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Newspaper
Tucson Daily Citizen
Location
Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
Date
Dec 20, 1940
Page
1
Cairo dispatch reports British forces completely surround the Libyan port of Bardia with 20,000 Italians trapped. RAF raids on Derna and Bardia destroy barracks and transports as air battles yield five Italian planes down with no British losses. Tanks and gun carriers press toward Tobruk amid heavy resistance.
President Roosevelt announced the creation of a defense production office to lead the arms rearmament program and Britain aid. William S. Knudsen will head the agency with Sidney Hillman as associate director and secretaries Henry L. Stimson and Frank Knox as other members.
Arming America called on the automobile industry to begin test production of parts for long range bombers. About 20 million dollars in initial orders will train plant managers to manufacture intricate bomber components and engines. Four large assembly plants west of the Mississippi are planned to support expanded aircraft output for the United States and Britain.
London reports circulate that Foreign Minister Lord Halifax will become the British ambassador to the United States and that a government reshuffle would follow. Possible moves include Anthony Eden taking Halifax's foreign portfolio and David Lloyd George returning to the cabinet to ease Churchill's domestic duties. Rumors also mention Eden being replaced by Robert Hudson.
The RAF attacked several targets in the Ruhr and western Germany amid bad weather. Bombed sites included power stations, a railway junction at Essen, Duesseldorf, Bonn, Duisburg, and Cologne oil targets, with large fires reported. Bergen-Oslo rail line also hit by British coastal command aircraft.
Berlin reports say the Vichy purge refutes German suspicions about Laval and a pro German faction in Paris. Petain loyalists allegedly used Laval to pave a German backed peace, while Weygand’s Africa mission could reshape French options if the putsch fails.
Arizona Governor asks the state highway commission to restore 1939 salary reductions and raise wages for clerks and non professionals while aligning engineers with national scales. He cites rising living costs and notes prior warnings from last year.
Struga Yugoslavia December 20 1943 Greek troops reportedly captured Gramsi a key town south of Elbasan along the frontier. Full report reads that troops urged to drive the enemy into the sea as front line activity intensified near Elbasan.
Allied reports say RAF strikes hit Valona and Krionero while Greek troops advance along the coast from Palermo Bay toward Chimara. Italian withdrawal concentrates near Tepeleni and Klisura, with Greeks reporting 600 prisoners as they push back stiff resistance in snowbound mountains.
A Tucson Phoenix delegation told the Arizona state highway commission that freight trucks operate on state highways without paying a 24 percent gross receipts tax. The commission doubted its jurisdiction, citing enforcement by the highway patrol and the corporation commission. Spokesmen were George Darnell of Tucson and Riney Salmon of Phoenix.
FBI agents foiled an extortion plot targeting Marc De Tristan Jr. in Santa Rosa. A cab bage patch rendezvous failed when the would be kidnapper fled after discovering the money was paper. The three year old, held last September by Wilhelm Muhlenbroich, is safe at home. he serves no current jail term.
George M. Roy of Mesa is appointed assistant secretary by Gov elect Sidney P. Osborn. The post pays 3600 dollars annually. Roy, a staff member of the Arizona temple of the Latter Day Saints, was prominent in Osborn's campaign.
The body of Paul Michael, 65, a cotton and alfalfa rancher, was found at his Tulare ranch home after police say he was tortured and slain. Three watchdogs lay dead outside the door and the sheriff noted signs of a violent struggle and ransacked rooms. He suspects the torture aimed to force disclosure of wealth.
J W T Mason reports British warships penetrated the Adriatic, challenging Italian control of the coast and threatening Albanian supply routes. The Italian fleet remains largely immobilized, with possible further blockading actions and cautious movement of transports toward Durazzo.
British forces sweeping the lower Adriatic with battleships cruiser and destroyers shelled Valona with nearly 100 tons of high explosive. The raid passed through the Taranto Strait, met no Italian resistance, and damaged facilities at Valona. Simultaneous bombardment of Bardia reported extensive fires as RAF and naval units support Libya operations.
London dispatch quotes Ronald Cross, minister of shipping, saying the real German threat will begin in 1941. He cites submarine warfare as the main danger to lifelines and urges more destroyers and increased ship production. He notes exhausted American ship reserves and delays in U S shipbuilding. Cross also says Britain may consider seizing some enemy ships in the United States to replenish supplies.
The report notes Germany owning two tankers in U S ports Pauline Friederich in Boston and Arauca in Port Everglades. It adds Italy holding 27 ships on both coasts and Denmark 37 vessels laid up. Britain claims Danish ships gained enemy status after Germany's invasion and refused to surrender them on charter. President Roosevelt in Washington calls the plan to seize Danish vessels and transfer them to Britain a new idea to him.
A semi official bulletin from Rome estimates British forces at 1500 airplanes 425000 troops and 50000 tons of warships facing Italian troops. It notes troops hail from England Australia New Zealand and the British empire. German troops are said not to be in Italy or on the way to any front.
Rural Electrification Administration assigns 35 000 dollars to Stone Wall Electric of Tucson to extend power lines into Tortollito foothills as part of a 9 133 500 dollar nationwide program. Max A. Pooler of Tucson Gas Electric Light and Power cites extensions from Oracle road and Casa Grande highway at Cortaro and north on Oracle toward the Pima Pinal county line.
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