The Brattleboro Reformer from Brattleboro, Vermont • 1

rattleboro Today's Feature BOOKS IN TOWN Page Four -it W5 WW B0 FOUR CENTS BRATTLEBORO, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1944 VOL. 31 NO. 287. I I-. '43 FIRE LOSS IS SERVICE VOTE bioouN AWARDED LEGION OE MERIT Allies Balk Stiff Attacks On Bridgehead; Desperate Battle Rages In Cassino SHOWDOWN OFF HIGHEST SIN 37 IE' Given Medal for Service in South Pacific Campaign Most of $41,446 Total Suffered in Last 45 Days Senate Lacks Quorum and Suspends Business Until Monday HURL JAPS BACK 10,000 Germans Captured Since Landing Below Rome I li HEN; EXNER REVIEWS FORCE'S ACTIVITY FIRST TO ORGANIZE JAP LANGUAGE UNIT BATTLE REACHES CRITICAL STAGE NAZIS, REDS WAGE BATTLE OF POCKET The Legion of Merit Medal has WASHINGTON JP Lack of a Americans Take 2 More Islands, Extend Bombardment quorum forced trie senate into a recess today and postponed until 3,000 Killed Fighting to Get Out; American Bombers out next week a showdown on service been awarded to Lt.

Col. Ernest W. I Gibson for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the South Pacific area from September, 1942, to December, 1943, it was learned here today. The award was made by direction of I vote legislation. NEW ALL SOULS MINISTER 10 YEARS IN PASTORATE The Kenneth R.

Hutchinson (above) called rhorning service of worship at the PROCLAIM JAPAN'S Need for replacement within two years of two Are trucks was re-emphasized today by Acting Fire Chief Alexander Exner as he reported insured fire losses here In 1943 were the highest since 1937, though the number, of calls answered was about average. Last year's losses compiled from insurance figures were approximately $41,446.25, almost equal to the combined total of the three previous senators answered the roll Only 43 First Baptist church tomorrow will CONTROL ENDED! for the unjusual Saturday session Roosevelt by Lt. Gen. new Menu, This i takes 49 to transact business. After a cali of the absentees failed the Legion of Merit Medal, awarded ilard Harmon, commanding U.

S. mark the 10th anniversary of Rev. Vivian Gj Higgs as minister. His pastorate is the second longest in the history of the church, which is over 100 years old. A special feature will to the pulpit of the local church to succeed Rev.

Donald B. F. Hoyt, now minister of the Congress Square Uni-versalist church. Portland, arrived here with his family Friday. He will begin his new duties tomorrow when he conducts the morning wor-shlD service at 11 o'clock.

Rev. Mr. Army forces in that area, on Jan. 11 FLEET HEADQUARTERS. Pearl Har- to tring in the necessary members bor (P)-Invading three more islands Majority Leader Barkley moved vo Lieutenant Colonel Gibson, who Is now in Washington, previously had to Lt.

Col. Ernest W. Gibson for service in the South Pacific. It is the newest Army War Department award and ranks above the Silver Star previously given him. be the burning of two notes, recently quit until noon Monday.

in big Kwajalein atoll, United States discharged, freeing the church from years Almost the entire loss all ibeen honored with the Silver Star. The Legion of Merit Medal Is rated This was the situation on the soldier vote question Thursday night the House passed and Mrs. Hutchinson and their two young children, Stanley and Lois, are staying at Hotel Brooks until their forces hava overwhelmed the Japanese on two, pushed the resisting enemy back on a third which has seaplane bases, and brought two addi- a so-caned "states rignis mensuru every nnauciai encuniurance. jxus. i S.

Swltzer, president of the Woman's but $3,622 red the last society. C. P. Flinton, chairman of the 45 dayf the vear' the Put-board of trustees, and C. S.

Hopkins. nain bl ured loss of aPProxi-senlor deacon, will participate. Mem- mately 2,000 accounting for uppers of the church and parish are ward of half the total- pointed DELINQUENT TAXES Iby the War dePartment above tne 9 999 nxr qi Silver star and next to the Distin- $iO)LLC 9ri UCjKj. OL guished Service Medal and is given vhlch called upon the states to pro- household goods arrive from Cincin-viH hsente ballots for service ter- nati. They will then occupy the By The Associated Press.

