Harrisburg Telegraph from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Axis i U.S. Planes Hit japs in Kiska Solomons in Hard Blows I Washington, Jan. 2, (JP) The iNavy reported today that American air forces in the Pacific had opened the new year with heavy attacks against Japanese held Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands and Japanese positions in the Solomon Islands, including the area believed to be headquarters of their force on Guadalcanal. I Navy communique No. 236: "North Pacific: i "1.

On January 1, a force of 'Liberator' heavy bombers (con solidated 24) escorted by fighters (Lockheed 38) attacked Japanese cargo ships in Kiska harbor. Six 'Zeros' atempted to intercept the attack and one was shot down. A near hit was scored on one small ship, Clouds prevented complete obser vation of results. No U. S.

planes were lost. "South Pacific: "2. On January 1: (A) 'Dauntless' dive bombers (Douglas SBD) dropped bombs in the vicinity of Kokumbono, where Japanese headquarters on Guadal canal Island are believed to be located. Dense jungle growth pre vented observation of results. I "(B) 'Marauder' medium bom bers (Martin 26), escorted by i'Airacobra' (Bell 39), 'Lightn (Lockheed 38) and 'War hawk' (Curtiss 40) fighters, bombed the Munda area of New Georgia Island.

All U. S. planes returned undamaged. Results of the raid were not reported. Return Engagement This was the first mention of Curtiss fighters in the Guadalcanal area.

Previously, the fighter planes there have been "Aira cbbras and Lightnings. The report on the Kiska raid was the second in as many days to mention resistance by Japanese fighter planes. Yesterday, the Navy reported that on December 30, a raid was intercepted by four Zero float type planes which succeeded in shooting down two 38 fighters and one of our medium bombers. Presumably the Zeros referred to in today communique were (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 1) Domesticated Kansas City, Jan.

2. The wild quail population at the University of Kansas City has doubled twice in ten years. A decade ago a i covey of the game birds made the i campus its home. There are now four coveys, and the birds will approach within 15 feet of spectators to be fed. 5 Firemen Hurt As Blaze Drives 13 From Homes Five firemen were injured and 13 persons were forced into the street early today when fire caused by a short circuit, spread from a loft under the roof to the entire third floor of the apartment house of Herman I.

Freedman at 1531 Green street. Among those injured were Fire Chief Earl Swartz, cut hand; Richard Keys, 25, 1604 Logan, fractured knee; W. T. King, John Guldner and Arthur Stoner, all city fire drivers. Stoner was overcome by smoke and King and Guldner had cuts of the fingers.

Forced from their homes were Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Weltmer, in whose third floor apartment most of the damage occurred, Mr.

and Mrs. Freedman, his sister, Ann, Miss Marie Sherrick, the Freed man's maid, and next door at 1529 Green street, Harry R. Swope, a blind man, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Marlin 'etterholf, with their 10 months old infant son, and Mr.

and Mrs. Samuel Kominsky, Swope was led to safety by firemen. Most of the damege at 1529 Green street was due to smoke and water. Brakeman Hurt Harry P. Arnsberger, 47, 17A North Fifth street, a brakeman, suffered fractured ribs when he fell against a stove in the caboose he was riding in the local yards of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The injury was treated at the Harris burg Hospital. Auto Hits Tree Glenn Elwood Halbert, 19, 23 Somerset street, Rutherford Heights, a clerk for the Reading Company, suffered a fractured left leg when his auto crashed into a tree in Rutherford last night, the Harrisburg Hospital Renews lication of the entire list. As of last December 7, aggre gate Army casualties since the war began were listed as 2009 killed, 3332 wounded, 30,119 missing, 112 prisoner of war, and 106 interned in neutral countries. LIW Unity Blocked By De Gaulle Plea on Purge Jan. 2 (JP).

A demand from the Fighting French of Gen. Charles De Gaulle for elimination of the "holdovers from the Vichy regime" in North Africa today posed a new obstacle to speedy union of all anti Axis Frenchmen into a single, cohesive force seeking the liberation of France. A spokesman for the Fighting French said negotiations for unification are underway, and "I am optimistic, but don't expect an easy or rapid solution." "While General Giraud (Gen. Henri Giraud, French high commissioner in North Africa jn succession to the assassinated Admiral Jean Darlan) is all right, the principal obstacle is the men underneath him who are holdovers (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 2) Card Stickers Checked at Cotton Bowl Game Dallas Jan.

