29 Dec 1939
Page 1
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Newspaper
Charleston Gazette
Location
Charleston, West Virginia, United States of America
Date
Dec 29, 1939
Page
1
Helsinki reports a hand to hand ice battle on Lake Suvanto ending in a Russian defeat with hundreds of Soviet deaths. Finnish communique says three columns advance toward the Murmansk railway, two inside Soviet territory, amid bombings. Rumors say ski patrols raided the Arctic supply route. fuel and food shortages follow.
Pope Pius XII rode through rain to the Quirinal Palace to thank King Victor Emmanuel and Queen Elena for an unprecedented visit and to urge peaceful understanding among nations. The event, marking renewed church state accord, drew thousands as Mussolini rumors swirled about a January pope visit.
Danish dispatches from Copenhagen describe a widespread revolt of Soviet troops in northern Finland. Russian warplanes allegedly strafed mutinous Red soldiers as a Danish correspondent on the Salla front saw Soviet planes dive and fire on Russian troops.
Finnish communique reports two Finnish columns penetrating east of Lieksa and in the Kivivaara sector into Russia while a northern Salla column pressures retreating Reds toward the Murmansk rail line. A lake battle near Suvanto destroys about 800 Soviet infantry, with more tank supported attacks defeated. Civilians reportedly machine gunned during air raids. nine Soviet planes shot down as Finnish air force skims the frontier.
Willie Willis recalls a past summer storm that interrupted him mid sentence and notes the thunder drowned out his words making him miss saying his rs. He reflects on the timing being wrong as he speaks about how noise can erase speech moments.
Kanawha county in West Virginia posted a 1937 manufacturing payroll of 14,909,255 dollars, the only WV county among 153 stateside counties accounting for 75 percent of all wages in manufacturing establishments. The payroll rose from 6,351,508 in 1933 after a 1929 peak of 10,543,039, marking a 134.7 percent gain from 1933 and 41.4 percent from 1929. Data from the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce covers the 1939 calendar year census, with collection to begin January 2, 1940.
Moscow dispatch reports Gen G M Stern, a noted military hero, appointed chief of the Leningrad military district to lead reinforced Red Army forces in the Finnish invasion. Gen K A Meretskoff is said to have been dismissed after insufficient campaign progress. Censorship of outgoing news is restored amid Soviet dissatisfaction with foreign reports.
West Virginia roads were mostly clear last night with the road commission urging caution due to lingering ice. Icy stretches lingered in the northern panhandle while other areas dried, though rain in Clarksburg risked refreezing as temperatures fell below freezing.
The conversion of coal into liquid fuel could double coal output in the near term, as dwindling petroleum supplies and successful coal hydrogenation experiments prompt forecasts. Officials note oil reserves last year at 15,507 million barrels, enough for about a decade, while coal reserves could sustain demand for thousands of years if new fields aren’t found. Secretary Ickes highlights tests on low rank western coals showing future potential, though current Western coal markets remain unprofitable.
The Dies committee released a confidential California Communist party report claiming a $25,000 campaign fund and mass industry organizing aimed at defeating the Republican administration. The May 1938 California convention minutes, seized from secret headquarters by investigators, cited about 6,000 members with a goal to grow to 10,000 by year start, naming leaders including Comrade Germanie and Comrade Don and criticizing Gov. Merriam as the economic royalists’ ally.
New Year weekend drivers face a verdict on 1939 safety efforts as the National Safety Council projects December deaths may tip the year to a higher toll than 1938’s 32,400. Through November 1939 about 28,690 killed, with December showing an uptick and urged caution for pedestrians and motorists.
Anatolia earthquake toll rises as sub zero temperatures and blizzard winds fan fires and panic. Officials put preliminary casualties at about 60 000 with around 20 000 dead. Erzincan region reports widespread ruin, frozen water supply hampering firefighting. Villages buried along the Janik mountains amid chaos in communication lines.
Paris dispatch reports fierce hand grenade exchanges and close combat along the French front. German raiding squads attacked in the Saar and Vosges, artillery barrages preceded assaults, and a brief heavy clash left several dead and wounded on both sides. One German prisoner was taken before the invaders retreated. Heavy snow later curbed activity.
Archaeologists grading the River Tiber banks uncover frescoes mosaics and temple foundations suggesting the area were Caesar s gardens for Cleopatra and a grand residence outside ancient Rome as researchers piece together the story of the 2 000 year old site. Separately a powerful earthquake in Anatolia devastates Erzincan and surrounding towns causing thousands of deaths and widespread looting amid relief efforts and martial law.
State Administrator Glenn 5S. Callaghan of the National Youth Administration urged NYA supervisors to avoid any political or religious bias in youth certification. Speaking to a state wide district and county meeting, he emphasized that discrimination for political beliefs race or pressure must not occur as NYA takes responsibility for certifying youths for employment.
The Gazette notes war reporting is censored and urges readers to separate facts from rumor. It suggests that absence of fighting front news is sometimes good news and favors avoiding indecisive attacks that could lead to massive slaughter.
A winter storm pushing east from the Rocky Mountains blanket ed the region with snow and ice and drifted toward the Texas panhandle and gulf coast. Livestock owners fear for cattle as a 20 mile northwest wind rattles ranches. Amarillo logged 14 degrees with sub zero in western Kansas and snow began in Kansas City while Dallas Fort Worth awaited more snow and sleet. Forecasts say the cold front will move east into the plains as Rocky Mountain temperatures rise.
London reports new wartime limits reflect money and shipping shortages. Beginning January 8 sugar drops to 12 ounces per week per person, butter to 4 ounces, and bacon and ham to 4 ounces. Britain imposes government monopoly on imported meat and livestock and controls meat distribution nationwide. Germans receive 8.34? sugar per week and 2.27 ounces bacon, highlighting ration disparities.
Democratic leaders plan concrete suggestions to amend the Wagner Act in hopes of avoiding a bitter 1940 campaign fight. Advocates of revision work with party leadership to prevent a fight that could flare at the summer convention. A major conference on the new session starts January 3 as Speaker Bankhead lunches with President Roosevelt to survey the legislative program.
Secretary Wallace urged investment in Canada and Latin America as a modern frontier for U S capital at a joint session. He linked postwar policies to global ills, arguing tariffs of the 1920s caused debt defaults and emphasized lowering tariffs to stabilize economies through goods and exchanges.
Reports of three more highway deaths were added to the December tally at state police headquarters. The month reached 46 deaths, making December 1939 the deadliest month to date, with James Earl Windon, Webb Bowers, and Steve Sipos among the latest victims. The yearly total stood at 360, compared with 381 in 1938.
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