Strong new German counterattacks Bpearhcaded by the veteran 26th Armored Division aimed at crushing the Allied bridgehead below Rome have been repulsed, Allied headquarters declared today, and a desperate battle Is raging in the streets of Cassino. bastion of the Nazi Gustav Line. The latest enemy counterblow struck against British forces north of Aprilta (Carroceto), 10 miles above Anzio and 20 below Rome, and was thrown back with heavy losses. Official accounts did not indicate whether Allied troops were holding their earlier line on the outsyirts of Cam- I tional fortified bases under warship sonnei and directed the Army and Grove street parsonage, where renova- out. for outstanding service urged to make a special effort to at- Navy to expedite the distribution and "ons have been made and the house Losses for the six years prior to 1 Kfift Ouov Voa A rrr hnr ou tend this observance.

collection of ballots. Put 114 lraumK" 1UI 2 Bills Before Senate. last year follow: 1942, 1941. "i ulc 1940. 1939, I WltnOUt Abatement; I citation, Lieutenant Colonel Gibson 1938, 1937, $50,586.

Qnrvia Tiorl ni-k recrlved the new award "for excep- and plane attack. Other important developments, as ascertained from latest advices, of Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, were: American leaders of the Mld-Paci- tVia Spnnt.o now hR this measure AXEL ERIKSON, 73, before it, a measure which President YANKS IN EARNEST, The department logged a total of calls in 1943. exclusive of black- Roosevelt criticized as a "fraud" up TOKYO RADIO SAYSi DIES IN KEENE, N.

H. out 222 test alarms. The year before the nc oneusive. xoreseeing capture on tne people. But it also has the all the mandated Marshalls, have administration-sponsored bill provld- Uncollected local taxes on Dec.

31. tionally meritorious conduct in the 1943, totalled $28,221.94, according to Performance of outstanding services the audited report of Tax Collector in the South Pacific area from 24 Errol Richardson. This amount Is not September 1S-J2 to 14 December 1943 quite $1,500 more than a year ago. As G2 of an Infantry division, he but on the other hand there were no trained the intelligence section from total was 221. Central station had 188 calls last year (192 the year before), and West poleone, four miles ifbove Aprilia, or had been forced to withdraw.

t.roclalmcd a military government ing for a federal ballot. At odds In Tells People War Grows More Acute, Calls mra.r I ulc pencil, i owv Cabinet Maker Resident of rattleboro Many Years Brattleboro 34 (29 in 1942). Box eeK on spot, 6 federal ballot bill and a coalition reconnoitenng units nudged of Emperor Hironito in tne areas as of Repbncans and southern Dem alarms last year totalled 14, of which abatements of old levies during the its inception and developed a re-three were false. A second alarm was P881 vear' while more than $3,000 In markable intelligence awareness with- each is occupied. I ocrats who favor the state ballot.

I XUI XULy against the bridgehead line, seeking a spot for a major counteroffensive with reserves assembled from north (Spec.al to The Reiorm-r.) rung for three serious fires. Box such taxes was abated the previous in the Vision KEENE. N. H. Axel Herman Erik- alarms the year before numbered 12.

'ear "Forseeing the need for a Japan- Navy Not Challenged. Sponsors of the federal ballot are NEW YORK (JP) Japanese audi- There is no indication the huge i planning to seek its attachment to ences were warned by the Tokyo ra- son, 73, a resident of Brattleboro many Chimney and stovepipe fires were wt-'c ese language tection, he organized I OOfi AO i 1 1 Total collections last American Navy supporting the six- tne tiouse-approvea measure, n1-1 1 dio today that the United States in rlir.M tkia In 4-v mrwt mimp'iiit a cennnt no fnr woi.uuu.uu, uiuuume aim mwuuuiK rai uiru caiijf 1.1110 mui mug 111 1.1 1 v. tbe first divisional unit of this tyne penalties. This figure also fell below the th Ppifip thAt invasion has. been challenged move wouia nave of the.

Marshall Islands vv. Elliot Community hospital He came "in dead earnest" and that conse- here four months ago to make his quently the war situation "Is growing home with his daughter, Mrs. Archie more acute than was ever noted here- Brown. of Rome, and drawn from the main i front to the southeast. Fierce fighting swirled in Cassino with house-to-hou3e battle.

