year.

Henry Weichlein and Louis Love will be moved over from the" night shift to fill the gap in the -day force caused by the resignations of Etch icon and Thompson. Men Known Here Get Promotions in Army An Associated Press dispatch under a Washington dateline Wednesday night carried the announcement of the promotion of 575 lieutenant-colonels of all branches of the Army to the temporary rank of colonel. In the list were a number of Indiana men including: William E. Kepner of Bunker Rill, in the Air Corpe; Harold L. Egan and George N.

Randolph; both of Frankfort; Roy Hagariy of Muncie who Is well known in Kokomo, and Floyd Marshall of Bloomington, who at the time of World War I a reporter of the Kokomo Tribune. The dispatch said that approximately 380 and 1,620 first lieutenants of the Ifedical Corps would be promoted to the next higher grade in the next few Fire Causes Loss hi Apartment House Fire of unknown origin did considerable damage Wednesday afternoon at 2r30 o'clock at the rooming house operated by Mr. and Mrs. Alex Pyauowski, 111 East Superior street The flames were discovered sweeping through the apartment of Miss Amy Gates and for time threatened the entire second floor of the building. Firemen were able to confine the blaze for the most part to the apartment in which it started.

Considerable damage resulted from the smoke to the property of other roomers on the second floor. The building is the property of Franklin D. Miller and is covered by insurance. The Pyanowskies did not carry insurance. NAZIS HAVING HARD TIME IN MANNING SUBS Jan.

Germany's submarine" fleet has suffered such, losses that the Nazi high command apparently is finding difficulty getting and training new crews, the ministry of information declared today. It said the. situation at sea had changed from one of anxiety to one of confidence, as regards both German air and sea assaults on British merchant shipping. Although no exact dates or figures were divulged, a yearend summary said Britain's shipping losses from air attacks had been cut in recent months to only eight per cent of those early in the year. "A very heavy loss has been inflicted on thfi enemy's u-boat added, "and from time evidence becomes available to show that the German high command is faced difficulties in.

manning u-bbats and adequate training of their crews." Hoosiers Greet New Year With Varied Parties (fix The Associated Press) Whistles and horns tooted, bells rang, blank cartridges were fired and sirens shrieked--but it was not an air raid alarm. It was, instead, thousands of Hoosiers releasing the pentup tension of a citizenry 'at war to greet the arrival of 1912, a year which for many of them might be the most important of their lives. Churches held "watch night" services at the stroke of midnight, Theaters, night clubs, dance halls, a few athletic arenas and taverns-permitted, to remain- open until 1 a. an hour later than usual-were jammed by celebrants. But there were others who didn't celebrate.

They were in homes saddened by the loss of loved ones in the armed services of their country, or they were working on the night shift of factories too busy turning out the sinews of war to note the birth of a new year. Industry Will Work Many of these industries likewise will forego today's usual holiday to keep production at the peak. Most stores, offices and public buildings will be closed, but the Indianapolis office of the Home Owners Loan Corporation will be an exception, Its functions are to be transferred to the Detroit regional office at the close of the business day and its staff was instructed to work throughout the holiday to complete, preparations for the transfer. In countless Hoosier homes today will be a repetition of the feasting enjoyed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. A 14-pound turkey grown at the university farm at West Lafayette, will grace the dinner table at the governor's mansion on Indiahapolia'north side.

It was delivered to Governor and Schricker yesterday by Dr. J. Holmes Martin, head of 'the university poultry department. Jap Pressure On Singapore Is Diminished British Patrols Take Offense Singapore, Dec. pressure fell off today in the main Perak sector some above Singapore, and all along that front.

British patrols successfully took the offensive at every point where enemy. they could engage the All this--establishing that the in- not only had gained no ground but had been pushed backed in some areas of the Malayan peninsula, the most vital'of all the Pacific theaters--was announced bjr the British command in a com- munique which also reported failure for another overnight Japanese air raid on Singapore. This time, Japanese bombers sought out the Singapore airdrome, but again they were able to cause only minor damage. There was not a single Japs Use Bombers Japanese dive bombers likewise were hurled into' action against British communications, but they, too, were able to work but little harm and one raider' was shot down by light machinegun fire. While Perak remained relatively quiet, the second Japanese invading force seeking to beat down the eastern side of the peninsula was apparently making no progress.

