Behind the Scenes in Conquered France Petain Holds Steady
Kenneth Downs reports from Vichy where Marshal Petain maintains control amid a German-backed regime. He notes Petain’s resolve to stay out of the war, aides who shape decrees, and a dreary, self-serving political scene. The piece discusses Laval’s ouster, rival courtiers, and cautious journalism under censorship.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lisbon
INS
Marshal Petain
France
Pierre Laval
England
Vichy
Bernard Menetzes
Hotel du Parc
Dumoulin de la Barbete
Madrid
General Laure
Eighth Army
Menetiel
Petain
Menetzel
Laval
Dumoulin de la Barthete
Peyrouton
Alibert
Laure
de Gaullists
Gannat
National Assembly
Riom
Daladier
Gamelin
Reynaud
Blum
Germany
America
Roosevelt
Food shortages and camps in unoccupied France under Vichy rule
The report details a failing food system in unoccupied France reliant on imports and German looting. It notes 40,000 in Argeles camp with 20,000 Spaniards, 15,000–20,000 French internees, and large camps at Gures housing about 10,000 mainly Jewish internees from the Palatinate.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Herault
Marseille
Argeles
de Gaullists
Gures
Palatinate
Greece Defeat Expected as Balkan Unity Fails
British press signals possible Allied defeat in Greece as Jugoslavia delays action and Turkey hesitates. Diplomatic sources warn of a German advance with plans to move men and arms to Tripoli for a broader North African campaign.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greece
the Times
Balkan
Jugoslavia
Turkey
Daily Express
Lord Beaverbrook
Hitler
Tripoli
Libya
Britain
Alexandria
Ankara
Straits
Thrace
Teen 13 Threatens To Jump From Brooklyn Roof
A 13-year-old, Billy Rosendale, stood on a four-story Brooklyn roof for an hour threatening death. Police nets were set up. a bystander mother, a priest, a friend, and police pleaded as the boy teetered. Mrs. Emily Moore tackled him, knocking him to the edge where he was rescued and sent to a hospital.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Billy Rosendale
Brooklyn
Billy
Emily Moore
Akron janitor confesses burning music teacher Ruth Zwicker
Albert B. Lukens 58, a church janitor, confessed to burning the body of Ruth Zwicker 24, a substitute Akron music teacher. He claimed the death was an accidental scuffle after he asked for a kiss, then hid the body in a coal bin and burned it in the church boilers. Police seek murder charges as detectives doubt his full tale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Akron
North Hill Methodist Church
Ruth Zwicker
Verne Cross
Albert B. Lukens
Cross
Lukens
Cincinnati
Mansfield
Reformatory
William Steigler
Cincinnati Times-Star
Mansfield Reformatory
Hamilton County
Inspector Cross
Alva Russell
Russell
A. W. Zwicker
Eastman School of Music
Rochester
N. Y
Akron Public
Mount Olympus Front Under German Assault
The correspondent reports heavy German pressure on the Mount Olympus front as British and Greek forces counterattack and defend. German Alpine troops, new tank tractor guns, and air raids threaten Larisa, with Messerschmitt fighters circling Olympus and bombing from low altitude while dispatch riders report intensifying attacks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greece
Mount Olympus
Larisa
Messerschmitt
Olympus’ Peak
Olympus
James Roosevelt Heads to Hawaii for Marine Corps Duty
James Roosevelt, four days after his wedding, sails from San Francisco by plane to Hawaii to report for new Marine Corps duties. Capt. Roosevelt, son of the President, declined to specify assignment details or duration. Highride Romelle Schneider will return to Los Angeles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco
James Roosevelt
Hawaii
Marine Corps
Highride
Romelle Schneider
Los Angeles
Roosevelt
Italian High Command says forces advance on Albania front
Italian troops push across the Albanian front while Greek forces retreat under air attack. In Yugoslavia, Italian columns advance toward Dalmatian areas and take prisoners near Cetinje and Kotor. Axis air missions strike Tobruk and British forces east of Gambela as East Africa sees further engagements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rome