North of, the ruined town, U. S. troops advanced farther west, pushing the Germans from mo6t of Mt. Maiola. de-! spite numerous enemy attacks.

Thousands of artillery shells whined in this Cassino sector. or Buirerci losses. "'5 The dominating air force has kept House and subsequently to a- Sen-all Japanese planes out of the Mar- ate-House conference, thus bringing thalls skies for four successive days, on a delay which might postpone (This picture was in sharp con- enactment of service vote legislation trast to that presented yesterday in indefinitely. a Japanese imperial headquarters However, if the Senate should pasa mmmraloue and recorded In New I the House bill without amendments (Continued on Page Two.) Previous year by about $8,700, but GiDSOR was outstanding in his man- the collator had about $10,000 less of personal bravery and DR RIIRTON ORDERS in.the!: ks ol lect as a result -eadership. spending part of each OUttlUl paring down of the hst of delinquents day.

wlth Funits duri house cleaned up iHS2SSK rSljSL t. wounded during the stages of XTi, tt bankruptcy or trusteeship Npw GeQrgia campain Sei'VeS Notice OII utiatln- listed upon returning to duty witii- tofoie. nc wtu uui ii in owcucii, uuiji ioiv, and came to this country when a The Tokyo domestic broadcast, re- young man. He married Josephine corded by U. S.

government monitors, Johnson in New York, May 6, 1896. fifteen hundred Germans have the White House. declared They maae their home New YorK until 1905. when thev moved to Brat- kv, xt 1 Yoric dv me unirea stales roreitfn li DlllV-l lilt fUlolV JLC'" 1 a. i i 1 out dslay.

His service at all times compared with the corresponding man for Place at 8 Green St. amounts at the beginning of the tuno landings, making a total of Broadcast Intelligence, Service. Tofc- Ana tne mere 10,000 seized in all the Italian claimed th.it two destroyers hud passed by Congress would imply a campaign, headquarters said. been sunk, a cruiser and a destroyer stinging rebuke to the Chiet Ex- The Russians drew a trap tighter set on fire. 52 planes shot down, 24 ecutive for his earlier criticism.

around more than 100.000 Nazis in damaged and that Japanese garri- Taft Predicts -Victory. I year, were: was distinguished and a credit to his division." This citation covers the whole of his service in the South Pacific. Previously he was given the Silver Star for courageous and aggressive action in the New Georgia campaign. the Ukraine on the west bank of the sons on Roi and Kwajalein islands, using as a barometer the 328 to 69 "The enemy Is eagerly pressing his tleboro Mrs Eriksori died in Brat-adavnee Into our inner South Seas tleboro, Sept. 29, with the Gilberts as a powerful stra- He leaves his daughter.

Mrs. Archie tegic base in the central Pacific and Brown and an adopted daughter. Mrs. no doubt quickly carried out the Ann Parsons of Keene. Another Marshall operations In order to de daughter and a son died In Infancy, stroy the.

might of 'time' which Is a He "also leaves three grandchildren, very importantstrength of Japan." 1 Sheldon and Bradley Brown and Pa-Tokyo told its audiences that the tricia Ann Parsons, "western Pacific, needless to say, Is Mr. Erlkson was a skilled cabinet the sphere of our control and the maker and worked at his trade in front line of national defense" and Brattleboro many years, slater being that the Marshalls, Marianas and rmnioyeri for a time by the Crosby Carolines lav In Japan's "Inner South Milliner rv (Continued on Page Five) (Continued on Page Eight.) (Continued on Page Three) RED CROSS PLANS SPRING CAMPAIGN concerning living conditions at a three-apartment house at -8 Green street. Dr. Oscar A. Burton, health officer, today Issued an ultimatum to the owner, C.

Prescott Hoffman, to "proceed to clean up the place and put it in livable condition, or I shall be forced to take action." A toilet, exposed to cold, was out of order, the water tank having frozen. Dr. Burton reported. The shed was in use as an improvised he explained. A few hens are kept by one of the tenants in the cellar, Dr.