Will Make Full Defense While drew new strength for the supreme test now ahead, a British authority In London pointed out hat the defense would be "with ali the means at our disposal" so Singapore could Become the main base for the" allied offensive to be launched in the Pacific area, 'This Informant added that the Japanese were just now in full control of the western Pacific area and that the British thus would depend on the United States navy our naval forces are built up to regain control." Tokyo Claims Manila's Fall Due Very Soon Bombers, Tanks Blast Way For Invasion Troops Tokyo, Doc. broadcast recorded by If)--Dome! news agency said today that Japanese dive bombers and tanks had blasted their way through American and Filipino forces until Japan's troops had reached a point within 20 miles of Manila. (Berlin broadcasts of dispatches dated from Shanghai put the distance at four miles, and other German broadcasts said Japanese authorities had lifted temporarily the war-time restrictions on alcoholic beverages so Japanese might celebrate New Years In traditional manner.) Japan's greatest advance was from the south; but in the north the forces of Gen. Douglas MacArthur also were being pushed back, Domei said. The news agency asserted it was impossible for MacArthur to get reinforcements because Japan held control of the sea and air and occupied the most feasible landing points.

On the other band, it. was reported that Japanese reinforcements were continuing to land at Lingayen and at Lamon bay. Jubilation Premier Gen. Hidekl Tojr, broadcast an admonition to Japanese to take their successes in the brief war with moderate jubilation, however, and told them It was inevitable, the war would-be long: A report' from the navy said destroyer, twn. small patrol vessels and three large ships were sunk in Manila bay by the air attack on Corregidor fortress.

Monday and that the fortress barracks were set blazing. Hangars, wireless stations and other military installations have been demolished by repeated warship attacks since December 17 on Maul; Johnston and Palmyra islands within and to the south of the Hawaiian Islands, the navy added. An army announcement said 3,000 British and American troops have been killed and 9,000 captured since the start of the war compared with Japanese casualties of 743 killed and 1,799 Airplane loses have been Ml for Britain, the United States and the Netherlands, compared with 49 for the Japanese, the report said. The army reported 37 enemy sunk or damaged and said four Japanese had been sunk'and 12 damaged. Washington Is Resigned to Loss Of Philippines Capital; Battle To Be Continued Sen.

Thomas Talks To Japanese Nation Washington, I)ec. 31 -Speaking in the Japanese language, Senator Thomas (D-Utah) told the people of Japan by radio tonight that "the little temporary advances your forces have made will all be swept away" and that the United States will "crush the war lords who are already crushing you." Thomas, who spent seven years in Japan as a Mormon missionary, titled his address "Japan vs. Japan." The speech, broadcast by KGEI in San Francisco and 10 other American short wave stations, will be rebroadcast on the Japanese new year January 10. When the next New Year's Day rolls around, Thomas declared, "the United States will still be fresh, will still be strong with an even greater strength than before, while your rapidly dwindling resources in supplies and manpower bring you a larger measure of exhaustion than is yours today." Screwy News Ouilook for '42-Fair and Daffier By GLADWIN BILL New York, Dec. 31 (Wide World)--Some great American Institutions took quite a tossing around in the dizzy doings as the year drew to its end, but it wasn't all to the bad-In the first place, there was that old wheeze about "neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night, shall keep these messengers from completion of their rounds That referred to the mall men, and "was" is correct, because up In Lawrence, a squad of 20 emergency holiday mall men got so sick of the enow, ram, gloom, that they Just laid, down their and resigned.

Next we have that great American evil, unsolicited merchandise. Well, Dr. J. E. Huff of Kansas City became the man of the hour.

