Weather notes and local notices from Decatur area
The report shows the Tennessee river at 18.70 feet with a town weather outlook of colder conditions in the west in late afternoon. Local items include movie showings at the Princess Roxy Capitol, personnel moves from Maxwell Field and Southern Aviation Training School, church services and sermons at St John Episcopal and First Christian, illness and hospital transfers, post Christmas visits, American Legion meetup, fire department call, Army basic training arrivals, and several community updates from Birmingham to Huntsville and nearby towns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shoevers
West Portion
Nazi Debacle Claimed as Soviet Offensive Near Rostov
Soviet news confirms Russian forces within 105 miles of Rostov in their largest drive of the war, with 116,000 German dead or captured and 812 towns seized in eleven days. Red Star reports eight more villages freed southwest of Stalingrad in a 6 to 12 mile push, sealing a trap around 300,000 Germans. The push also recaptured a large factory in Stalingrad as German pockets shrink amid widespread confusion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Richard McMurray
Associated Press
Rostov
Don
Moscow
Stalingrad
Kotelinikovski
Red Star
Volga
Nazi Nemesis Is Elected As French Chief
General Henri Honore Giraud, a Fighting Frenchman who escaped German prisons, named to succeed Darlan as French high commissioner in North Africa. Body of Admiral Darlan lies in state as Allied honors are given. Giraud arrives. Eisenhower, Cunningham, and Clark attend. Page Two.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Algiers
Henri Honore Giraud
Africa
Jean Darlan
Darlan
North Africa
Admiral Darlan
Giraud
U. S
Dwight D. Fisenhower
Andrew Browne Cunningham
Eisenhower
Mark Clark
Allies tighten trap around Buna in New Guinea air battle
In a noon communique General MacArthur says Allied forces in New Guinea down 11 Japanese planes and press a close envelopment around Buna. Eight of 12 Zeros are shot down with three Allied losses. three more Jap fighters are downed off New Britain. Allied heavies bomb Lae airfield starting heavy fires.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Australia
Australian New Guinea
Douglas MacArthur
Buna
Buna Government Station
New Britain
Lae
New Guinea
Russian report on German retreat in World War II theater
The report notes 300 German planes captured on Tatsinskaya airfields, 50 on a railway train at the station, and Verkhne Tarasov near Millerovo as a near Rostov break. The Middle Don offense, 11 days old, advanced 90 to 124 miles while a Kharkov push looms. Casualties include 6,300 surrendered and 3,000 killed. The Nalchik Caucasus drive expands, and western fronts show shattered defenses near Rzhev with Velikie Luki counterattacks crushed. British First Army in Tunis fights in foul weather.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tatsinskaya
Rostov
Verkhnetarasov
Millerovo
Middle Don
Ukraine
Kharkov
Caucasus
Nalchsk
Rzhev
Moscow
Velikie Luki
Tunisia
Prostitution War Pushed Across Nation Says Committee
The National Advisory Police Committee on Social Protection reports red light districts nearly eliminated in about 350 communities. It urges action against street-walkers and semi professional prostitutes, calls for close cooperation with military venereal disease control, and recommends nuisance charges and targeted patrolling to finish the campaign.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
National Advisory Police Committee On Social Protection
House of Prostitution
Charles P. Taft
Cincinnati
Paul V. McNutt
Defense Health and Welfare Services
Army
Navy
Major Hunt Thanks Decatur for Christmas Gift to Troops
Major Frederick Hunt Jr acknowledged a Christmas fund from Decatur area donors for a holiday party for the local troops. His December 11 letter said the money, about 300 dollars, arrived in fine style, funds would be used to treat the men, and the community’s generosity was greatly appreciated.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frederick §. Hunt Jr
Decatur
Major Hunt
Decatur Daily
Military Police Blamed for Row in Great Falls Shootout
Deputy County Attorney Cleveland Hall said an unprovoked attack by a military policeman on Bud Kirwan, a high school athlete, sparked a night club shooting in which four civilians were wounded. Military authorities initiated court martial proceedings against two soldiers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Great Falls
Mont
Bud Kirwan
Cleveland Hall
Body of Child Helen Sellers Found in Cincinnati
In Cincinnati a 45 year old man was taken into custody for questioning in the rape slaying of 10 year old Helen Sellers after her body was found under a warehouse. Coroner Coppock said she had been horribly attacked and likely died about 12 hours earlier. Detectives recovered blood stained dresses and clothing in the home and questioned the parents, while the Sellers family still awaited Christmas morning.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cincinnati
Helen Sellers
Frank Harrison
Harrison
Frank M. Coppock
Roscoe Sellers
Helen
Louis Vollmer
Vollmer
Lieut
Stanley Schrottel
Evelyn Sellers
Marcella Luther
Ann Rutherford Weds David May in Hollywood Ceremony
Ann Rutherford, 23, screen sweetheart of Mickey Rooney, married David May, 30, son of Mr and Mrs Tom May, in Hollywood. The elder May runs a department store chain. David is a vice president. The couple plan a honeymoon in Phoenix and New York City.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hollywood
Ann Rutherford
Mickey Rooney
David May
Tom May
May
Phoenix
Ariz
New York City
Declined Cabinet Post By Decatur Publisher
Barrett Shelton publisher of The Decatur Daily declined Chauncey Sparks offer to head the Department of Industrial Relations. He cited no political ambitions and a need to remain with his family and Decatur duties, while expressing support for Sparks and an aim to aid from Decatur and Montgomery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barrett
