Roosevelt Urges Faith in God's Care Amid War
President Roosevelt delivers a Christmas message from the White House describing the nation’s war as a grave crisis and urging Americans to forget war for the moment, light trees, and keep faith in human brotherhood. Churchill attends, praising courage and sacrifice as radios broadcast the remarks worldwide.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Elt
Axnees Batten Lightin
Prime Churchill
Great Brita
Roosevelt
White House
America
Eace
Churchill
Fsbor
Anwer
Soviet Horde Thunders On With Wedge
Soviet forces push westward in a widening offensive, forging a wedge between German lines near Moscow and Donets fronts. The Red Army reports gains around Kalinin Tula and Orel as Second Tank Army collapses under relentless assaults.
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Moscow
Red Army
Donets
Orel
Midway
Kharkov
Heinz Guderian
Second
Ore
Odyoev
Letuyat
Russia
Kalinin
Tula
Adolf Hitler
Plesse
Absaroka Torpedoed Off California Coast
The 5698 ton freighter Absaroka was torpedoed off the California coast. An SOS was sent and the crew of 35 men and officers began abandoning ship. The Absaroka, owned by McCormick lines, was described as possibly sinking, with reports of a crippled submarine observed.
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Los Angeles
INS
California
McCormick Lines
Record Yuletide amid wartime West Virginia Christmas
West Virginia end of year shopping boomed with 11 to 20 percent growth over last year as travel surged and defense industries kept some operations open. Gov Neely urged steadfast Christmas faith despite global greed and war while coal mines halted and major plants faced holiday skeleton staffing. Bethlehem mass and diplomatic guests marked Christmas as German artillery disturbed Kent yet Christmas spirit endured.
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Neely
Ture
Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation
South Charleston
duPont
Belle
Morgantown
British Seize Axis Airports and Paroles for Heroic Act
British forces capture the Axis airfields at Benina and Barce near Bengasi as Rommel's panzers face rough retreat toward Tripoli. RAF attacks hit escaping columns into Tripolitania, with a coastal road patrol and talk of a swift desert drive to Tripoli. In West Virginia, three prisoners who overpowered a slayer and helped stop an escape are paroled by Gov. Neely for rare service.
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Cairo
Egypt
Bengasi
Benina
Barce
Erwin Rommel
Tripoli
Cirenaica
Tripolitania
Libya
London
M. E. Ketchum
Brown Gibson
Philip Ketchum
Orville Metz
Charles Fowler
Howard Williams
Kanawha County
Claude Inge
Raleigh
Gov. Neely
Inger
Fowler
Williams
Defense stamps converted to pay federal income tax
The treasury announced that starting January 1 defense savings stamps may be turned in to pay federal income taxes. The move allows stamp conversion as part of wartime finance.
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Washington
Defense Savings
The
Treasury
Hope Love Joy of Yuletide Will Live On Says Rector
Rev. Harry Longley of St. John's Episcopal delivers a Christmas sermon urging resilience in hard times. He contrasts with Caesar Augustus and 1609 Europe, saying the Christ comes in trials and recounts biblical exile and Jeremiah’s leadership.
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Yuletide
Harry 8
Longley
St. John's Episcopal Church
Caesar Augustus
Europe
Israel
Seanacharib
Babylon
Jeremiah
God
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Oil Men Dismiss New Quotas As Impossible In WV
Major West Virginia oil producers reject a 10 percent January production rise ordered by Petroleum Coordinator Ickes. George Schroeder argues pennsylvania crude price ceiling and high costs remove incentive to boost output. Max Bern cites need for new wells or reworking old stripper wells to meet targets.
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Parkersburg
Der
West Virginia
Ickes
George Schroeder
Schroeder
Pennsylvania
Ickes’ Office
Max Bern
Christmas 1941 Poem by Alfred Noyes Dedicated to America
Alfred Noyes writes a Christmas 1941 poem dedicated to America and the allied powers. The verse imagines Herod’s fear, asks for unity among diverse nations, and prays for freedom, peace, and the guiding light of Christmas day. The piece was commissioned for IMS Yuletide and copyrighted 1941.