A store him some unsolicited neckties and a bill for ill. The doc, who is a dentist, just held'onto the ties and sent the store back an old set of false teeth and a bill for Akin to unsolicited merchandise, is the problem of the irrepressible salesman. Chief Boatswain's Mate George Dent, a navy recruiting officer in Falrmount, W. put one such in his place. The salesman barged, in to sell Dent a car, but before he could get through his canvass.

Dent had signed him up for the navy! Great Menace If you did any Christmas shopping, you probably encountered the great menace of the salesperson- who- is -always-looking- the-other- way. A young lady shopper in Belleville, put a stop to She saw a suit she liked on a dummy, (Continued on Page Tin) Washington, Dec. 31-- Indications tonight were that Manila must surrender soon to powerful Japanese forces slashing their way steadily toward the city from two directions, despite the fierce resistance of badly outnumbered defending troops. There was only scanty news, phased in most general terms, of what was going on, but its meaning was unmistakably plain. The enemy was upon the island capital in great force from both north and south.

Japan dive bombers dominated the roads. Great quantities of tankn and armored units were being hurled against the American and Filipino defenders. How far the actually were from the city a confused question. flying from one axis radio station to another aet the distance as less than ten miles. Readjust Defenses Nevertheless, an orderly readjustment of the defense completed.

The defending forces were interposing a strong resistance and dealing out death and destruction to the enemy on a large scale. But, said General Douglas MacArthur, the commanding officer: "Our lines are being pushed back." Censorship or interrupted communications had virtually ended the receipt of press dispatches from the beleaguered city. Radio telegraph companies refused to accept messages from Manila, or took them only at the sender's risk. The Navy said, however, it was still in touch, presumably by radio. It.

was considered "Indicative, too. that MacArthur announced a daring and dramatic effort to evacuate 300 seriously wounded soldiers from' Manila by aea. "They were to be. placed on board a ship flying the American flag and the Red Cross flag. Under the usual rules of warfare, the latter- would give the vessel immunity from attack.

The fall of the city had not been unexpected here, and word of its critical situation spread no gloom or discouragement in the capital. For the Japanese had been pouring men and war machines onto and simply storming the island by overwhelming force numerically superior troops and equipment. Time Is Main Element The great difficulty of reinforcing the American-Filipino defenders was apparent from the in view of the time situation. In the time that has elapsed since the war began troops could barely have reached the Island by now under normal circumstances, to say nothing of having to run the Japanese blockade. Then; too, there the of over-all Allied strategy, which apparently considers it more important to concentrate available lighting equipment upon holding the Nazi armies in check, until industrial production I 8 enough fighting tools for assuming the offensive on all fronts.

So it was that many here regretfully wrote off Manila days ago when the plight of the Philippines, and the broad outline of Allied grand strategy became apparent. They wrote it off, however, for recapture later, when the material available for the Allied drive against Japan. What About Fighting? The imminent fall of the Filipino capital, however, raised several questions upon which Wash- speculated. Would fight- Ing continue in the southern, island of Mindanao? And what about Corregidor? Corregidor is a rocky island fortress in the entrance to Manila Bay. Military" experts, have said it was capable withstanding a siege of many months.

Possibly, It could make things extremely difficult should the Japs attempt to bring their warships into the harbor. Another was what was to be the fate of General and his high command. Could, they be evacuated? Realizing that MacArthur is not the sort of soldier who would run away under such circumstances, many suggested, nevertheless, that It would be foolish for the" army to surrender one of its outstanding field commanders, through any outmoded sense of the personal chivalry of battle. Uncertain Days Ahead --Dorian 1 Vichy, Unoccupied- France, Dec. Premier Darlan told the French empire In a New Tear 1 Eve broadcast tonight- that the New Tear confronts it with uncertainty and that watchword must be readiness.

"At the of the New Tear, (till of the we shall have to face," Darlan said, "I must remind the armies of the land, sea, and air about setting an aim themselves of serving the country no matter what hap-.