Burton added. "We can't stand for a thing like Uncollected Uncollected Jan. 1, '43 Dec. 31 plus 1943 Levy 1932 Tax 7.62 3.81 1933 Tax 29.80 26.82 1934 Tax 34.44 28.08 1935 Tax 253.03 212.68 Flood 104.05 95.05 i Old Age 70.63 64.63 I I 1936 Tax 356.05 272.99 Old Age 146.59 128.32 1937 Tax 461.12 298 90 Old Age 215i99 194.21 1938 Tax 778.11 494.04 Old Age 351.20 311.88 1938 Tax 1,673.61 933.60 Old Age 448.68 421.a2 1940 Tax 2.161.94 1,497.24 Old Age 618.53 570.33 i 1941 Tax 3.944.12 2,606.34 i Old Age 8il6.25. 728.21 1942 Tax 11,480.12 5.568.95 i Old Age 2.817.53 1.191.61 i Don't beg em Names Committee to Find Chairman to Head It At a meeting Friday afternoon at I -D I Seas.

t-uneral services will be held Tues- i "It goes without saying that our dny at 2 p. at the Swedish Congre-; front line units will lespond by gtional church. Rev. G. A.

Lund of strongly counterattacking the en- Worcester will officiate. Interment emy, the broadcast continued. "The wiU be in the family lot in Morning-fact that the enemy's sacrifices will side cemetery. rr wuicn me recently announced policy of Red Cross regional officials against participation in joint fund-raising Uncle Sam increase tne closer ne approaches our operational bases can easily be understood." Tokyo emphasized, however, that "it is clear that the recent sorties of the enemy are being carried out with that in Brattleboro," the doctor de- DISCHARGE BUTTONS cllLred Town Manager Ernest E. Lothrop, NOW AVAILABLE approving the doctor's step, emphati- cally asserted that the town intends to see to it that such conditions are tional organization and appointed a committee to find a chairman to head an these conditions in mind" and "War Veterans Get Them in i i remeuieu wiieievcr mey aie luunu.

n. that. With "the war in the Pnclfln I the chapter's March campaign. Those $15,649.21 present were practically unanimous it Thoughts of a soldier over there on the occasion of the Fourth War Loan charging along with great speed from On Application to housing survey the health depart- one decisive battle to another," It was OntDPllPl I ment iS contemPlated later ln the Prior yrs. 26,769.41 time for the Japanese to exert their! iuuiilucici year.

1943 Tax 322.357.79 greatest effort. The domestic Japa- MONTPELIER Lt. Col. Harold E. I Dr.

Burton's letter to Hoffman fol- I Qld Age 12,282.50 nese broadcast put it this way: Adams announced today that his of- lows: in their disapproval of the ruling, 9.935 23 2,637.50 $28,221.94 "Now indeed i3 the time when the Ilce' "eaaquarters uistrict No. 8, fli tne request oi me town man- $361,409.70 100,000,000 people must unite their service command. 84 State ager i nave just inspectea tne oase-total strength and effect a bodily strcet, had teen authorized to Issue ment apartment of No. 8 Green street, crash against the total strength of laPel buttons to all honorably dis-, occupied by the Julius Hall family. I BOY SENTENCED FOR BEATING MOTHER which ends a two-year arrangement between Central Windham chapter and the Brattleboro War Chest, but there was equal unanimity in the belief that regardless of it the organization should carry on and make every effort to raise the chapter's $22,500 quota independently.

The committee named to find a campaign chairman consists of James F. Baker, Robert V. Simonds, Mrs. Arnold Pellett, Mrs. H.

C. Rice and Miss Lillle Young. enemy America." cnargeo military personnel with serv- ice subsequent to Sept. 8, 1939. TO FIGHT POLL TX.

Those eligible may call at this office or write in for them. However, find it unfit for habitation and a menace to health. "I hereby notify you to Immediately, today, proceed to clean up the place and put it in livable condition, or I shall be forced to take action ln the matter." N. H. Legislators Want to Bring It tney must bring with them or send in nu uisumrge certiucaie or cer- tificate of service.

