26 Dec 1939
Page 1
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Newspaper
Portsmouth Herald
Location
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1939
Page
1
Yuletide reflections on state of the year warn that unanimity often betrays. Leaders manipulate wars for personal gain while citizens educated to read and think may avert new catastrophes. Strong moral appeal urges vigilance to preserve democracy over mere immunity from conflict.
Community notices from the Herald list events and personal items including sports, weddings, obituaries, and anniversaries. Names, places, and dates are referenced in brief notices totaling a page of local happenings and a race results snippet.
Violent deaths and accidents mounted across the nation during the three day Christmas holiday. Traffic incidents totaled 418, with others from fire, shootings, and various causes. Illinois led with 47 deaths, followed by California 47 and Ohio 35. In New England 40 deaths were recorded with Boston reporting many traffic crashes. The season’s toll included drownings, fires, and accidents across multiple states, with tragic incidents in Fitchburg and Boothbay among others.
Washington reports Uruguay, with a key seaport but small navy, reserved on signing the Pan American protest over the Western Hemisphere neutrality zone. The reservation does not negate the protest. Uruguay seeks mutual support if future actions by American republics provoke European belligerent reactions.
A fragmented historical passage recounts early World War II era events with names like Mussolini Hitler and Stalin. It hints at territorial demands the Nazi Berlin-Rome axis and shifting Soviet actions in the Baltic and Finland with a chaotic monthly sequence.
Christmas weekend brought two fire calls for local firemen. A grass fire on Thaxter Road, likely from an incinerator, was reported shortly before noon. Later, Nicholas Delelisii’s Gates Street home faced oil burner fire threatening the kitchen.
Berlin dispatch cites government sources claiming Adolf Hitler crossed into French territory on Christmas Eve for a Western Front visit. He reportedly toured Spicheren Heights near Saarbrucken and Forbach, distributed gifts to waiting soldiers, and promoted a captain to major before leaving as church bells rang.
Disabled American Veterans Chapter No 4 of Kittery hosted a Christmas turkey dinner for over 250 needy boys and girls from Portsmouth Kittery and Eliot at Knights of Pythias Hall. Girl Scouts served as waitresses and Boy Scouts helped with order. after dining a Christmas tree Santa Claus and gifts followed. Transportation was provided by Roberts Bus Line with backing from American Legion Eight and Forty of York County.
One hundred food baskets were distributed to Teedy families in gradients of a traditional New England Christmas dinner. Capt Claire T Lowman announced the effort. The local Army post donated many toys as well.
William Butler, a Seawolf submarine crew member, escaped with scratches and bruises after the car he drove skidded and rolled twice on a curve on Little Worth Road in Dover Saturday night.
The fourth annual outdoor winter music festival was staged at Hobson Opera Field in Little Boar's Head North Hampton. About 250 spectators joined in a Christmas Eve program featuring a Nativity reenactment and carols with visitors arriving from multiple New Hampshire towns.
Turkish freighter Eizllrmak of 2794 tons struck rocks near Sinope during a violent Black Sea hurricane and went down with 24 crew. Scores of trawlers and other light craft were missing as search efforts by lifeboats continued for survivors amid fears of further losses.
Pierre Veilleux, 64, released three years ago after an eight year term for stabbing a man to death, asked to be sent back to prison. He told Lowell police that he cannot find work, and Police Superintendent Michael Winn charged him with vagrancy and had him committed to the East Cambridge jail.
Five people narrowly escaped injury when a boiler exploded in a North End Manchester building housing an auto company. The blast shattered brick walls, sent glass flying for blocks, and damaged a new car awaiting delivery. Estimated damage reached 2500 dollars. Police and fire crews responded quickly to the scene.
Post holiday indecision gripped the market as few leaders gained and many slipped. Aircrafts and specialties held up while many majors lagged with small declines or unchanged. Trading slowed with the ticker near standstill in the final hour and about 680000 shares changing hands.
Paris reports the repulse of pre-dawn Christmas raids by German patrols east of the Moselle river. The French claim no French casualties and describe the heaviest clash as serious, with artillery and mortar exchanges beginning at 4 a m Christmas Day.
Four members from Emerson Hovey Post visit Naval Hospital at the navy yard on Wednesday bringing about 25 packages of candy and cigars. The auxiliary plans a Christmas tree party for children of members Wednesday afternoon and a adults’ party after the regular meeting.
Hamp ton Falls residents clash over the selectmen’s snow plowing equipment purchase ahead of a special session. Heated debate centers on legality and whether funds were appropriated in advance as factions prepare for the Saturday meeting.
Concord police hunt two men after a break in at Hall Brothers garage. A safe containing about 2500 in cash and checks was stolen, with roughly 800 in cash recovered or missing. The incident occurred last night in Concord.
The entry notes general inactivity on most fronts and United States protests to Great Britain against interfering with neutral shipping. It records a historical snapshot of wartime dynamics and neutral rights amid ongoing conflict.
Viipuri Finland December 26 AP long range artillery shells and air raids battered the seacoast city as Russians pressed toward the Murmansk railroad. Fires burned homes while firemen fought blazes and civilians sought bombproof shelters amid heavy air activity and damaged utilities. Russian fighter planes claimed successes elsewhere in Finland with raids on Turku Porvoo Helsinki and Tampere and claims of Finnish planes downed.
B Curtis Matthews, president of the Piscataqua Sayings Bank, will receive his Bowdoin College football letter for the Polar Bear eleven of 1909. Doctor Frank A. Smith of Westbrook notes the Bowdoin Athletic Council unanimously awarded a letter and sweater for his team activities despite missing two conference games due to illness. William T. Newman of Bangor helped renew the case, leading to Matthews finally receiving the long-awaited insignia.
Paris reports military sources say official figures show 3 British soldiers killed on the Western Front since the war began. Naval deaths total 2070 and 438 in the air force, bringing the British toll to 2511, against a French total of 1434.
London AP report says the British steamer Stanholme of 2473 tons was torpedoed and sunk Christmas Day off the West coast of England with heavy loss of life. Ten survivors recount no warning two hours after leaving port. Only the captain survived uninjured. one woman aboard, Mrs Mabel Jenny, wife of the chief engineer, perished. Seaman Evans described scrambling onto a raft and rescue by a Norwegian lifeboat.
Jortsmouth firemen gave renovated toys to 110 families averaging four children per family. Lists were prepared with welfare organizations and the Central fire station staff have run the charity every Christmas since 1922, bringing joy to many in the city and surrounding towns.
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