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Alfred ‘Noyes
America
IMS
Yuletide
Alfred Noyes
International News Service
Earth
Herod
Wake Island Heroes Resist Desperate Japanese Assault
Navy admits probable loss of Wake Island after four day defense by 378 Marines. Tokyo forces shell Palmyra and Johnston Islands as 100 transports with Japanese troops surround Luzon with strong naval and air support.
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Washington
INS
Wer Department
Philippine
Luzon
Wake Island
Army
U. S
Philippines
Far Pacific
Island Lass
Navy Department
Wake
U. S. mid-Pacific
Palmyra
Johnston Islands
Navy
Unknown Mother Radio Message From Boston
An unknown mother delivered a Christmas message to U S armed forces service members abroad. She spoke from a fireplace in Boston, asking to symbolize all American mothers and used arrangements with radio stations to broadcast the message.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston
U. S
Way to Victory Long Going Hard U S Told
Admiral Ernest J. King, newly named commander in chief of the U S fleet, warned that victory would be long and hard. He urged immediate production of more planes and ships and said the United States will strike and win through in time.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Ernest J. King
U. S
King
Jap Malaya Drive Halted by Allied Air Power
In Malaya north of Singapore Allied air forces push back Japanese advances. RAF raids Sungei Patani and Rangoon air battles destroy or damage multiple Japanese aircraft. U S fighters engage 50 to 60 bombers near Rangoon while Flying Dutchmen claim strikes off Sarawak.
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Singapore
Malaya
RAF
Sungei Patani
Penang Island
U. S
Rangoon
Burma
International Air Force
China
Netherlands East Indies
Sarawak
German manufacturers ordered to aid Russian front
London dispatch reports a German radio order directing tailors dressmakers furriers hatters glovemakers and underwear makers to convert all production to military supplies for the Russian front.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Navy Hunts Hideouts Of Jap and German U-Boats
Rear Admiral Woodward reports continued Allied countermeasures against Japanese and German submarines active along west coast lanes. Attacks on American merchant ships have occurred since last Friday, with torpedoes and guns. Some life boats were fired upon after abandonment, causing loss of life. Navy says air, surface, and sub-surface forces are engaged in an intensified hunt, while bases and operations remain undisclosed for military reasons.
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Washington
INS
Pacific
Japan
California
Genenate Net
Navy Department
Amercan
Manila Pincer Drive Nearing Decisive Point
American and Filipino troops under Gen. Douglas MacArthur fought to halt a numerically superior Japanese force driving from north and south toward Manila. Japanese landings increased as invasion ships were sighted off Batangas, and forward HQ units moved into the field to direct the defense.
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Manila
INS
The
Philippines
Douglas MacArthur
Pacific
MacArthur
U. S
Far East
Army
Luzon Island
Philippine
Luzon
Lingayen Gulf
Atimanan
War Department
Washington
Batangas
Atimonan
Stay at Posts Nazi Fifth Column Told Stay at Posts
In Bern on December 14 Goebbels appealed to Germans abroad to remain at their posts and serve the fatherland. He warned the invisible column that ties will not witness a 1918 breakdown, while noting hardships from air raids at home.
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Bern
Switzerland
Pask Joseph Goebbels
Germany
Merct
Listensra
Also Mentioned on This Page
Fdr
U.S
Tois
Capital
Guderian
Willie Willis
Mexenge
State
Bullitt
Bethlehem
St. Catherine's
William C. Bullitt
Middle East
England
Kentish
Strait of Dover
Kent
Axis
Rommel
Panzers
West Va
Bengain
Gibson
Moundsville Penitentiary
Proctor
Wetzel-Marshall
Christ
Rev
Ben H
Longley, Jn
Rachel
Sagal
Tella
Jap Malaya
U. S. Navy
Greenland
Mill Island
Admiral. Woodward
Clark H. Woodward
USN
Lingayen
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