19 Dec 1942
Page 1
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Newspaper
Somerset Daily American
Location
Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 19, 1942
Page
1
Government orders halt most gasoline for non commercial vehicles in the eastern ration area with limited emergency allotments. A, B and C rations allowed one coupon of fuel starting noon, as plans to replace the blanket suspension are developed and to aid war workers and essential transportation.
Pennsylvania motorists faced mixed emotions as A B and C ration book holders could cash only one coupon for emergencies. Washington hinted at a fully integrated plan to replace the suspension order, leaving book holders uncertain. War plant workers received some relief as emergency use coupons were allowed for commuting. The Keystone Automobile Club condemned muddled handling as motorists jammed stations before the deadline. Suburban Philadelphia stations saw women and mothers rushing to buy gas.
Pittsburgh dealers officials and motorists protested USDA gasoline rationing limits that would bar local stations from honoring ration coupons except for commercial use or one emergency coupon. City groups planned to press Washington to restore western Pennsylvania to Zone 2 while defense plants would keep getting fuel.
Eastern States Conference president Sol A Herzog declares station attendants will not snoop for the government over an OPA order restricting gasoline to emergency use. Regulators say drivers with three or more gallons in tanks violate limits while penalties include loss of ration rights, fines up to 10000 dollars, and potential imprisonment.
Betty Tipton Swartzwelder a 17 year old of Stoystown was sent to the Pennsylvania Training School at Morganza for adultery after a Somerset juvenile hearing where she faced a theft charge involving two diamond rings. She had married November 17 and her husband is stationed in a southern camp.
Allied forces under General MacArthur close in on Japanese pockets around Buna and Buna village while Australian and American troops push near Salamaua. Japanese losses mount in a cocoanut grove fight as air bombardment targets Lae and nearby areas. Brigadier Kenny is credited for innovative fragmentation bombs.
Allied Fortresses hit Bizerte and an enemy cruiser 15 miles off the naval base. Ri verite docks suffered damage for the eighth day as Luftwaffe fighters clashed with BA-17s in a 15 minute running battle. One fortress lost. patrols intensify as weather improves and French forces report a capture near Pont-du-Fahs, southeast of Medjez El Bab.
The navy reports a medium sized Norwegian merchant vessel was torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine in mid November in the Atlantic off the northern coast of South America. Survivors have landed at a United States east coast port.
Russian troops on the central front fought through heavy snow near Velikie Luki and claimed more than 300 German deaths. They also destroyed 26 enemy planes and captured tanks, guns, wireless stations, trucks, machine guns, and clothing in a wide advance toward Smolensk.
United States air forces mounted a December 17 attack on the Munda area on New Georgia in the Solomons. Flying Fortress bombers with P-39 escort raided the airfield site while a Zeros defense contested the raid. The day before one large ship was lost but the crew was saved. fighter escort was noted in today’s communiqué.
Harrisburg December 18. Sharp declines in shipments from Canada and New England reduce availability for Pennsylvania. The state must rely mainly on domestic sources to meet the 2,000,000 trees sold each December.
Allied air power dominates the Libya chase as Field Marshal Rommel retreating forces fall back toward the coast. American Flying Fortresses hit Bizerte docks and a troopship while bombers target Sousse and rail links. minor ground actions occur with no Allied losses.
U S submarines continued raiding Japan's maritime network. The navy reported seven enemy ships sunk or damaged in the Pacific including a large tanker, large cargo ship, and two medium cargo vessels, raising total Allied losses to 155 ships. The communique noted additional sinkings and stressed submarine patrols eroding Japan's supply lines as victory nears.
Brig Gen Bissell disclosed U S air forces in China Burma and India conducted up to 14 raids in a day last week with no U S fatalities. Small raids like four P 40 attacks on Weshi Burma killed 38 Japanese and wounded others. Bangkok raid Nov 26 knocked out electrical system and damaged oil pipe network. Charred wreckage of a Japanese plane found after Dinjon and Oct 25 28 attacks raised destroyeds to 15 in the Chindwin area.
The Philadelphia Record announced a price increase for its Sunday edition from 10 to 12 cents, effective December 20.
In Bern on December 18 Premier Mussolini’s newspaper defended air raid shelter plans. It promised a general revision of shelters amid widespread Italian complaints. Milan residents reportedly sent 4,000 letters about current arrangements.
Weather observer David Grove records 24 hour temperatures ending 5:30 p m with highs around 43 and lows near 21. Data includes precipitation hints and year ago figure, though OCR text is garbled on several lines.
Pennsylvania to face cold Saturday with continuing frigid conditions in Maryland and West Virginia. Eastern Pennsylvania sees ongoing cold with light snow flurries in the mountains.
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