The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 1

I 4 A RN 3 fCC I 7T iS AT-i FA THE WEATHER Weather outlook for today for Eastern New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland: Widely- scattered showers and warmer. (Temperatures in Column One) Pottstown VOL. II, NO. 228 ASSOCIATED PRESS TELEPHONE 226C CENTRAL PRESS POTTSTOWN, SATURDAY Mercury iT oufi ro fASi mr Of MORNING, JUNE 20. 1942 TELEPHONE 2263 CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS THREE CKNTi A COPY FTFTEKM CENTS WEEK Churchill Reported Asking For Aid in Mediterranean LEmtiitr Convinced East Must Be Held Annapolis Commissions 600 Bp The Associated Press LONDON, June Minister Churchill was portrayed by competent informants tonight as urgently asking for United States reinforcements to stabilize the Mediterranean front, even though this means that the opening of a full-scale on the European continent must wait until next Spring.

Axis successes in the Libyan desert, these persons said, had thrust the middle east to a position of the highest priority in United Nations strategy. Hence Churchill, now conferring with President Roasevelt in the United States, is said to be convinced that the Mediterranean basin nvast be held from west, centei and east as a necessary prelude to a European victory offensive. More Raids In the meantime there are expected to be large-scale Commando attacks on the west coast of the German-occupied continent and very heavy air raids in which American flying forces will take part, I It was pointed out in London that there always is the possibility that if some Commando should re- in a good continental foothold, then actual Allied invasion might be a reality sooner than is expected. The London informants said that the Russians fully appreciated the nece.ssity of holding the middle east and were confident they could bar the southern German armies of General Fedor Von Bock from the Caucasus if the Briti.sh and the Americans can keep the Germans out of Egypt. Syria and Iraq and meantime maintain an adequate flow of supplies direct to Russia.

Can Be Saved Insult to Salvation Army Woman Causes Judge to Refuse Acro.ss Worden Field, the midshipman regiment troops In the final dre.ss parade of the year during traditional June Week presentation of the colors ceremony as the United States Naval Academy prepared to hand to approximately 600 new naval officers graduating a full year ahead of the normal schedule. British Mobile Units Delay Tobruk Assault 166 Middies Graduate At Naval Academy WASHINGTON. June 19 The State Department said today it had no information on reports that I'nited States Nationals had been warned to leave Effypt. CAIRO. June 19 British mobile forces, fanning out northward from their new line along the Egyptian border, jostled German preparations for an all-out assault The British feelmg is said to be i on Tobruk today and gave that that the middle cast still can be isolated but EXPERTS SAY GERMANS HAD BEST MATERIAL if the Axis African can be held throughout the torrid in the desert on the promise that the Yanks will be coming with dive bombers, bigger guns and tanks to reinforce all lines by the time the weather cools.

Strategists here know that Egypt must be held if the Allies are to keep Hitler from the oil fields east of Suez; they also feel that is the main barricade to German-Japanese union in the Indian Ocean or Red Sea for a division of the riches of the Indies and severance of the southern Allied supply lines to Russia, The fact that U. S. Army bombers now are operating with the RAP in the Mediterranean area is taken here as proof that President Roosevelt fully appreciates the importance of this theater. itai British seaside Bfltish Libyan Defeats Caused fortre.ss time to perfect its defenses. Blood Donors to Get Red Cross Medals Tobruk, Libyan port 80 miles from Egypt, bristled with newly-stnmg barbed wire, fresh-laid minefields and strengthened pillboxes curving in great arcs around all its shoreward approaches.

The Germans were hastening to bring up great 210-millimeter inch) cannon to try to reduce the defenses which defied them for nearly eight months last year. Claims Encirclement (A German communique claimed that Axis forces had completed encirclement of Tobruk and had once more laid siege to the Libyan Frontline reports tonight said the Italians were digging in west of Tobruk as if for a siege. The South Airicans and Briti.sh who withdrew By Better Axis Guns and More Skill LONDON. June 19 Britain unhappily sought tonight the rea- soas for her sudden reversal in Libya, and competent military critics supplied the lea.st palatable answer: The German Rommel had bigger and better guns and tanks and used them with gi-eater skill. A week ago Britons were assured that the battle was going satisfactorily and only a few subdued voices uttered reminders of other reversals in the wild desert fighting of the past two years.

