Pittston Gazette from Pittston, Pennsylvania • Page 1

riote Remy, Tuf on Sheridan, Howley, Henijigaii, Zack, Collins This Ad. Sponsored by John Langan, Taxpayer, City. COMPLETE TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE OF THE UNITED PRESS WEATHER TEMPERATURE Shown by Recording Thermo 'ft 1 meter on Gazette building. 57, 3 p. Min, 38, 5 m- Mostly cloudy, not so tool, with occasional light rain tonight.

Wednesday, partly cloudy and somewhat eolder. FIFTY CBNT8 A MONTH PITTSTON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1941 BIZ DOLLARS A TBAB 92nd YEAR. American Tanker Torpedoed Off Iceland SIX PAGES No Decision In Captive Mine Case Salinas Was Badly Damaged, Managed To Reach Port Safely New Offensive Is Aimed At Rout For Supplies To Russia 97 Men Are Lost In Sinking Of Destroyer Reuben James, 12 Men Die In Bomber Crash Washington, Nov. 4. President John L.

Lewis of the United Mine Workers (CIO) and the nation's steel companies today remained odds over the granting of a union shop contract to 53,000 miner ran ployed In captive mines In West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Alabama and Illinois. Chairman William H. Da via, of the Defense Mediation Board, announced following fourv hours Of hearings with the disputants yes-terday with the "basic positions pf both sides are unchanged," Nego tiations were resumed at 10 sw nv with Lewis continuing his- testl- -mony on the controversial ff- Before Lewis testified yesterday at the meeting of full board which will formulate its recommendations, -it was disclosed that Eugene president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, had urged the continuation of the present open shop agreement "daring the) vntert gency." 1 Harry M. Moses, head of V. 8.

Steel's soft coal said to have told the board that thsjj e. WEEKLY ESTABLISHED 1800 DA I LI EST. BY THEO. HART. 1882 Washington, Nov.

4. The Navy Department announced today that hope of finding the 95 missing members of the Reuben James crew has been abandoned. The navy announcement said that it is possible that the missing men perished in an explosion caused when the torpedo touched off the destroyer's powder magazine. The announcement said that apparently all those who survived the explosion were rescued. Bv RICHARD C.

HOTTELKT, (United Press Staff Correspondent.) Washington, Nov. 4. The Navy admitted todav that the probable death toll of the sunken destroyer Reuben James was 97. Two men are known to be dead, and "little hope" is held for 95 others seven officers and 88 men still missing. There are 45 survivors.

If the death toll Is 97. it will be the greatest single American naval vessel disaster since the U. S. S. Maine blew up the harbor at Havana, Cuba, with a loss of 260 men and precipitated the Spanish-American War.

Announcement that the navy holds "little hope" for the rescue of the 95 missing men from the Reuben James was not a surprise, but publication of the actual figures and the list of survivors jolted this Capital and country. Virtually all hope had been abandoned for their safety as the days passed without word of them since their vessel was sent to the bottom of the North Atlantic, near Iceland, last Thursday night by a German torpedo. The list of missing men includes all of the ship's officers, Including the skipper, Lt. Conimdr. Heywood L.

Edwards. The grim post-midnight announcement had been preceded by another less than three hours, earlier revealing that 12 men had died in a navy patrol bomber crash in the "Atlantic ocean area." It was not revealed immediately whether the plane was brought down In action with a submarine or raider, or whether it was caused by motor trouble or some other defect. It may have been on patrol duty. If all the missing men of the Reuben James perished, the toll of American lives at sea will be 127, all but one having died in the battle of the Atlantic. A recapitulation showed that in addition to the probable toll of 97 on the Heuben James: Seven men perished on American-owned merchant ships that have been sunk during this war.

Eleven men were killed when a torpedo crashed through the side of the U. S. Destroyer Kearny on Oct. 17. Eleven naval officers and men, and an army officer a passenger were killed in the bomber crash Sunday.

The Navy Department kept officials of its press section and reporters at the Navy Building here until after midnight awaiting the news that It had virtually abandoned hope of rescuing the 95 missing members of the Reuben James. When the announcement was released shortly after midnight. It revealed that 45 members of the Reuben. James crew are safe eight of them Injured and the others unhurt. It was the first disclosure that 142 officers and men were aboard the ship.

Originally it was Indicated that she carried only 121 officers and men. The navy published the names of the known dead W. H. Merrell, of Ardmore, fireman 1st class, whose body was recovered from the ocean, and D. R.