Chauncey Sparks
Decatur
Montgomery
Mr. Sparks
Recap quota increased for January tire services
Washington December 26 The Office of Price Administration raises January quotas for tire recapping and passenger car tire allotments. January figures include 368 200 recapping services and varying passenger car tire grades totaling 800 000 plus 709 336 for tubes. Track tire quota stands at 345 307 and farm tractor classifications at 21 000, up from December levels.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Office of Price Administration
Submarines Destroyed in Four Day Atlantic Convoy Battle
British and Norwegian naval units credited with sinking two enemy submarines by ramming and depth charges during a four day Atlantic convoy battle. One U-boat was rammed and sunk by the destroyer Viscount after being surfaced near dawn on the fourth day. another submarine was forced to surface and destroyed by depth charges.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Atlantic
Point ration plan on way for canned foods in U S
Washington officials say a point rationing system for canned foods is likely to be announced on a national broadcast and go into effect within a month as a wartime conservation measure. Detailed plans include declaring on hand stocks and later rationing meat under a universal ration book two.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Office of War Information
Claude R. Wickard
OWI
Elmer Davis
America
OWT
England
Office of Price Administration
OPA
Julian Harris Named Judge of Circuit Court
Julian Harris, a partner in Harris and Harris, was appointed Saturday as judge of Alabama's eighth judicial circuit covering Morgan, Lawrence, Limestone, and Cullman counties. The appointment by Governor Dixon fills the seat while Judge Seybourn Lynne serves in the Army.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Julian Harris
Harris
Health official notes similar flu levels to last year
County health officer Dr. L R Murphree said there appears to be no more flu this year than at the same time last year. He added that unusually warm weather may foretell many colds, though no reports of extra flu have been received.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
L. R. Murphree
Fire kills thirty pedigreed cocker spaniels at kennels
A blaze at the Stringfellow Log-O-Cheer kennels in Birmingham Alabama tonight killed about 30 dogs including three champions. Ch Holmeric of Brookville, listed among the nation's outstanding show cocker spaniels, was rescued along with about 25 others.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Birmingham
Ala
Stringfellow
Holmeric
Brookville
Death of Darlan Will Not Slow North Africa Drive
The assassination of Admiral Darlan is seen as likely to intensify the Allied push to seal off the Axis in North Africa. French and Allied forces, led by Eisenhower, are already positioned for a triple attack, and the death may accelerate rather than derail this plan. Strong emphasis on unifying Anglo American and French effort to push Axis from Africa.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kirke L. Simpson
Admiral Darlan
North Africa
Africa
Seige
Eisenhower
Darian
Darlan Death Sparks Debate On French Unity Risk
The assassination of Admiral Darlan may hasten a healing of the rift between rival French factions fighting the Axis. Historians may view him as martyred for unity and freedom, while some doubt his sincerity in returning to the Allied cause. Nazi propaganda claims British agents sparked the murder to shield London from De Gaulle faction embarrassment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Darlan
London
de Gaulle
Harmony Within French Ranks Seen After Darlan's Death
Reports from London say a young gunman who killed Admiral Darlan on Christmas Eve died at dawn before a firing squad. French leaders in Algiers and London debated succession, with Gen. Giraud seen as a possible rallying figure. The assassin, 22, reportedly French with an Italian mother. claimed action in Marshal Petain’s name.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Belman Morin
London
Jean Darlan
Henri Giraud
Axis
Dwight D. Hisenhower
Darlan
Algiers
Italy
Vichy
Marshal Petain
Germany
Also Mentioned on This Page
The
Princess
Roxy
Capitol
Lergt. P. F. Cook
Priceville
Newton D. Reehurst
Maxwell Field
Army Air Force Training Detachment
Southern Aviation Training School
Lieut. Reehurst
Army Air Forces
Conner Lile
Cleveland
Ohio
St. John Episcopal Church
Herbert Morris
McAfee, Howell and Young
Trinity
Benevolent Hospital
John A. Troxler
Troxier
Tracy City
Tenn
Westminster
Troxler
Wilma Jean Landers
Austinville
Edwin Wyle
First Christian Church
Bryan McAfee
Fort McPherson
Dan McCoy
E. C. Haines
Hunteville
American Legion
Armory
Railroad Street
Fifth Avenue West
Harvey Pride
Homefolke
Biloxi
James E. Mullins
Gill Mullins
Canal Street
Fort Knox, Wy
Mrs. H. L. Peterson
Mr. Peterson
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Winston Alston
Southern Bell Telephone Company
George O’brien
Arwin Draper
Hartselle
H. Hartselle
John Meadows
Joe Gentry
Athens
Walter
Sonny) Todd
U. S. Army Signal Corps
Starville
Miss
Army Radio School
Gill Draper
Pasgagoula, Miss
Clyde Bonds
Laccey’s @pring
Baugh’s Infirmary
Herman Free
Padua, Ky
Piks
Ei. Rees
Notr
Edith
Moulton
L. 8. Sandlin
Tanner
Fred Montgomery
USN
James Montgomery
Pearl Harbor
Nazi Nemesis
Harold V. Boyle
Mr. Harris
A. J. Harris
Norman W. Harris
Harris and Harris
Morgan County
Decatur High School
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
School of
University of Virginia
Stewarts
First Chamber of Commerce
Decatur United Charities
Decatur Rotary Club
Hilda Carpenter
Noel
Julian
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