20 Mar 1942
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Daily Mail
Location
Hagerstown, Maryland, United States of America
Date
Mar 20, 1942
Page
1
March 20 London report says German demolition squads blow stores in Kharkov as fires rage and the upper Donets line weakens. Tanks guns and depots are dynamited while Soviet forces threaten suburbs. Civilian casualties claimed but unverified. three more towns recaptured on the southwest front.
William R. Skidmore surrendered to US marshal to begin a 30 month federal prison term for income tax evasion amid a career as a Chicago gambling fixer and figures in city politics. Prosecutors described him as a saloonkeeper near City Hall and a longtime Democratic insider.
Reports state the Union soldiers monument at Frederick Junction has been damaged possibly by vandals. Investigators found two major defacements including a broken hand on the statue and large gouges or erosion on the granite pedestal this week.
Construction of a new recreation building for horseowners and trainers at the Charles Town track will be completed in a few days. The frame structure measures 36 by 28 feet and sits near the center of the stables line. Food will be served and rockers are provided for clothing and personal belongings.
Survivors of a merchant freighter credit a "little redheaded" Navy gunner with sinking an Axis submarine after it torpedoed their ship on February 23. Ensign Peter M. Wendt led the counter attack as the crew went to fight above and below deck amid heavy damage and a rising parachute flare from the sub.
The American built 10000 ton ugly duckling freighter flying the Stars and Stripes sailed via the Cape of Good Hope Red Sea and Suez to Alexandria delivering undisclosed war materials to reinforcing Britain's North African armies. Capt Richard Ellis commanded the ship the first of its class to be commissioned under the U S wartime program. The vessel faced Nazi bombers and submarines with no enemy contact on the voyage and carried a naval gun crew. The British regarded it as a hopeful sign despite its mock nickname and noted Filipinos among pantry staff asking about possible Japanese aboard.
Seven men have enlisted here in the Navy through the local recruiting office this week and have been sent to Baltimore for a final examination and assignment to a Naval Training Base. Invitations for enlistment consideration have been mailed to all registrants in the recent draft. Enlistees include Jordon Bean, 145 North Avenue. Howard W. Rubeck, 325 Liberty Street. Herman L. McKee, Williamsport. Elmer D. Carson, Hancock. George Stimble, Frederick. Charles Anglesbee, Jefferson. George E. Shockey, Waynesboro.
Forty five women joined the second class of the Home Nursing Course sponsored by the local Red Cross chapter at the Y M C A auditorium on Wednesday evening. Miss Gertrude Skiles said the program teaches home care of the sick and does not require volunteer service. Certificates are awarded after 20 hours of study, with instructors Mrs. Sara Dunn and Mrs. L V Crist, registered nurses, volunteering their time.
Men of draft age with special training used in non defense industries will be shifted to defense work. Local Selective Service boards receive an order designating occupational inventories for all registrants except those already inducted. The inventory aims to capture current employment activities and other skills as part of a broader mobilization effort.
Private Lloyd T. Dodson, son of Mrs. Mary Dodson of Hagerstown, has been promoted to staff sergeant on the recommendation of his company commander at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation. Officials credit his duty attention and soldiery qualities.
Firemen were called to the Hotel Dagmar early today after a guest’s mattress burst into flames. The occupant climbed onto a high ledge to escape the smoke and was rescued just before a fall from the five story height. Damage limited to the mattress.
In Haverhill Mrs. Ralph C. Simonds Jr. welcomed twin sons born three days apart. The first weighed six pounds, born Monday at 2:27 am, the second weighed seven pounds, born Tuesday at 4:51 am, a span of about 75 hours. Names have not been chosen. the mother is 21 and the babies are her first children.
Lucy Boehmler, 19, sentenced to five years in Alderson Federal Women's Reformatory for espionage involvement. Carl Herman Schroetter, 48, a Miami fishing boat skipper, received 10 years. They pleaded guilty in the Ludwig Nazi spy ring case as other members were already sentenced. Boehmler cooperated with the government by testifying at Ludwig's trial.
In Elkhart Indiana on March 20, Nick Rostowski a Chicago butcher aged 56 attempted to force Fruit Belt Electric of Gassopolis Michigan to remove poles from his 94 acre Rostowski farm near Mottville Michigan. After failed cajoling and lawsuits he telephoned Deputy Sheriff R J Mann to report he would chop nine poles. The outage affected about 50 country customers until the company laid a new line south of the farm. Rostowski faced no charges.