2, (JP) Inspectors from the State Office of Price Administration at Fort Worth checked license numbers of automobiles bearing card stickers at the Cotton Bowl game Max Mc Cullough, regional OPA director, disclosed. "Naturally, it will be determined who owned the cars," McCul lough said. He did not say what action would be taken, nor howj many cars were counted. He! termed such driving unncessary. Tunisia Interlude U.S.

Bomber Outfit Loses Only One Plane in 41 Raids An Advanced American Bomber Base in North Africa, Jan. 2, (P) Men of the American light bomber squadron, living in tin huts and pup tents on a field attacked almost daily by the Luftwaffe, have hung up the remarkable record of carrying out 41 raids on the Germans Tunisia with the loss of just one plane crew and that one is safe. Led by Major Charles C. Kegel man, of El Reno, who struck the first American air blow against the Nazis in a raid over Holland on July 4, the first small group of light bombers put their wheels down on the African plain surrounded by mountains. The field was empty no runways, no gasoline, no bombs, no ground crews, no hangars.

I "All we had was our tooth brushes," Major Kegelman said. Today tents dot the plain and mechanics and ground crews swarm over speedy American bombers. The day after the original a few trucks loaded with bombs and gasoline arrived, and the (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 3) Water Pumped Winnnn Suh Struck. From Cellars; 1 1 River Recedes.) bfllDS Lett Afire City fire and highway depart ment pumps today cleared water from South Harrisburg cellars as the Susquehanna river dropped below 15 feet after cresting over New Year's Day at 19.4 feet.

Flood stage is 17 feet here. Back water from Paxton creek flooded Ninth street, near Syca more; Hemlock, between Ninth and Cameron, and low ground in the area. Water filled the intersection at Nagle and Race also residents in the district and in South Front street reported two to three feet of water in cellars. With the river receding and creeks in the area falling rapidly all roads near Harrisburg are reported, open. Falling, stages were reported also on the north, west and Juniata branches.

Pittsburgh Cleans Up Pittsburgh, Jan. 2, (JP) Pittsburgh's rivers have dropped below the 25 foot flood stage and continued receding at the rate of two tenths of a foot per hour today, leaving three victims and many thousands of dollars damage in their muddy wake. Most war plants either had resumed operation or were about to start again. Hundreds of families in the! areas hardest hit by the worst December flood in history were moving back into their flood soaked homes today as quickly as mud and debris could be cleared away. Army Adds 407 Names to Casualty Lists Washington, Jan.

2, (JP) Names of 407 United States soldiers killed in act' in the Southwest Papifi South Pacific, African and, Euro pean war areas and at sea were made public by the War Depart ment today. It was the. first Army casualty list issued since a recent change in policy authorized general pub tit FLOOD FIGHTING FIREMEN GET 'ROAD' DIRECTIONS Scene in flooded Market street in Freeport, on the Allegheny river 25 miles above Pittsburgh, as firemen in rowboats visited marooned homes to assist stranded families. In Raid on Rabaul Allied Headquarters in Australia, Jan. 2, (Allied ground forces in New Guinea have driven another wedge in the Japanese positions in the Buna area, and the air forces have carried out new punishing raids on Japanese bases in New Britain, General MacArthur's headquarters reported today.

A Japanese submarine was struck and damaged by an Allied heavy bomber that attacked at Widebay, in New Britain, and three large enemy vessels were left eveloped in flames after a dawn bombing force struck the harbor at Rabaul on New Year's Day, a communique said. The bombers dropped 1000 pounders on the shipping and shot down two of five enemy fighter planes that rose to meet them. The air force also left 1000 pound bombs on the airdrome at Gasmata, in Southern New Britain, and bombed the air field at Buin (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 7) Shelley Seeks Indictment in Murder Case District Attorney Carl B. Shel ley will ask the Grand Jury to re turn a murde indictment in Dauphin County Court next week against Private Steve Gosciski, soldier at the Carlisle Barracks, who is charged with fatally attacking Mrs.

Mabel Harris, 73 year old city woman in October in an alley near the Blackstone Building. The court has appointed as his counsel Harold V. McNair, burgess of Middletown, and Walter F. Miller, both Harrisburg lawyers. A murder charge against Frank Samuel Maddox, 44, Vernon street near Fifteenth, accused of stabbing Clifford Togans, 29, i butcher, 1133 North Sixth, Sep tember 9, is listed for trial.