Olmstead, of Olean, N. fireman 2nd class, who was rescued, but. died Sunday of injuries. It also released the names of the 45 survivors. It withheld the names of the 95 missing -except the list of officers which was published Friday until it can be absolutely certain of its accuracy.

They will not- be considered dead until their bodies are found or the passing of time makes their rescue beyond doubt. (Continued On page Three.) Battle In Congress On Prices By CARL PETERSEN, (United Press Staff Correspondent.) Washington, Nov. 4. Price Con Irol legislation, already confronted by a long and turbulent trip through congress, faced a new ob stacle today when Secretary of Agriculture Claude A. Wickard placed the administration on record as opposed to provisions that would raise the ceiling of farm prices to as high as 130 per cent of parity.

Wickard voiced his opposition in a broadcast last night a few hours after President Roosevet announced he would return to Washington from Hyde Park tomorrow to try to ex pedite price control legisaltion designed to curb an inflationary trend stemming from the defense boom. Mr. Roosevelt did not express an opinion on the bill approved Saturday by the House Banking Com mittee which had considered the legislation for months. But Wick-a'rd's statement was presumed to reflect the administration view at least insofar as the measure affects farm prices. Wickard said he favored a ceiling on farm prices at about pres ent levels and said "most farmers are in favor of some sort of a ceil ing on prices." He warned that those who "try to gouge the pub lic now" will pay dearly for It later, "Farm prices are close to parity now," he told his radio audience.

"and I haven't heard many complaints lately, about prices, from farmers." Daylight Attacks On France Folkestone, Nov. 4. Staging one of its biggest daylight attacks on northern France in some time, the Royal Air Force sent strong formations of fighters roaring across the English Channel in the direction of Dieppe today. Before the British planes attacked in mass. Spitfire and Hurricane fighters in twos and threes had flown across the channel in the direction of Calais and Bologne.

The larger formations returned 30 to 40 minutes after they crossed tbls area on the way to attack. London, Nov. 4. Bomber command planes last night attacked an enemy convoy off the Frisian islands, despite bad weather, and scored hits on a large supply ship, the air ministry said today, "Other planes attacked harbors in occupied France," the communique said. At dusk yesterday the coastal command was reported to have bombed and set fire to a fish oil factory at Bergso on the Norwegian coast.

The coastal command also attacked docks at St. Nazaire, France. All British planes returned. British Ships Intercepted French Convoy London, Nov. 4.

British ships off South Africa recently Intercepted a French convoy attempting to run contraband for the Germans, the admiralty said today. The crews of the French vessels attempted to scuttle them, it said. "The Vichy government recently has been attempting to run contraband for the Germans from the East to France in escorted convoys," the admiralty said. It added that the convoy recently Intercepted had been escorted by a French sloop. Twenty Killed In Railroad Disaster Paris (Via Berlin), Nov.

4. Police and railway officials were Investigating cause of the derailment of a train as It was pulling into 'the Austerlltz station in Paris, killing 20 persons and seriously Injuring 48. terms or tne Appaiaonian agreement covering commercial soft eoal mines and providing (or the Onion shop, would be aoeeptable to TJ. S. Steel if the union shop clause were eliminated.

Other companies expressed similar views. Lewis, on the other hand, was said to have shouted an attack on the "opulent" corporation which still refuses to accede to the Appalachian agreement covering more than 300,000 miners In the eommer-cial mines. Davis asked both Lewis and the steel representatives to return today with a condensed' version of their "basic positions" as stated yesterday. -1 Two Men Killed ai mm it British War On Finland Now Certain London, Nov. British declaration of war against Finland now considered virtually certain may presage use of British forces, particularly forces, to blast open a new northern supply route to Russia, it was said today, i British naval and possibly air forces, British quarters said, may be employed to push back Geiman-Kinnish lines In the -Murmansk region sufficiently to enable the use of this all weather port for entry of Anglo-American supplies to Russia.

There was no official confirmation of this prospect and none was expected in advance of a formal British declaration against Finland. That declaration, responsible quarters said, has become a virtual certainty. Declarations of war against Rumania and Hungary are expected simultaneously. Whether this will result In immediate Royal Air Force attacks against the Rumanian oil fields was not indicated. Heavy Toil Of German Sub Boats London, Nov.