Baek to $2 From 5. CONCORD, N. H. Two members of Officers anrjlvlne for this button GIRL SENT TO KINSTEAD. the state legislature today said they will present two copies of their spe-I UnT CnTITM COr'TlT'TV" would ask reDeal of the extra 3 rwiH 1 I nUIjo HjIXM vSKJKyXHi 1 i i uiucia iciievtiig iiiem lrum ac- i.ua wiicii uuvemur rsiuuu cans a spe tive duty, with a certificate prepared Raymond Wallace Goes to Weeks School; Given Other Chances A 16-year-old boy, Raymond Wallace, this morning was committed to Weeks school for the remainder of his minority or until he is discharged by law.

for beating his mother Friday night. The youth had been under the jurisdiction of the court since Dec. 8. five days before his 16th birthday, when Town Grand Juror Carl Strand presented a delinquency petition stating that the boy "wandered around the streets ln the nighttime and refused to work." He had recently been employed by William by the applicant that he or she eligible to receive this button. Lapel buttons are issued gratuU tously.

BUYS $48,700 BONDS Town Total at Pledgers Asked to Pay up The Holstein-F'rieslan Association tf America has invested $48,700 in War Bonds through local banks, it was announced this morning. cial session to act on votes for soldiers. The 1943 legislature Increased the $2 poll tax to $5 to finance a bond issue to pay $100 bonuses to veterans of World War II. Rep. George W.

Angus of Claremont and Rep. David O'Shan of Laconia asserted they would demand repeal of the additional levy. They expressed the view revenue from sale of liquor Upton's Companion Outfitted With New Clothes. The 15-year-old girl who had been "playing keeping house" with Gerald Upton, according to Sheriff Patrick J. O'Keefe, was on Friday outfitted with new clothes and has been sent to the Department of Public Welfare's Kin-stead home in Montpeiier, pending Investigation of her home environment.

The girl is a native of Poultney. Upton was sentenced to serve from 48-HOUR WEEK FOR BOSTON. City Goes on Basis March 6 Some Plants Not Affected. BOSTON () All essential Indus- Persons also stated that 28 em in state operated stores and from tries in the metropolitan Boston area ployes of one local concern bought cushman and Son five to 10 years at state prison in Rockingham race track could be ln creased to finance bonus payments. W.

F.I.L, the radio said there's going to be another War Bond Drive on hack in the States. They're asking the rolks to buy extra bonds. That's fine. You won't Ret mad. will you, if I give out with a i.

I. gripe? Honest, 1 can't get the whole business. My pal got kissed by a bouncing Betty that's a land mine and he's siipps'd to hands because a gnv hack home won a kiss from a pinup girl for putting some money Into War Bonds. That fellow gets hack four for every three dollars he invests now. I get fifty a month and no Interest Yeah, I got a kiss, too.

From the wife. At the station when I pulled out. Had to kiss the kid at home. Marge figured he was too young to take along. So look, pal if a lot of razzle-dazzle, hoopla and drum-beat in' are needed to sell the finest investment In the world a I S.

Bond then try and sort pedal It to the boys out here. It doesn't set so good hearing that you got to hit guvs over the head to get 'em in the ten per tent payroll plan when across a ridge a Heinle "XH" is trying to take 1 00 per cent of your life! Not when you know we Joes slap a good hunk id our tllty a month into bonds when 95 of the At step up to the bond wagon every month. 'Course, some of the hotheads In my outfit think maybe if a piece of the war (Just a little piece, mind you) was put on for a couple of days at home, some people would get the real Idea about buying bonds. If they'd lay In a muddy hole for 72 hours, eating, drinking and sleeping and everything that's what I said, brother, everything; if they ate dirt waiting for the Jap to mojre first maybe they wouldn't be slow in digging down deep for those extra bonds. If they walked through a field hospital right after a bomb hit it, if they saw what many guys out here have seen, they'd run like hell for those bonds.

If they could get a peep at their own sons, for whom a two-inch thick Porterhouse had to be broiled just so, eating rations for seven straight days they wouldn't need Bing Crosby singing "Any Bonds Today?" to lay that cash on the line. Well, maybe it Isn't the people's fault. Maybe this begging and ballyhoo has been overdone. It's sort of given folks Ore Idea they're the ones who are doing the favor! Don't they know It's just as much their job to buy for Yictory as it is for some of us to die for It? So how about laying off with the ballyhoo? How about Just saying that this is IT! that we're going to crack Adolf and Tojo this year and that the more dough we get up now, the more American boys will be standing up when the shooting is over! Don't beg 'em, Uncle Sam! Don't put patriotism on the auction block! $2,800 in War Bonds during In announcing the commitment, Windsor for breaking and entry in Brattleboro Individuals and corpor- judge Edward J. Shea said in muni- the.

nighttime and larceny, after atlons have subscribed $830,000 of the cipai court, "We have endeavored to pleading guilty In municipal court $1,148,000 War Bond quota. Persons neip you and have given you two or before Judge Edward J. Shea. will go on a 43-hour week beginning March 6, it was learned from an authoritative source today. The source said that an offclal announcement would be made within the next few days.