The grand jury will act on a long list of cases, among them about 25 robbery and burglary counts, numerous petty larceny charges, and more than a dozen gaming house and gambling vio lations. ciniord Lt. Baugher, Erie, indicted by a grand jury last January, will appear before the court for trial on five embezzlement and forgery charges arising from alleged appropriation of $23,000 while he was a deputy State treasurer. The case has been post poned five times because of ill ness of Baugher and his lawyer. New Feminine Role Chicago, Jan.

2. Among 500 tire inspectors sworn in by Re gional Rationing Chief Michael Mulcahy was Miss Mildred Meers, 35. Officials believe her to be the only woman tire inspector in the country. Miss Meers, who started as a stock clerk with the Firestone Company in St. Louis, is manager of a Southside branch of the firm.

lumtt Rommel Fails To Risk Battle At Wadi Chebir East of Tripoli in. London, Jan. 2, (P) The British were over another hurdle today in the pursuit of the Axis across Libya as Marshal Rommel, still preferring to run rather than fight, pulled his retreating army farther west of Wadi Bei El Chebir. The headquarters communique in Cairo said Eighth Army van guards had driven Axis motorized units back after a clash west of the Wadi, a series of gulches in a row about 195 miles east of Tripoli. It was one of the last places in the Libyan wilderness where Rommel might have risked a stand by the remnants of his retreating army and dispatches from the desert said the British had ex pected him to do so.

Rommels decision may have been impelled by recent activity of Allied bombers and fighters over the Tripolitania and western Libya coast areas, harrying his exposed forces and depriving them of time and security to dig Although it has been surmised that he may be racing westward, prepared to abandoi all Libya, in order to join forces with the Axis army in Tunisia for the final showdown in North Africa, it still was possible that he intends to make Tripoli itself a fortress from which to try to stall the advance. The Morocco radio today broad cast a Cairo report that Rommel recently had received reinforce ments to bolster his resistance in thcTripoli area. Don Whtehe' i. Associated Press correspondent on the Libyan front, yesterday described Wadi Bei El Chebir as a great valley where Axis machineguns might have caused heavy damage. Such sandy barriers," he said, make (Please Turn to Page 14, Col.

1) Pupils Named To Take Part in SliipLauncliing Three Pennsylvania school chil dren were named today to take part in the launching of a new Liberty ship the Andrew G. Cur tin at Baltimore at a date to be announced. The advisory committee on sal vage for the State Defense Coun cil named Nellie Margaret Sped ding, 10, Clifford School in Susquehanna county; Arthur Covell, 12, Triumph School in Warren county and Willis Erway, 12, Broughton School in Tioga county. Schools which collected the greatest amount of salvage per pupil in a recent school scrap metal drive were given the privi lege of sending their prize workers to the christening. The pupils will be accompanied by Mrs.

Anna Morgan Rolls, a teacher from the Susquehanna county school. The pupils and Mrs. Rolls will first come to Harrisburg where (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 7) General Delivery Kansas City, 2. Captain John Little, home on furlough, said he remarked to a fellow Marine during a vicious Jap attack in the Solomons: "Don't worry.

Remember that only one shell has your name on it." "I'm not about that one," the Marine an swered. "I don't like those shells that are addressed 'to whom it may Dangerous Antique Abilene, Texas, Jan. 2. A shell from World War I severely wounded 14 year old John Sub lett. The 37 millimeter shell, a relic carried in young Sublett's pocket, exploded when dropped on a sidewalk.

the last 13 years, established in 1939. Of last year's victims 26, or 52 per cent, were pedestrians. Twelve persons were killed in Harrisburg accidents; 26 in Dauphin county outside the city, and 12 on the West Shore. The 1941 a HARRY D. KING Pfc.

Harry D. King, son of Mrs. William R. Little, York Haven, R. D.

1, formerly reported as "missing in action" as a result of the surrender of Corregidor, May 7, is registered on the Japanese list of prisoners of war, according to word received by Mrs Little. Pvt. King, enlisted in the United States Army February 15, 1940 while living at 310 Christian street, Steelton. A brother, bgt. Robert is serving with armed forces in Hawaii after enlisting for service in March, 1940.