Thus the public was not prepared for the abrupt di.scovery that the ANNAPOLIS, June 19 The military forces extended welcoming arms to 577 newly-commissioned Naval ensigns and 29 Marine corps lieutenants today following commencement exercises for 166 United States Naval Academy midshipmen. With the word.s of their Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Ernest J. King, ringing in their ears, the first clas.s to graduate under the telescoped three-year wartime course immediately began brief leaves before reporting for active duty. Only five members of the largest academy in history failed to receive commissions. Four were honorably discharged for physical disabilities while the other.

Ruben Songco, Filipino, left to begin service as an army lieutenant. Boy Cyclist Dies Of Injurlei After Truck Accident Bv Writer NORRISTOWN. June Joseph Kovatto, 18, Pottstown R. D. 3, today asked Judge William F.

Dannehower to me a when Kovatto was arraigned on a plea of guilty to larceny of $79 from a gasoline station, but information given the court by the prison authorities charging the defendant with making an insulting remark to a Salvation Army woman worker caused the court to refuse leniency. Kovatto was arrested by Officer Paul Pottstown. The policeman testified Kovatto admitted entering a ga.soline service station and taking a money containing $79. Statement Gumpert said the police su.spected Kovatto, and after an investigation arrested the youth. Gumpert said he obtained a statement from Kovatto in which he quoted the boy as saying he spent the money on clothing in stores in Pottstown and Reading.

It was after the officer had testified that Assistant District Attorney Roger Reynolds told the court that Kovatto and another prl.soner, Francis Reiter, today, had made "imulting remarks to a Salvation Army worker while she was in the The court questioned Gumpert to attitude when arrested, and the officer said not Judge Dannehower listened to Kovatto's plea for "a break this but told him defiant attitude with the police, and your conduct in the prison, do not warrant a He then sentenced him to serve six months to two years in the county prison. I am warning said the court, "if you fail to conduct yourself properly in pri.son, you will serve the maximum A request that he be sent to the prison farm was made by Kovatto after sentence, but he was told by Judge Dannehower It depended on his conduct and was entirely a matter for the prison warden. BOY IN WATER SAVED BY FIRST AID OF WOMAN Staff Photo Helping build rubber man for Uncle Sam. Eileen Schurr, Douglassville, places a u.sed rubiser fireman's hat atop a huge rubber man on High street while she gets a helping hand from Pvt. David Colledge, Heights, member of an aimored division at Pine Camp, N.

who the need for rubber for the mechanized units. The rubber body is made up from rubcer hat forms. Mother Finds Two-Year-Old Son Floating in fyear Home A two year old Chester county youngster, found unconscious in A creek at his home, was alive last night because a neighbor woman had studied first aid years ago. The child, Thurman Bowen, son of Mr Mrs. Glenn Bowen, Plowing Springs, south of Pughtown, was confined to the Pottstown hospital, apparently suffering only from Floating in Creek The tot, one of five children, was discovered floating face down in the creek by his mother at 6 He was unconscious when pulled from the stream.

Mrs. Margaret Kemp, who lives in the Flowing Springs Inn along the Pottstown-West Chester pike, hurried to the scene and began application of artificial respiration. She pumped the water from the child's lungs and he was beginning to breathe normally when an ambulance arrived. He was hurried to the hospital where treatment was continued. Studied at YWCA In a short time the boy was crying lustily and placed in the hospital nursery.

Mrs. Kemp said she studied first aid "years ago at the YWCA and I just did what I was told to do The have lived for the past year in a farmhouse on the west side of the highway along a stream which parrallels the road at that point. The father is employed at the Spicer company plant. Urges Government Purchase to Supply War Workers With Rubber yesterday from the El Adem and' British had become Bronze medals are being given all those who donated blood for use by the American Red Cross on the battlefield, Mrs. Robert S.

Heffner. local blood bank chairman, said yesterday. Many of those who donated blood of them gave a pint have already received the medals, she said, while the others will receive theirs in the near future. The medal is given nationally by the Red Cross to all those who contribute to the project. A mobile unit, which came here times, will return July 16 to the YWCA to give more borough citizens an opporunity to contribute.

