This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 23 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1941
Page
1
Fair and colder with frost in the southwest. Tennessee River rose to 17.54 feet as cotton prices posted 17.60 strict 17.35 middling 16.60 low 15.85. Local social items include visitors from Dallas Louisville and Memphis and a Riverside reunion planned at the high school tonight. Community sermon and church talks are noted with local ministers.
Senator George says the United States cannot rely on current revenues to cover more than one third of war costs. He estimates current tax increases would raise about 17 billion dollars next year, with extra treasury borrowing possible to balance the budget. He notes defense cuts and non defense savings target at least 1.5 million dollars annually.
Washington reports Prime Minister Winston Churchill telling Congress that Britain and the United States will be ready to strike on a large scale by 1943. He argued Axis aggression must be taught a lasting lesson and praised Allied production gains and Russian victories as fuel for renewed efforts. He warned of dangers if Germany invaded Britain in 1940 and stressed faith and endurance to win a long war.
Southeast of Manila heavy tank battles rage as Japanese forces press toward American and Filipino defenses. Manila is open and undefended while Lingayen gulf line holds against repeated assaults. Curtin hints Allied countermeasures as Dutch planes sink two transports and a destroyer.
The Navy reported the Asiatic fleet sank one enemy transport and a mine sweeper, with likely additional losses of a transport and seaplane tender. Manila declared an open city. Wake Island garrison strength corrected. no other area updates. Press reports of U S submarine activity on Christmas day are confirmed.
Funeral services for John W Jones 49 a Decatur business man were held at his home on Ferry Street with Rev. Edward V Ramage and Rev W B Waterhouse officiating. Interment followed at the city cemetery. Jones survived by a widow two daughters two grandchildren and several relatives. He was a VMI electrical engineer 1911 graduate and active in Cotton companies Morgan county revenue tax boards and Knights Templar Masonic circles.
Christmas services were held at the Decatur Armory for duty soldiers under the Ministerial Alliance. A tree and gift boxes were shared, with carol singing, prayer, and the Christmas story. Dr. Lambuth Archibald directed the afternoon service and Rev. W. E. Waterhouse led the evening gathering.
The Army plans to give up control of the Air Associates plant in Bendix New Jersey as a CIO UAW contract vote proceeds. The proposed agreement includes a 10 cent per hour wage increase across the board reclassification of 569 workers overtime pay seniority and grievance procedures and a maintenance of membership union shop. Minimum wage scales rise from 40 cents to 65 cents for women and 75 cents for men. The plant was seized with 5 million dollars in defense orders on October 30 amid a strikeิ
Mrs. D. C. Sivley and her daughter Elsie May of Ensley were injured when their 1989 Dodge overturned after swerving to avoid an oncoming car two and a half miles north of Falkville. Mrs. Sivley broke a leg and Elsie May sustained internal injuries. Mr. Sivley was uninjured.
In Washington on December 26, officials said President Roosevelt, engaged in urgent war conferences, did not have time to open any Christmas presents yesterday.
World War II dispatches report 20,000 German and 13,900 more killed across multiple fronts in a six day battle near Sevastopol and other engagements around Moscow Leningrad and Ukraine. Russians allegedly recaptured Kaluga and Oskone while German counter offensives press the Moscow front. British and Cairo reports note Italian Slovak praise and Rommel’s retreat near Bengasi with heavy Axis losses.
A watch night service will be held Wednesday evening at the First Baptist church beginning at 11 o clock. The public is invited to attend.
Bishop J L Decell of the Alabama Methodist conference called on ministers and members to assemble in churches and homes across the district on New Year’s Day to take part in the day of prayer proclaimed by President Roosevelt.
Dewitt Mackenzie notes the anti Axis side faces grim conditions as Japanese forces close on Singapore. Hongkong surrenders after a stout defense, giving Japan a key base to threaten Singapore and the Philippines. Kuching in Sarawak captured, narrowing Allied defense lines and endangering a vital escape route.
War briefing notes focus on Manila open city status signaling air control gaps while emphasizing resolve to fight to the last man. Reported enemy advances in Libya and Russian gains amid a reluctant but hopeful view of reinforcements and Christmas wartime burdens.
The piece reports that French officials welcomed the US condemnation of the DeGaullist occupation of St Pierre and Miquelon and warns Washington Ottawa cannot tolerate changes to the current situation. Submarine raids in the Pacific aim to divert U.S. fleet units for defense and disrupt shipping. An army communique notes heavy Japanese pressure on the Luzon front with high casualties in tank battles. The RAF reportedly refrained from bombing Germany on Christmas Eve and Day, with minimal coastal bombings in England mentioned.
A large force of British Empire airmen arrived at a British port to join British Canadian New Zealand and Australian squadrons in the European air war. Their convoy from a Canadian port was partly escorted by U S naval units and the crossing was uneventful.
L L Lively, general manager, announced the mill will resume on Monday morning after the Christmas holiday break. The Alabama Hosiery Mills had suspended work since Wednesday noon and will reopen at the usual hour with all employees expected to report.
Hayden Brooks announces a telegram from CAA administrator General Donold Connolly restricting civil aircraft flights at night. Only air carrier aircraft may operate after dark unless on an instrument flight plan approved by an air traffic control center.
The holiday season increased docket activity as 24 cases were tried this morning in City Court. Drunkenness led with 16 cases, plus five traffic violations, one assault and battery, one trespassing on private property, and another offense noted as pemees property.
A wartime Christmas toll shows 431 dead over two days across 40 states and DC. Traffic crashes accounted for 334 deaths, with 97 other fatalities from gunfire, lightning, planes and more, including a bus fire in St. Louis killing 10. States list traffic then other deaths, example Alabama five and zero, Florida six two, Georgia four zero, Tennessee seven two.
Birmingham reports five traffic deaths during the holiday period. Annie Ruth Morris of Wilsonville died after falling from a moving car near Warrior. William Morris, her husband, works in Childersburg. Sandy Harper of Ensley perished when his car fell from an overpass near Woodward to railroad tracks. Oscar 8 Jordan, 92, of Columbus Georgia, died in a crash near Phenix City. Marie Myers of Birmingham died after a pedestrian collision. An unidentified about 38 year old black man was struck by a streetcar.
The French National Committee asserts that St Pierre and Miquelon residents favor Free France and that the St Pierre radio aided the enemy. Admiral Sdouhbieter led a Free French landing on December 24 to take over the colony and organize a plebiscite showing 98 percent support for joining the Allies. The United States reportedly seeks to restore the islands' status with Saheb authorities to keep Western lands out of the war.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.