4. A heavy toll of German submarines by the Royal Navy and the coastal command of the Royal Air Force has resulted in capture of a large number of prisoners, the admiralty said today. The communique said that 1,276 officers and men, including 467 Italians, have been captured from sunken submarines. (Complements of German submarines range from 23 to 60 officers and men.) The Admiralty denied German claims that last week U-boats sank 14 ships totaling 47,000 tons from a convoy en route to england from Gibraltar. "In fact, four ships totaling tons were sunk," the Admiralty said.

"This was achieved by the enemy only at cost to himself. "Recently one of the largest convoys ever to cross the Atlantic arrived safely without loss." Dale M'Master, College Head, Killed Himself Slippery Rock, Nov. 4 Coroner J. Charles Denger announced that Dale McMaster, 55-year-old president of Slippery Rock State Teachers' College, apparently shot and killed himself in the study of his home here today. Coroner Denger, after an investigation In conjunction with State Motor Police, pronounced the death "probable suicide," but was unable to determine any reason for the educator's act.

He reportedly was in good health. McMaster's body was discovered at 9:30 a. but the cause of his death was withheld several hours pending Coroner Denger's report. Former superintendent of Johnstown (Pa.) schools, McMaster was selected president of Slippery Rock College more than a year ago from a field of 27 candidates. He replaced Dr.

Charles S. Miller, who resigned in February, 1940. after being twice convicted on charges of misfeasance and in of fice in connection with disposition of college funds and property. By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor. Adolf Hitler's armed forces were reported aiming a great new offensive toward the Caucasus route for American supplies to Russia today and in the Far East there were mounting signs of an early Japanese thrust against the Burma Road supply line to China.

The Germans claimed a sweep by panzer and dive-bomber forces over the Crimea peninsula with the capture of Feodosiya, an advance to within perhaps 25 miles of the bomb-battered naval base of Sevastopol and within 60 miles of the Kerchenski straits on a short cut to the Caucasus oil fields. Russian sources estimated the Axis suffered 90,000 casualties rn the Crimea fighting. But at the same time, reports via both Berlin and London said that a new Axis advance was getting underway in the Ukraine In an apparent attempt to close a pincers on Rostov, seize the oil pipe line essential to Russian mechanized forces and cut the main communications routes to Iran. Reports of the Ukraine fighting, relayed by Berlin and by London and Moscow broadcasts. were meager but Indicated that the Germans were putting Increasing pressure on the new Red army defense line along the Donets and Don rivers in an effort to awees past Rostov.

Ivan Maisky, Soviet ambassador in London, was quoted as saying that "there are trying days ahead but now more than ever we are certain of ultimate victory." The Russians apparently still were on the offensive on the Leningrad front and reported that they had defeated a two-day attack on the Tula sector of the Moscow front after receiving an estimated 200,000 reinforcements from the east, but at sea the Germans claimed to have sunk or damaged a total of 50 British and Russian vessels in Atlantic and Black Sea battles. The Nazis said that their planes were continually hammering Soviet forces attempting to escape a "new Black Sea Dunkirk" in the Crimea. The Japanese were believed in London and Singapore to be preparing for an early effort to cut Burma Road supply line for American and British goods to the Chungking government of China a thrust which might easily bring them into conflict with the British in Burma. The Japanese, with some 80,000 troops massed in Indo-China for a pqsslble drive on Thailand or the Burma Road, insisted that the cabinet of Premier Gen. Hidekl Tojo would pursue "independent action" in regard to the Axis.

But there was increasing pressure from Tokyo newspapers for a final decision on whether Japan would resort to force in an attempt to break out of the American-British economic enciiclement designed to frustrate any future military expansion by the Japanese. Still another field of battle appeared likely in Finnish waters as a result of Helsinki's apparent refusal to negotiate on a Russian peace offer, despite urging by the United States. The American request that Finland negotiate or risk losing the friendship of Washington was met by silence in Helsinki, but a Nazi spokesman in Berlin characteriz'ed it as "an arrogant demand by the Washington ghetto gangsters." The spokesman said that Europe's answer would be a refusal to per-(Contlnued On Page Three.) THE WAR (By United Press) Berlin Germans report Axis troops capture Feodosiya on Crimea Peninsula and push eastward to within 60 miles of Kerchenski Straits, leading toward the Caucasus. Official sources claim sinking or damaging of 16 enemy ships, including two destroyers, in battle of Atlantic; three off Scotland, one off Dunkirk and 30 In two days of fighting in the Black Sea. London Red army, with estimated' reinforcements from This Ad.