Mrs. Little's husband, Cpl. William R. Little, is in the Army at Camp Pickett, Va. 11 Babies Born In City, Area New Year's Day Eleven babies were born in Harrisburg and nearby families New Year's Day, the largest number to be entered in the competition for the Harrisburg Telegraph's cash awards since they were started a generation ago.

To the first baby born New Year's Day to Harrisburg parents and to the first to suburban residents the Telegraph will present $5 and at present it appears that two boys will win the prizes. First baby to arrive New Year's Day was a son born to Mr. and Mrs. Victor McBride, Marysville R. at the Harrisburg Hospital, and a few hours later the first newcomer for city parents also was a son born to Mr.

and Mrs. John A. Broadwell, 1316 Kitta tinny street. Mr. Broadwell is a Government engineer now in Nome, Alaska.

Both babies were born at the Harrisburg Hospital. Four others (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 2) Snappy Dress Recognized For Last Time Beverly Hills, Jan. 2, (JP) This will be its last selection until the war is over, the Beverly Hills Junior League warns, as it lists the ten best dressed Hollywood men for 1942. And note the military touch: Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Walter Pidgeon, all actors; Buddy De Sylva, producer; Tommy Dorsey, band leader; Bob Hope, actor, Jimmy Mc Hugh, composer; Maj.

Tom Lewis, U. S. Army; Adolphe Menjou, actor, who usually rates high on national sartorial polls; and Lieut. Edmund Grainger, U. S.

Army. $50,000 Given To Improve Valley Hospital A cash contribution of $50,000 was given to the Carlisle Hospital this week by L. A. Gagne, Cedar street, a resident of Carlisle for only ten years, and owner of the Standard Piezo Company, manufacturers of radio crystals for war consumption. donation was received by the trustees of the hospital, who announced a board meeting for timetime this month to decide on the uses of the money for im provements in the hospital.

totals for the same districts were 10, 29 and 7. Thirty three persons were killed in outlying districts beyond these areas and nine Harris burgers were killed in accidents at distant places. Cumberland county's total was 26. In Harrisburg two each were killed in Third, Derry and Divi sion street accidents; in this county five were killed in Steelton, two in the Highspire area; three HARMSBUEG TELEGRAPH RAIN Founded 1831 VOL. CXIII No.

1 20 PAGES Daily Except Sunday. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Harrisburg HARRISBURG, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2, 1943 Only Evening Associated Press Newspaper in Harrisburg. News Around the Clock SINGLE COPIES THREE CENTS Ml JV ME WEB Soviets Weaken Hitler Grip On Wide Front Moscow, Jan. 2, (P) The Red flag of the Soviets flew over the ancient Russian town of Velikie Luki today to signal a major Russian victory on the central front. Recapture of the Nazi strongpoint was officially announced after a bitter siege in which its hedgehog fortifications were slowly and painstakingly reduced.

Thereby the main German line of defenses in the central area and perhaps the invaders' entire eastern front, from the Baltic Sea to the Caucasus, were placed in danger. I As the Russians with seemingly Germans Boast Destroyer Sunk In Naval Battle London, Jan. 2, (JP) The Ger man hign command reported 10 day the first venture in which it had risked any of its strong naval squadron to prey on the convoy route to Russia since last August and. at best, it boasted only a minor success. Only one Allied vessel, a de stroyer, was listed as sunk and the communique acknowledged that the Germans, who can ill af ford to trade ship for ship, also had lost a destroyer.

It reported gunfire hits also on several Allied cruisers, destroyers and merchantmen and torpedo hits on four other cargo ships but conceded that none of these fighting ships or merchantmen was seen to sink. The communique said the en counter occurred December 31 near Bear Island, which lies about 300 miles north of the northernmost tip of Norway roughly midway to Spitzbergen. Allied convoys on the supply route to Northern Russia ply within closest range "of German sea and air interceptors in those waters. The British Admiralty previous ly had reported an engagement with German surface vessels on the same day and in approxi mately the same area but the Nazi (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 8) State Solons Cool on Plan to Fix Districts Washington, Jan.

2, (Penn sylvania members of the House held partisan opinions today on the question of re apportioning Congressional districts, but they agreed on two points: 1. A general re shuffling of districts to divide the State into 33 fairly equal areas of population would be a fine thing theo retically. 2. There are legal obstacles in the way of such a re apportion ment plan, because the Legisla ture already adopted one plan since the 1940 census. Few members here during the last few weeks have wanted to discuss the subject at all for But, briefly, Republicans felt this would be a good time to reapportion because they control both branches of the State Legislature whose task it would be to fix new alignments, and Demo crats felt that they would be injured by any plan adopted while the Republicans are in control.