The decision was reached after consultation of repre ESCAPES PfRISON. said. He nas requested tnat an tnose three chances and two or tnree jods. pledging pay for bonds at the banks We might overlook mistakes judg Garden Farnum Sentenced in Novem ber for Grafton Break. instead of through the canvassers and WOMEN DOUBLE SALVAGE OF FAT sentatives of the region with the Garden Farnum.

19, of West Swan- manatrempnt rnmmittoo nf t.h wr settle for the bonds as soon as ment by you in other things that might happen, but when a 16-year-old boy strikes a woman, and especially his mother, he will receive no consideration." DENIES HIT-RI CHARGE. Point Plan Steps It up but $Tot as Much as Needed MONTPELIER The recently insti zey, N. who in November was com- Manpower Commission, the source mitted to Windsor prison for house added. breaking at Grafton, on Friday es-j In many instances the extended caped from the prison in the com- work week in essential pursuits would pany of a fellow inmate. Sheriff Pat- not xsult in radical revision of time rick J.

O'Keefe said today. schedules because a large number of The two men had been working in establishments which would be af-the woods near Ascutneyville when fected are already on the 48-hour they made their bid for freedom, Week, or more. THE WEATHER BOSTON Forecast for New Hampshire Cloudy and not so cold tonight. Drin finnrftr with snow showers in tuted plan of giving housewives two meat-fat ration points for each pound K.eere learned from authorities. New ti nH hecomine much colder of waste kitchen fats has more than The area Is now classified as a "labor shortage section," which makes the 48-hour week optional.

Hampshire and Vermont police are searching for the pair. Bernardston Man's Case Continued Until Feb. 14. Walter Lee Nelson, 59, of Bernardston, this morning pleaded not guilty ln municipal court to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting In property damage without giving relevant information. Judge Edward J.

Shea fixed bail at $50 and continued the matter to set date of trial on Feb. 14. Irwin Kendall appeared as counsel for Nelson. The alleged offense occurred on the property of Thomas H. Barker of Putney, on Dec.

24. Sunday Fresh winds. doubled the weekly amount being Vermont Cloudy and not so cold turned in for war purposes. State Di-tonieht but becoming colder by rector James J. Carney of the Office of morning Partly cloudy and much Price Administration said today, colder Sunday with snow showers in I "Waste fats are badly needed for mountains.

Fresh winds. making sulfa drugs, explosives, and the other waste materials and we can LONDON (JP) U. S. Army head quarters announced today that Pvt. John H.

Waters, 38, of Chicago Heights, will be hanged next Thursday for the murder of Doris Staples at Henley-on-Thames, Ox-jfordshire, last July 14. 24-Hour Record to 7.30 a. m. Min 5 Max 28 Free .03 not urge too strongly that housewives turn in all their used kitchen fats," Carney continued. While Tenderers report that double the amount of waste fats is now being turned in by housewives, it is still below the minimum of 230.000,000 pounds a year.

DANCE I.O.O.F. TEMPLE Every Saturday Night SONNY WILLIAMSON'S BAND SERVICEMEN ADMITTED FREE Adm. 40c (plus 4c tax) Refreshments served SKI MEISTER DOWNHILL AND SLALOM RACES AT PIGGERY HILL. SUNDAY, FEB. 6 1.30 P.M.

Register at Community Center. Stitchers Wanted HOOKER, CORSER MITCHELL CO. 21 FROST STREET Those now employed ln essential work need not apply. Dance, Grange Hall Saturday Night, Feb. 5 MUSIC BY NIGHT OWLS Round Square Dances Elmer Clark, Prompter Written and published In the interest of the Fourth War Loan by the Joseph Katz Company, Advertising, New York and Baltimore and paid for by Brattleboro Trust Company as a contribution to the cause.

LONDON (P) A Vichy broadcast heard by the Ministry of Information said fire razed a Hennessy distillery destroying 12,000 gallons of cognac..