Sponsored by Johti Halifax Target For Eggs Detroit, Nov. 4. Lord Halifax, British ambassador to the United Btates, was the target of eggs and tomatoes hurled by women pickets today as he entered the Chancery Building to meet the Most Rev. Edward J. Mooney, archbishop of Detroit's Roman Catholic Diocese.

Police said that Halifax was not struck but that Detective Inspector Charles E. Searle, assigned to the ambassador's party, was struck by one egg. Police questioned leaders of an organization known as American Mothers, a group which picketed Halifax's hotel yesterday with placards reading "To Halifax with Halifax," "Down with England," and "Halifax is a War Monger." Upon information from leaders of the American Mothers group police started a search for two women, Rose Saber and Mary Decker, whom they described as of another organization known as S. Mothers. Halifax proceeded with his meeting with the Catholic archbishop and then kept an appointment for treatment pf an eye injury, suffered several days ago, at Henry Ford Hospital.

The appointment had been made previously and was not connected with the assault in front of the Chancery. Halifax's only comment upon entering the vestibule of the building was: "Well, I came in this way and Intend to go out this way Later in the day Halifax was to have a private meeting with Henry Ford at Dearborn, Mich. Former Boxer Slain In Feud With Ex-Convict Atlantic City, N. Nov. 4.

Mickey Blair, S3, former lightweight boxer, was shot and killed today In what authorities described as a feud with a former convict. Blair, also known as Michael Tenerelli, was shot six times as he was about to enter an automobile near his home. He died a short time later in Atlantic City hospital. Mayor Thomas D. Taggart, who personally investigated the slaying, said the shooting resulted from a feud between Blair and Eamued Hoffman, a former convict.

Hoffman1 was taken into custody immediately after the shooting and charged with murder. Today's Election In Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Nov. 4. Today's election in a nutshell: Polls open 7 a. close at 8 p.

m. Voting precincts in the 67 counties, 8,139. Registered voters, approximately Republicans with a 500,000 lead. Anticipated vote state-wide, 2,500,000. Offices voted on state-wide, one Supreme Court justice and one Superior Court judge.

A congressman elected in special balloting in 15th Sunday movie referenda in 17 communities. County and city balloting will elect 66 county judges, 22 mayors and scores of other local officers. Hundreds Of Czechs Executed New York, Nov. 4. The Columbia Broadcasting system today heard the British radio report that 200 hostages have been shot for the murder of one German soldier in Zagreb.

Croatia. Nov. 4. A Czech government spokesman claimed today that the Germans have executed 335 Czech leaders' in the five weeks since Gestapo Leader Reinhard Heydrich undertook a campaign of reprisals to halt Czech passive resistance to cooperation with Germany. The spokesman claimed that persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the special German courts set up to consider the cases of Czechs.

"The number of those executed," the spokesman said, "is undoubtedly much higher, but we definitely have confirmed that S35 have been executed for alleged political and military crimes." Those executed, he said, Include Czech generals and other high officers, political figures, doctors, professors and students. He claimed that thousands of Czechs have been killed since Germany, took over the country, but said that it was possible to confirm deaths only in the cases of prominent individuals. Since November, 1939, said the Czech spokesman, some 529 Czech leaders have been executed, including 124 In one day In Prague. This mass execution, he said, was carried out during the first month of the German Invasion. Mayor LaGuardia Is Favored To Win Third Term New York, Nov.

4. More than 2,200,000 voters decided today whether to re-elect Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia for a'third term or supplant him with William O'Dwfer, the "Murder, prosecutor, in an "emotional" election which had burst party barriers here as never before. La Guardia was generally favored. William H.

Chadibourne, his campaign manager, said he would win by a plurality of 400,009 votes. Charles E. Murphy, O'Dwyer's campaign manager, predicted O'Dwyer would poll a plurality of 257,000 votes. President Roosevelt, the highest Democrat, and Wendell L. Willkie, nominal head of the Republican party, endorsed La Guardia, who is running on the Republican ticket, and also is candidate of the American Labor, City Fuslan and Unit ed City Parties.