"I'd take a bet that if the Republicans re apportion the State now, we'd lose one or two seats in Philadelphia and possibly a seat in Allegheny," said Rep. Herman P. Eberharter, Pittsburgh Demo; crat. Rep. Samuel A.

Weiss, Allegheny Democrat who pressed for Congressional action on re tionment in 1941 when the regular session of tne legislature ad journed without agreeing on a plan, took about the same position but he was cool toward tackling the problem in 1943. Republican members declined to be quoted for the time being. A special session early in 1942 (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 7) '42 Auto Fatalities Top '41 Record Despite Gas, Tire Rationing Here Traffic accidents in the Harris burg area in 1942 took 50 lives, four more than in 1941 despite tire and gasoline rationing, and eight more than the record low of in Millersburg district; three in the River Road near the city; and two in the Elizabeth vllle area. During 1942 there were 97 violent deaths other than in traffic accidents, ten less than in 1941.

The causes include suicide, 14; hit by trains, drowning, burns, 11; carbon monoxide, homicides, falls, 13; electric shock exposure, mill acci dents, 4. inexhaustable offensive power pushed through Velikie Luki they formed a salient threatening German positions to the northeast about Smolensk, the latter a major rear base for German operations on the whole front. The Germans showed no signs of taking any decisive counter action toward averting further catastrophies in the central area. Velikie Luki fell after a fight to the death in which Red army artillery and infantry encircled and crushed all resistance. "The German, garrison in the town, which refused to lay down its arms, was wiped out," the regular early communique of the Russian command said.

(The Germans insisted today that Velikie Luki still was being stubbornly held yesterday.) Fighting: Was Heavy Battlefront dispatches said that the town had been elaborately fortified and surrounded by thousands of mines, tanks traps and pillboxes and that even a special system of hooks had been hidden under the snow to tip the legs of attacking troops. Preceding their final assault, the Russians captured a ring of hills overlooking the city. Working from there they finally forged through the tremendous fortifications in the first, great breakthrough on the central since the Soviets started their winter offensive in that area. Vital Area Controlled Possession of Velikie Luki give3 the Russians a vitally important point from which to conduct their operations, for it stands at a junction point of the Moscow Riga and Leningrad Vitebsk railroads. (Please Turn to Page 14, Col.

8) Chinese Recapture Two Towns, Rout Japs Chungking, Jan. 2 (IP). Chinese dispatches from the front today reported that Chinese troops have recaptured Tsienshin and Taihu, in Southwestern Anhwei province, and that the Japanese are retreating southward in the direction of Susung, 22 miles below Taihu, on the Yangtze. Police Seek Hit Run Driver In Man's Death New Cumberland and State Mo tor Police are searching for a hit run driver whose auto struck and killed Harry K. Miller, 29, New burg, R.

D. 1, early yesterday in. Bridge street near Bennett's gasoline station in New Cumberland. Miller's body was discovered shortly after the accident by a Buffalo truck driver, Charles Hil burn, who notified police. Miller's right shoe was found on a lawn 30 feet from the body and his cig arets were scattered for a greater distance about the body.

Cumberland County Coroner Edward A. Haegele said Miller suffered fractures of the skull, neck, right jaw and severe bruises of the head and both knees. Miller was returning to the home of his sister, Mrs. Guy Eich (Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 2) Tragic Repetition Denver, Jan, 2.

On New Year's Day 60 years ago, Augustus Hall, fell from a bridge on which, he was working near San Fran cisco. He died of a skull fracture and other injuries. Augustus Hall, 68, his son, fell from a ladder at his home in Denver yesterday and died of similar injuries. U. S.

WEATHER Abbreviated Wartime Forecast (This Information must not be broadcast by radio). Sunrise, 8.29 a. sunset, 5.53 P. ro. Harrisburg and Vicinity Occa sional light rain or snow tonight.

Little change in temperature. High yesterday low last night 29; river tomorrow 13 feet. Eastern Pennsylvania Light snow in west and north portions, rain or snow in southeast tonight. Not so cold in east portion tonight..