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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 23, 1941
Page
1
Weather forecast cloudiness and coolness with possible rain in the east tonight. River level reports and Cotton prices alongside holiday travel notes. Community telegrams from soldiers, local visits, Chamber events, and a long list of residents awaiting Christmas with relatives in nearby towns. Continued on page two.
Allied forces face intensifying Japanese reinforcements in Luzon as U S Marines battle near Manila 125 miles north while Wake Island sees a fresh landing. Roosevelt calls a wartime conference with Churchill as Filipino morale remains high and Hong Kong reports a stubborn garrison.
Three Japanese planes bombed a center for evacuees from Manila and nearby towns causing heavy casualties. Report says the planes targeted nearby gasoline stores of a private company. The attack marks the first strike on evacuation centers supervised by Red Cross amid crowded district evacuations.
U S and Philippine defense fighters halted a Japanese sea-borne push at Santo Tomas north of Manila while Hongkong defenders counter attacked to gain ground. Chinese forces closed to within 14 miles of the islands as Malaya sees no change though heavy damage to Japanese forces is reported. In London the Atlantic battle is described as going pretty well.
The Navy announced a Japanese force landed on Wake Island this morning. Marines and island laborers repelled the assault, with prior air attacks and several enemy planes shot down. Submarine attacks against U S merchant ships rose to six, while the only vessel seized was the liner President Harrison.
George Burke, 25, testified that his dog Pooch bites him after he drinks. When Burke bit the dog back and police were called, he was arrested for disorderly conduct but discharged after promising to reconcile with Pooch.
Fifty soldiers stationed in Decatur will share Christmas dinner at noon in fifty local homes and at six o clock in the evening for another group. The effort, launched by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, drew rapid national response with many offers to host. The Chamber quickly filled all slots as residents flocked to register, prompting calls to armory and officials’ homes.
Ottawa reports Brigadier J. K. Rawson commanding Canadian contingent in Hongkong defense has been killed and Canadian casualties are heavy. Col. P. Hennesy, from Lawson's staff, also died. Lawson led the Canadians into Oriental outpost in mid November for first combat in this war.
Dr Archibald announces a New Year Eve service at Central Methodist Church at 7 PM with Judge Seybourn of the Eighth District as principal speaker and Mrs Falla Bailey speaking on behalf of the women. The church will remain open on January first for public and group prayer for the nation.
Services for Christmas at St. Ann's Catholic Church begin with a 11 45 p m service as the choir presents Christmas hymns. Midnight mass follows with the Christ mas high mass at 12 o'clock. Miss Clovis Babler plays Eduardo Mayzo's Mass on the organ. Additional masses on Christmas Day start at 9 a m and 10 a m. The Christmas crib is on display in the vestibule for all to see.
A L Frank died at his Paducah Kentucky home on Saturday after two years of ill health following a car accident. He was brother of the late Sam Frank of Decatur and is survived by his widow a daughter Mrs Louis Binder of Clarksdale Mississippi and one grandson. He often visited the home of his niece Mrs C A Moore.
Atlanta dispatch notes 10,000,000 new winter uniform items issued to U S soldiers in Southern camps this year. Brig Gen James L Frink cites a $19 315 719 rise in heavy clothing expenditure since 1940 and highlights warmer field jackets rubbers horsehide gloves and improved leather boots and gloves. In 1941 fourth corps area quartermaster lists 430 892 wool caps 143 630 mackinaws 1 303 260 woolen drawers 287 260 overcoats 1 343 284 flannel shirts 1 339 432 wool trousers and 1 303 260 wool under shirts.
William G Cole 72 died this morning at 8 30 at the home of his son W G Cole Jr on Hartselle Route 2 after a long illness. Funeral at Powell's Chapel Wednesday at two with Rev J R Haven er officiating. Interment Powell's Cemetery Peck at Hartselle. Survivors include his widow four sons and a sister a brother and many nephews and nieces. Active pallbearers will be his four sons Aaron Speakman and Hover Johnson plus others.
Navy confirms an enemy ship fired on the American tanker Larry Doheny about six miles off Estero Bay. Communication remains broken with the vessel and no further details are available.
Sharp reverses jarred Adolf Hitler’s invasion armies on two fronts as Soviet and North African fronts see renewed fighting. Reports claim Bulgarian mobilization and German control of Varna and Constanta port areas. In Russia, 117,000 of 750,000 Moscow-bound troops killed in five weeks. Sevastopol siege intensifies as German forces push on the Crimean base.
Washington officials report that labor and management representatives agreed to forego strikes and lockouts for the war duration and to settle disputes peacefully. The conference included 26 industry labor and government members after four days of talks and urged Roosevelt to establish a labor board like the World War I version to handle disputes.
Front line dispatches say advancing Red armies reclaimed about 75 villages from retreating Germans now facing rearward fire from guerrilla bands. Allied bulletins note Japanese occupation of Davao Mindanao with 200 killed and 600 prisoners. British and Dutch air actions target Japanese ships in Davao harbor as U S forces fight inland. Hong Kong defenders gain slight ground amid ongoing Malayan fighting. Sirte gulf pressure increases as Libyan desert reinforcements tighten cordon around Bengazi.
The Decatur Ministerial Alliance sponsors two Christmas services and gift distribution for soldiers stationed in Decatur. Rev. Sturgis leads the 4 30 p m service and Rev. Waterhouse the 7 30 p m service with other pastors assisting. Each soldier will receive a Christmas box. gifts come from local churches and civic clubs. Attendance is limited to men.
Eighth grade pupils at Victor Lawson school ask the principal to let the next graduation class come down the aisle to the Conga instead of the traditional Aida march. They argue it would be more modern.
Dewitt Mackenzie notes Churchill's bold Atlantic crossing to bolster Allied resolve. The analysis stresses Churchill as a direct action leader whose wartime gesture aims to boost morale among Allied nations during a critical phase, signaling a strong Axis awareness of a pivotal Washington meeting.
The article stresses the need for allied coordination in resources and production as World War II widens. It notes the urgent Pacific theater battle and the disadvantage faced from Japanese strikes, with optimistic Far East news and evolving strategies for allied efforts.
In San Francisco on December 23 the Allied leaders began a wartime conference as President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill planned a war council. The group includes Marshall Stark Arnold Hopkins Beaverbrook Portal and Dill. Discussions focus on global strategy and Axis foe coordination.
Bobby McClanahan of Inglewood writes to Santa requesting a Christmas gift for his mother. He says he has not seen her for four years, has been ill, and asks Santa to bring his mother to him, naming Catherine as the mother’s likely name and describing his prayers and good deeds.
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