Volunteers are being sought to fill Acroma now are within the port's fortifications. These forces are not purely on the defensive, however. It was not known whether the enemy had made contact with the i British positions on the Egyptian I frontier. Already, outer works (Continued on Page Three) First Day of Summer Will Be Summer will begin tomorrow at 9:17 Eastern War Time, but rhe weatherman, because of the war, cannot announce weather conditions lor the first day of the warm season. With censor- the quota of 100 for that day, Heffner said.

If there are sufficient volunteers over the quota figure, the mobile unit may be brought here again in September, she declared. CHINESE LAUNDRY RE-OPENS Chinese Laundry, 22 S. Charlotte street, now open for business. Your patronage will be appreciated. Mercury 54 High Antics Low TEMPERATURE EXTREMES Local temperatures yesterday and early this morning were: 4 a.

5 m. 6 a. m. a. 8 0 m.

ui. li) a m. 11 a m. 1 p. m.

2 p. m. 3 pm. 64 64 I 64 64 1 67 75 I 77 i 77 I 78 79 SO limiting 0 casts to a 12- hour period, the best that the could do was to predict widely- sca ttered showers and rising temperatures for today. He couldn't drop a hint early this morning weather.

Despite scattered showers yesterday at 1 p. humid and sticky conditions were not dissipated. The temperature climbed from an early-morning iow of 64 degrees to an all-day high of 82 degrees and then began declining shortly after 6 p. m. traps from which were forced to flee and the public not consoled when correspondents reported that Rommel lacked sufficient gasoline to pu.sh his tank.s on in Egypt.

Story Not Complete The whole story has not come yet from the battlefield but from available information military experts drew these conclusions: 1. Lieut. Gen. Neil M. Ritchie, commander of the British eighth army, lack sufficient numbers of United States 28-ton tanks and when the excellent 88-millimeter guns of the Germans knocked mkny of them out of action the British had to depend too much on light cruiser tanks whose two-pounder guns had been relegated to the pea- class.

2. The British still have lessons to learn about tank and bravery cannot be substituted for the required skill. 3. Air power over desert battlefields cannot be made the dominant factor. The RAP started with air superiority and still claims it.

By Staff Writer COI.I.EGEVI1LE. June came this morning to 10-year-old Donald Snovel. fifth grade Collegeville schoolboy, who was Injured yesterday when Rent Committee Halts Evictions Of 24 Tenants RISING TSNPERKTURC about Sun Rises a. m. Sets p.

m. SPECIAL SUNDAY DINNER AT SWEISFORD Chicken Dinner Virginia Baked Ham Deviled Crabs or Clams Due to shortage of good help I will discontinue my retail ice business. WILLARD Hospital Will Use All Blackout Lamps Preparations for participation in Tuesday du.sk- lo-dawn blackout test were furthered yesterday a.s home-owners and others arranged biiickout curtains so they would not violate the regulations. At ihe Pott-stown hospital, Leon 1 Houck, manager, said all rooms would be Illuminated solely by small blackout lampg placed almo.st at floor levels. The all-night te.st will be marked by a half hour total blackoiit in which all street lights and other lamps will be extinguished.

12 th killed in motor mishaps within 15 mile radios of Pottstown In 1942 Killed to Date in IKRALVIAN IS holding a Fathers' Day banquet on Sunday, June 21, at 2 in the St. Michael's Ukrainian Church, Stowe. he was crushed beneath the rear wheel of a heavy cross country transport truck. The youth, riding a bicycle when he wai5 caught between the truck and a parked car on 0 11 main street, died at 8:04 in the 0 gomery hospital, Norristown. Fractured Skull He had suffered a fracture of his skull, fracture of his arm and internal injuries.

The accident red at noon yes-; terday. The a ident victim was ped- aling to the post off ice to mall a letter to his oldest brother, Norman Snovel. 19, serving in the Army at Camp Livingston. La. The accident occurred in front of the postoffice.

Lee Slater Yarbrough, 31, Salisbury, N. told police the bov was riding on the wronp side of the street when the accident occurred. posted bond pending a inquest. One of Ten Donald, a son of Mr. and Mrs.