JUDGE IS AGAINST MOVIES ON SUNDAY Mfontrose, Nov. Edward Little of Susquehanna county joined with seven ministers today In an appeal to the people to defeat the Sunday movie referendum. IN BRIEF Siberia, fights off strong German attacks on Tula sector of Moscow front. Helsinki Finland likely to reject British-American pressure for peace with Russia as result of German denunciation of Washington as "arrogant ghetto gangsters." Tokyo Japanese, with 80,000 troops massed in Indo-China, urged by Tokyo press to speed up final decision on whether to attempt to break through "encirclement" by Britain and America. Langan, Taxpayer, City.

Washington, Nov. 4. The navy announced today that the naval tanker Salinas was torpedoed off Iceland the night of October 29-30, but managed to reach port safely. There was no loss of life or serious injury among personnel. The Salinas was an oil tanker of 16,800 tons and carried a complement of 107 men.

The navy said that the torpedo attack came without warning, a day before the attack on the destroyer Keuben James, wnlch was sunk. No details of the damage will be released, as it "will be of no value except to the Nazis," the navy said. The Salinas, which was in a convoy, was able to reach port despite serious damage, the navy said. The commanding officer is Commander Harley F. Cope.

He assumed command "of the tanker on June 20, this year. His home in is New Orleans, La. The Salinas is 463 feet long and has a beam of 60 feet. She carries a battery of anti-aircraft guns and two 6-inch guns. The Salinas was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.

for the U. S. Shipping Board in 1920, the announcement said. The vessel was transferred to the U. S.

Navy and commissioned Dec. 16, 1921. The ship is of 16,800 tons displacement and carries a complement of 107 men. The. ship is armed with two 6-Inch gun" and a battery of anti-aircraft guns.

The Salinas had a fuel carrying capacity of 11,145 tons of oil. Her speed was listed at 10'i knots. The navy did not reveal where the convoy of which the Salinas was part, 'was heading. Presumably she was taking fuel to the U. S.

forces in Iceland. At least there never has been any indication that U. S. naval vessels were carrying supplies on eastward to Britain. Hunter Killed As Gun In Son's Hands Explodes Bloonvsburg, Nov.

4. Victor Shultz, 54-year-old farmer of Ben ton township, died in Bloomsburg hospital today, the second hunting season victim in this area. Shultz was fatally injured Sat urday at his home, when a 10-year- old son, Carl, picked up a shotgun and It discharged accidentally. The man had just returned from a day in the fields. The shot also struck a daughter, Jean, 17, in both thighs, but her condition was not serious.

The first hunting fatality occur red Saturday when Anthony Ziel- inski, 20, Nescopeck, was accidentally shot in the chest by a brother, John. Two Truckmen Burned To Death Paulsboro, N. Nov. 4. Two Kingsport, men were burned to death today when their truck and trailer unit caught Are following a collision with two other trucks.

The dead were George Mullins, 33, the truck driver, and his helper, Larry Broyles, 24. Dallls Lee Hughes, 26, also of Kingsport, and Walter Waldon, 21, of Wallington, N. J. were injured. State police said the Tennessee men were enroute to New York in bwo trucks owned by the Mason-Dixon Line, of Kingsport, when they were sideswtped by the truck driven by Waldon.

The gasoline tank on the truck driven by Mullins exploded and the men were fatally burned before they could be extricated. Gobel's Blue Ridge Mountaineers Square and Modern Polka Dances Every Tuesday Night SINCLAIR HOUSE 85 N. Main Pittston. PARTY wvnen biaie i-eii In Soft Coal Mine A Pittsburgh, Nov. 4.

Two men lost their lives and two others caped when slate crashed 'down "in; a new entry of the Newfield mine of the Union Collieries Co. at North Bessemer today. Frank Brunner, 27, of North Bessemer an assistant foreman, and Frank Peternel, 52, of Center, were fatally trapped by the crash- t-Ing rock. Two companions, Vincent Has- son and Alex Kagges, managed escape. WORK SCHEDULE OF COLLIERIES PENNSYLVANIA COAL CO.

Working Wednesday, PAYNE COAL CO, Working Wedneeday. KEHOE-BERGE COAL CO. Working Wednesday. JERMYN GREEN COAL CO. Working Wednesday.

VOLPE COAL CO. Working Wednesday. HEIDELBERG COAL CO. Working Wedneeday. SULLIVAN TRAIL COAL CO.

Working Wednesday. MINERAL SPRINGS COAL CO. Working Wedneeday. NO. 9 COAL COMPANY Working Wednesday.

HARRY COAL CO.V Working LEVER VOTE STRAIGHT DEMOCRAT PULL TOP.