Local bakers say government sugar allotments at 50 percent of prior year use 80 percent allowed leave many pastries iced less or not at all and push new lines. Soft drink bottlers also suffer with rationing and restricted case sales across stores.
In Maryland early today an automobile driven by soldiers left the Waterloo road two miles from Washington boulevard. Sergeant Royce Shelton Blowe died from a broken neck. Privates Jerry Hipsley, John Tolley and Huster Pultz were injured and treated at Fort Meade hospital.
Courtney Fred Rogers 24, an organist, told officers he killed his grandmother Sophie Spiegelmann and also his parents Lillie and Courtney C. Rogers. He admitted poisoning his mother February 14 1941 and shooting his father last October 25, with exhumation ordered to probe grandmother’s death blamed on food poisoning. He cited motive of inheriting two San Diego houses and about 500 dollars cash, later used for organ study, as death benefits to him or his mother.
State's Attorney Patrick M. Schnauffer of Frederick seeks a large reward for the arrest and conviction of George Blake, a union organizer formerly of Hagerstown. Blake forfeited a $2,500 bond, secured by two Prince Georges County residents, and Schnauffer aims to divert much of the bond toward rewards. Blake was indicted by the February Frederick County Grand Jury on sodomy, assault and battery, and false pretenses charges, then fled. FBI agents are aiding the search for Blake.
Orange markers show up in large numbers as the tag deadline nears while post offices report few mailed markers. Serial numbers on markers often do not match tag numbers, prompting numerous inquiries to the Motor Vehicle Commissioner. The markers save cost for the state and motorists by avoiding yearly changes to tag numbers.
Melbourne reports that Australian women have taken on hosting American troops. Mrs. Erle Dickover heads the United States Women’s Auxiliary Corps of Australia, guiding efforts since early in the war. The Melbourne canteen serves American staples, drawing soldiers and sailors to its welcoming atmosphere.
Baltimore dispatch reports Col D John Markey is named to command Camp Pickett a replacement training center near Blackstone Virginia announced by Maj Gen Milton A Reckord commander of the Third Corps Area Markey a Frederic Md native led the 115th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division until Feb 24 when Reckord said he would receive a promotion to a more important assignment in the Third Corps Area no further details were provided.
Two Brunswick railroad men Norman Bury and Raymond Dan ner were seriously hurt when their car crashed head on into an Army G I truck near Clarksburg Maryland. Both suffered possible skull fractures and were taken to Frederick Hospital. Five soldiers in the Army truck escaped injury.
President Roosevelt proposes a 40 mile an hour speed limit to save rubber and gasoline. Officials and police favor the plan, saying it is easier to enforce than 50 mph. State leaders discuss whether the State Roads Commission has the authority for a blanket 40 mph reduction.
Washington March 20 President Roosevelt will not have to register next month in the selective service listing for men aged 43 to 65 though at 60 he is within the limits His exemption comes because he is commander in chief of the armed forces.
Columbia resident Glenn Sigman sought a new house number to avoid unlucky 13. He changed his address to 1315 but drew the draft lottery number 1313 this week.
The Japanese navy declared that the United States and Britain have waged extreme warfare based on retaliation and hatred since the Pacific war began. It announced a revised warfare regulation citing the London declaration of 1909 and international law, but did not specify the details or charges against the Allies.
The War Department said two American bombers scored a direct hit on a large enemy cruiser in a harbor raid on Rabaul, New Britain. The communique noted the attack occurred Tuesday and that 15 Army officers accompanied General Douglas MacArthur from the Philippines to Australia to take command of UN forces in the southwest Pacific.
The Australian war cabinet ordered removal of all large name boards from rural railway stations within 100 miles of the coast and stripped city nameplates from air view. A Rosehill race meeting opened to be cancelled as Army has taken over track buildings.
Washington county officials announce arrival of 92 000 War Ration Books 98 000 consumer forms and 1 000 instruction sheets at the Court House. Registrations expected early April with county public school instructors serving as registrars under the Ration Board. When issued registrants will report current sugar holdings and stamps will be removed from the book for any excess with limited keeps.
Dispatches report MacArthur announcing the U S order to break Japanese lines and move from Corregidor to Australia to organize an American offensive aimed at relieving the Philippines He cites the primary mission as aid to the Philippines and says he will return The fighting continues as Australian forces shell Japanese columns near Port Moresby and Port Moresby airfields are attacked by Japanese planes
United States Lieut. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell announced he has command of all US forces in China, India and Burma and pledged that American and Chinese troops will reach Tokyo together. He praised Chinese troops and said the effort will be large, with air support for Burmese forces and no reservation on aid to China.
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