Greece
Yugoslavia
Daily War Bulletin
Cetinje
Kotor
Mediterranean
High Command
North Africa
Salam
Tobruk
East Africa
Gambela Post
Ethiopia
Lack of U S War Alarm Irks Britain
British observers fault American and British wartime messaging as optimistic spin and insufficient reporting. They urge steady, honest updates on campaigns in the Near East, Libya, Greece, and especially the Atlantic to shape U S public opinion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Britain
America
Greece
Yugoslavia
United States
Germany
London
Near East
Battle of the Atlantic
Archibald Wavell
Middle East
Cyrenaica
Atlantic
Libya
Netherlands Ready to Defend East Indies Colonies
A 1940 note marks one year since the Dutch government declared readiness to protect its East Indies colonies. It contrasts with a 1916 retrospective noting German penetrations near Douaumont and the Meuse during World War I.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Netherlands
East Indies
Douaumont
The
Meuse
Too Puny To Fight 1861 Veteran Reaches 100 Birthday
Long Beach California April 19 Army doctors deemed Eaton J Merchant unfit for Civil War service. Told to expect one year to live in 1869 he defied fate and just celebrated his 100th birthday anniversary.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Long Beach
Calif
Eaton J. Merchant
Streetcars blamed for city vibrations by alderman
Milwaukee alderman John Kalupa told the city council utility committee that street car vibrations disturb residents. He cited an incident where a denture was jolted from a choir member's mouth at a south side church.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Milwaukee
John Kalupa
South Side
Fairbanks Town Seeks Distinct Name Change
Citizens of Fairbanks Indiana proposed adding Fairbanks Jr to distinguish their town from others in four states and Alaska but Postmaster General Walter Walker rejected the plan keeping the name as is.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fairbanks
Ind
Alaska
Walker
Fairbanks, Jr
Fire, piano rescue and asbestos scare collide at farm
In Vincennes Indiana on April 19 five men struggled to move a piano as neighbors fled Evaline McGiffin's farm when a nearby barn burned. In Rock Island Illinois Boy Scout Executive L C Jameson attempted to light a fire at camp to show scouts they could start one with two matches but used sheet asbestos as tinder and failed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vincennes
Ind
Evaline McGiffin
Rock Island, II
L. C. Jameson
Jameson
Continued Miss Perkins Seeks Opening Of Coal Mines
New England factories face possible closures if fuel supplies do not arrive. At Ford River Rouge Detroit a brief midnight flare followed a 10 day UAW strike ending April 11 amid finds of injuries. A union sound truck warned workers to stay away as mid shift began. Detroit also faced GM plant strike threats as negotiators seek settlement. UAW demands include shop steward powers and umpire reforms plus a 10 cent hourly wage rise. Federal conciliator cites a labor board election as key to resolving the Buffalo ACF dispute halting shells for England. In Pittsburgh 32 CIO pickets were jailed defying an injunction during a 350 worker hospital service strike for a 45 dollar monthly minimum wage. A 5,000 strong Roebling strike in Trenton halted aircraft material output and CIO steel workers protest a tougher production schedule.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New England
Ford Motor Company
River Rouge
United Automobile Workers
C.I.0
Detroit
General Motors Corporation
Labor Board
CLO
A.F.L
Buffalo
American Car and Foundry Company
England
Pittsburgh
West Penn Hospital
David Kanes
State, County and Municipal Workers’ Union
John A. Roebling’s Sons Company
Trenton
N. J
Mrs Woolf Dies by Own Action in River After Bombings
Mrs Virginia Woolf, 59, the British novelist who endured two bombings, is found dead in the River Ouse near Lewes. Coroner Dr E F Hoare records death by her own action, noting a suicide note to husband Leonard describing despair in troubled times.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Woolf
Press Association
Greek Crisis Deepens as Axis Pressure Mounts and Leader Dies