John Snovel, Fourth avenue and Chestnut street, was one of ten children. He is survived by his parents and these brothers and sisters: Norman, 19; Jean, 18; John, 16; Dorothy, 14; Kenneth, 12: Gerald, James, Janet. Edward, 5. Fourteen evictions of tenants were approved last night by fair rent committee while 24 attempted evictions were ordered halted. Joseph Galligan, chairman of the committee, said those cases approved included 12 instances where tenants were far in arrears in rent payments "and making no attempt to make up the The other two, Galligan were where the tenants were Those cases which the committee notified magistrates that action not be tolerated were made up largely of attempts by landlords to have the properties vacated they oould obtain paying in- crea.sed the committee announced after the session in Borough hall.

Galligan said the committee also discu.ssed more than 100 complaints of rent increa.se attempts despite the rent freezing order. All members of the committee attended la.st meeting at which landlords were que.stloned They were Galligan. Dr, J. Armstrong, Roy Binder, Prank Hutt Sr. and Arthur Milligan.

At EVERY WEEK Late.st listings of Victor, Bluebird, Columbia. Okeh and Decca and cia.s.sical. We pay ca.sh for any old records. Bring them in. 264 High St.

HAIRDRESSER WANTED Steady employment. Good opportunity. Address Box N-126, Mercury. Expert Watch, Clock, Jwlry. Repairs Jewelry Store, 210 High St.

Watches Hamilton, Elgin, Butova, aad Gotham Charles Longacre, Bahr Arcade FOR DAD On Day Visit Store NORRISTOWN. June Condron. 50. Audubon, died this morning in Montgomery hospital of back injuries suffered Tuesday afternoon when he fell from a hay wagon. He was aiding in uiUoading hay in a barn on the Phillipsdale farm when a rope broke and he was thrown to the bam floor.

DR. CLAUDE O. CLEMENTS Licensed Chiropractor Hours Every Day Except Thursday 10 to 12 a. 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p. Service 152 High St, Phone 2550 WASHINGTON, June 19 f.Pi New talk of buying up tires from owners of automobiles was heard in the capital today, while officials sought to step up the nationwide rubber drive with weekend Wendell Lund, director of labor production division, told a House committee studying means of getting workers to war plants: Tires Must Be Bought on private automobiles must be purcha.sed by the government and allocated to war workers who are co-operating fully in carrying full of The Petroleum Industry War Coiuicil, which has ciiarge oi the rubber collection, said it httd Saturday and Sunday, when most Americans will be at liorne, for a nation-wide week-end trea.sure hunt of every attic, cellar, bin, and 6hed for unuWd and scrap particle.s oi rubber.

brought to light in the treasure hunt may be dropped off at a local station on the way to church Sunday morning or on the way to work the council Autos Carry The Office of Price Administration announced during the day that under the permanent gasoline rationing system to be set up in the east on July 15. every automobile will carry a sticker the kind of rationing book held by its driver. By this method of publicity, the OPA to deter frcjm obtaining or using cards to which they are not entitled. The OPA may disclose next week whether it will sanction an increase in gasoline prices in the ea.stern area in order to compensate for increased costs of transporting the fluid overland instead of by t.anker. There have been reports that the increase might be three cents a gallon, but OPA merely that the question was being studied.

As collections of scrap rubber in Pottstown and area mounted to an estimated 50 tons. Boy outvS entered the picture to announce they would begin a house- to-house canva.ss next week. Scrap rubber, urgently needed to ta both Army, Air Corps and civilian circles, is being collected throughout the nation at tile request of Pi-esident Roosevelt, Scouts and borough employes will man two borough truots, which will cover every street in Pottstown, accepting scrap rubber donations from homes, and factorie.s. Iloxworth Directs T'ne collections will be made niursday and Friday afternoons under direction of Raymond W. Hoxworth.

Scout executive, and Harold E. Binder, salvage chairman of the Pottstown Defen.se council. running north and will be patrolled by the borough trucks Thursday aitemoon, stalling at 2 while streets running ea.st and west will covered by the trucks the following afternoon. Hoxworth a.sked residents contributing scrap rubber to iiave it piled in front of their homes or be ready to hand it to Scouts during the afternoon. Take to Purpose of the drive, he em- pna.sized, to pick up the rubber that has not been taken to ga.so- line stfition.s.

