23 Dec 1939
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 21 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Portsmouth Herald
Location
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States of America
Date
Dec 23, 1939
Page
1
Washington reports Britain fights on with a wartime economy pulling apart imperial trade ties. Blockade hurts but authorities say Germany’s air strategy risks Britain’s survival. Magnetic mines threaten Dutch and British shores as fear grows over long war endurance and peacetime recovery.
A double railway disaster in Karlsruhe and the Friedrichshafen route leaves 50 dead and 30 injured in a head on crash at full speed. Officials blame faulty signals and arrest two station agents as the total in the postwar series rises to 319 deaths and 311 injuries.
The Navy announced President Roosevelt awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to four enlisted men for rescue and salvage work on the sunken submarine Squalus. Names include James H. McDonald Harhnes Colorado and William Badders Terre Haute Indiana among the Medal recipients, with Crandall and Mihalowski also cited.
A fire swept the YM Y dormitory in Moncton New Brunswick causing about 100000 damage. Several of the 13 residents were rescued by firefighters after being trapped by flames with no casualties. A prior small blaze in the same building started in a pile of oil cloth and the WMCA gymnasium had burned previously.
Neal O’Hara reports a playful holiday chat with Santa Claus about the war. Russians crowding the north, Stalin fears Siberia, blitzkrieg jokes about a new reindeer name, Nazis, and British ships. Santa notes Roosevelt remains president and a balancing budget lecture trip back at the White House.
Concord December 23 AP The 275 inmates of the state prison will enjoy roast pork raised by themselves for Christmas dinner for the first time, Warden Charles B Clarke said. The pork comes from the prison farm run by trusts. Inmates were entertained last night by local talent and will watch movies and have a recreation period in the prison yard Monday morning. Only four women inmates will be present on Christmas Day, the smallest number in years, and they will attend movies with the men but celebrate separately in their wing.
Paris says French naval sources report the Allies are closely watching about 500 German ships that have orders to return by all possible routes from neutral ports to the Reich.
Moscow reports three days of limited gains against Finland while detailing Finland's defenses. It cites rugged terrain, forests, lakes, and fortified isthmuses as hindrances, compares Mannerheim line to Siegfried line, and notes Meretskoff reportedly faced Kremlin inquiry over slow progress.
Concord December 23 AP reports the New Hampshire state hospital will serve Christmas dinner to 2,100 inmates and 600 attaches. Meal preparations include 200 pounds of turkey 50 bushels of potatoes 250 pounds of mincemeat 70 pounds of cheese 36 gallons of string beans 25 gallons of cranberries 800 pounds of Christmas candy and 2,200 oranges for the holiday meal.
Fire officials estimated nearly 200000 dollars in losses from a blaze that swept the Lake Winnipesaukee shoreline at Weirs destroying the 10 year old excursion steamer Mount Washington, a railroad station, 1500 feet of boardwalk, a seaplane and its dock. The fire started under the Boston and Maine station stove and spread along the boardwalk, with flames seen seven miles away in Laconia. The steamer burned to the water line but did not sink while the station and equipment suffered about 75000 dollars in damage and the seaplane owner, a Boston man, faced total loss. Firefighters laid 4800 feet of hose but could not stop the blaze, aided by northwest winds. The garden nearby escaped unharmed.
In West Concord on December 23 AP reports Finnish residents gathered three trunks and two large boxes of clothing for war stricken civilians in Finland. Mrs Anna Wasnanen noted 20 overcoats and 40 pairs of shoes would go to the Finnish consulate in New York for dispatch to Finland. The 50 local Finnish families and nearby Penacook have raised over $15.
Concord reports Governor Murphy will help distribute Christmas dinners at the Salvation Army headquarters after dedication ceremonies at the new state police radio broadcasting station. Adjutant J Coleman Muller said the governor will also deliver a brief Christmas message to basket recipients.
Edwin P. Hatch a 61 year old Dover provisions store owner was found dead in his shop at 555 Central avenue. Medical Referee Forest L. Keny ruled accidental hanging after Hatch, ill earlier, grabbed a radio wire for support and slipped, the wire around his neck while using it to hang chickens and turkeys.
Twenty five years ago today date December 23 1914 reports by the Associated Press that the German advance on Warsaw has slowed. The brief item notes a change in the eastern front as forces pause or falter near the Polish capital. The short dispatch reflects wartime movement and strategic inertia during World War I.
One year since Dec 23, 1938, work began on the FPiscataqua river bridge and approaches. Concrete paving covers about half of 4.5 mile route from U S Route 1 outskirts of Portsmouth to Route 1 in Kittery. Main bridge across North Mill Pond to Maine shore, about 3000 feet, accounts for over half the $3,000,000 project. Two contractors employed Blues-areden-Ick Spere Corp for piers and Phoenix Bridge Co for steel and roadway plus towers and lift span. Value to date about $1,000,000, with delays from weather and schedule strictness. Continued on Page Five.
Helsinki reports Finnish forces begin first major counteroffensive on the Kare lian isthmus as Finnish planes hit Russian troops supply hubs and transport routes. Air raid alerts issued. several bombs fall near a railway repair shop. two Finnish planes shot down.
Edward B. Amsden announced a public meeting next Thursday to review Federal flood control dam plans that will wipe out Hill six miles south. The State Planning Board designed multiple plans for a new model village as residents consider vacating the current town site and negotiate for federal damage payments.
John L. Sullivan, a prominent New Hampshire figure and twice Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is appointed by President Roosevelt as assistant secretary of the treasury. He succeeds John W. Hanes of North Carolina who resigned yesterday after serving as assistant commissioner of internal revenue since Sept. 5. The Dartmouth and Harvard graduate practiced tax law in Manchester.
Anthony H. G. Fokker airplane designer and builder died at Murray Hill hospital at age 49 after contracting pneumococcal meningitis. He was unconscious in a deep coma and had received multiple blood transfusions, per Dr. Robert M. Cushing.
Four Portland residents were discharged from Hunt Memorial Hospital after treatment for injuries from a collision on the Newburyport Turnpike yesterday. Morris Epstein 57 Rose Epstein 65 Mae Epstein 28 all of 27 Morning Street and Rose Brickman 29 of 44 Congress Street suffered contusions and lacerations.
The Portsmouth Herald will not publish on Monday December 25 for Christmas Day. The Herald’s Tuesday edition will include a weekend and holiday roundup of happenings.
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