Front reports show Allied lines holding after heavy German bombardment as Greece reels from the death of premier Korizis and political shifts. Italian advances near Ioannina and Albanian fronts intensify as Greek forces resist with scarce reinforcements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rome
Ioannina
Epirus
Greece
Porto Edda
Albania
Chimara
Porto Palermo
Yugoslavia
Mt. Olympus
Korizis
John Metaxas
Italy
Metaxas
Athens
Kotzias
Stefani
Istanbul
Turkey
George II
Poros
Salonika
Independent Agricultural Bank of Greece
National Bank of Greece
Thrace
Bulgaria
Kristos Kavrakos
England
Greek Premier Korizis Dies as Greek Crisis Deepens
The article reports the death of Greek premier Korizis amid charges of a possible Nazi-aligned capitulation plot. British officials, including Sir Charles Palairet, urged evacuation for the royal family, while DNB notes doubts about suicide. Constantin Kotzias rises as vice premier in Berlin’s influence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greece
C. M. Palairet
Korizis
Egypt
DNB
Constantin Kotzias
Berlin
Reich
British Assassinated Greek Premier Named by Nazis
German news agency charged that Britain killed or poisoned Greece’s Premier Alexander Korizis to block a separate peace. The agency noted Korizis was found dead hours after a talk with British General Maitland Wilson.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Berlin
INS
Alexander ‘ Korizis
Greece
DNB
Korizis
Henry Mait
Land “Wilson
British Claim Firing of 4 Axis Vessels
The Air Ministry reported that four Axis merchant ships and an escort vessel were set afire or left sinking in North Sea operations. Two more merchant ships near Helgoland and another off the Norwegian coast were hit and left sinking. Eight British planes are missing from the day's operations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Air Ministry
North Sea
Helgoland
Nazi News Blackout Hints Final German Drive in Greece
Allied sources report Berlin renewed a nighttime news ban as German High Command prepares a last crushing push on the British Greek line in Greece. Parachutist claims behind British lines were denied though German moves against retreat routes are noted. Hitler’s birthday tomorrow is seen as a possible timing factor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fuehrer
Balkan
Germany
Greece
Yugoslavia
High Command
E.S.T
Mount Olympus
United Press
Rome
Tribuna
Berlin
Vistritza
Aegean Sea
Hitler
Premier King To Meet Roosevelt At Hyde Park
Canadian Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King will confer with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park with discussions likely on finance and neutrality act revisions. Roosevelt, staying at his estate, plans a quiet weekend, aided by Harry L. Hopkins who accompanies him.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hyde Park
W. L. Mackenzie King
Canada
Roosevelt
Ogdensourg
Mackenzie King
Mr. Roosevelt
Washington
White House
Harry L. Hopkins
28 Germans Flee Ontario Prison Camp
Port Arthur Ont April 19. Twenty eight German POWs escaped a Canadian internment camp last night through a tunnel between 8 P M and 1 A M nine were recaptured. One prisoner Ernst Mueller died. Baron Franz von Werra remains at large in the United States on bail for illegal entry.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Port Arthur
Ont
H. E. Stethem
Toronto
London
Adolf Hitler
Canada
Ernst Mueller
Baron Franz von Werra
United States
Ottawa
Four slain in mine conflict. eleven charged in Kentucky
Eleven people face murder charges after a gun battle near Fork Ridge Coal Mine left four dead. Officials A T Pace and James W Ridings, both linked to the United Mine Workers, were arrested in Middlesboro and posted bonds. Nine others, all wounded, are hospitalized. Prosecutors say the clash occurred 200 feet inside Tennessee.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Middlesboro
R. W
Lawson
Bell County
Alfred Smith
Walter
Polly
Earl Alley
Clayton Webb
John, Holland
Miller Forester
Tom Napier
Ed Smith
Fork Ridge
Also Mentioned on This Page
By Kenneth Downs
Associated Press
California
Miss Perkins
George
Associated Press Wirephoto
Alexandros Korizis
Ontario
Bush