The public should not hold its scrap rubber until the cleanup, but get it in to the ga oliiie station." as soon as pos- hope there will be no rubber left to rolled when the trucks make their tours of tlie he said, meaning tliat persons who can do su should take their rubber to the course." are people who cannot take their contributions to We hope to be of by that For Rubber collected by the Scouts, Binder explained, will be given, and not to ga.soline stations by an arrangement with the State salvage committee. Majority of the dealers revealed that it would be turned over to rep- resentative.s of their respective com- (t ontinuvd on Page Three) Asks Federal Aid Rubber Drive Here Nets An Estimated 50 Tons (ggiejnne company CIVILIAN TIRES MUSTBETAKEN, SAYS OFFICIAL COATESVILLE, June 19 (J?) Lukens Steel Company called on the federal government today to conciliate a labor dispute which, a spokesman said, threatens to halt war production and throw 5000 men out of work. Seventy-five pit-men walked out yesterday, closing the open hearth department on which welding and machine shops depend for materials, i C. L. Huston, plant personnel manager, they demanded a 20 percent wage increa.se.

Michael Harris, director of the Philadelphia district of the United Steel Workers of America, said the union did not authorize the strike. Some men involved are not unioii members, Harris said. The company asked the help of Dr. John R. Steelman, head of the conciliation service of the U.

S. Department of Labor. New Flags Arrive; Will Be Hung Soon I Flags which have been purchased through a fund raised by merchants and Industrialista to replace old ones on light standards have arrived and will be put In place within the next few days, C. Powers, flag committee chairman, said la.st night. Power.s and D.

C. Knauer directed the drive for funds which resulted in the collection of $350. The new flags will be placed on along High street from York lo streets. Further funds will be sought from merchants who have not yet contributed. Powers said, to buy additional flags for standards along High street between York and Man- atiwny streets and between Washington and Evans streets.

FOR DAD On Father'! Day Visit Grant's Store NOTICE! My office will be from June 24th, for the Duration of the War. DR. NOWACKI. SUNSHINE BEER Call 40-J WEEK-END SPECIALS Birds E.ve Peas 23c Birds Eye Golden Bantam Corn 18c Presh Made Potato Salad 17c Fmest Stewing, Roaisting, Frying Chickenji Eye Peaches 660 WALNUT ST. Just Call 677 678 WE DELIVER Due to shortase of good help I will dincontinue my retail ice busines.s.

WILLARD GROW. SEE FIRST BL.U’K OUT WINDOWS Modeled After The l.ate.si from London, If your boy a liobby see us for mouel Boats Guns Planes Trains King Charlotte Sts. on repair work. Bucher's Service Shoe Shop. 309 Oak street.

American Legion Auxiliary Festival the Lawn. Platters Served from 4:30 til 29c 23c a. m. a Special Beeiv-CaU 2205-J Beer, Bros. Ph.

£241 OWLS CARNIVAL OWLS LOT Benefit Armr and Navy Relief Fund TONIGHT i ESSLIKCEB Fhom ia-J CHICKEN and WAFFLE DINNER Huff's Church, June 21 11 a to 2 p. m. Adults 75c, Children 40c, inc. dessert SUMMER SCHOOL For an earlier start attend Summer school. Ail the commercial Start now.

POTTSTOWN SC IIOOL AUTO GLAS.S Factory cut. Sold and installed. FRIEDMAN BROS Phone 2664 ON THE MAIN DRAG informal Llttla Snapshots of Goings, Comings Doings LOST OR STRAYED Male cat. White and yellow. Family pet.

Liberal reward for return. 94 Madison St. Phone 232-R. Fine Watch and Jewelry Repairing High and Hanover Streets Diamonds and Wedding Rings IL WeikeL 10 Nocth Hanover Si. Is War Work Extra Work for Your Eyes! Safeguard Them! Dr.

Phillips, Optometrist, 340 High For Furniture Try Diamonds, W'edding Rings A. E. Willauer. 217 High St. JULLY ALE OaU ALDENE MVERS with, her doll.

HAROLD LEH a paint can upon a ladder HATHAWAY GLYER after a foul ball mt during a oa-sebaU game. DK. W. W. vontent of kit, AL KESTIR a dog from a bali field.

CARL SB.AVERS --adjusting placard tied to bowling; pin. MARIAN MARSHAI.L to do ft juterbut dance..