The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, November 27, 1941, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” VOL. LVIL, NO. 8890. JUNEAU, ALASKA, 1HUR5I)AY M)\ MBl R 2, e I()-H MLMB[;R A.SSOCIATI:D PRL% PRICE TEN CLN' I3 AR ISSUE IS PUT UP TO JAPAN TOBRUK ARMY BREAKS 7-MONTH SEIGE FiveDiein Train Trapped in Tunnel LIBYA FIGHT | NOW FAVORS ALLIED FORCE New Zealanders Recapture Rezegh, then Join To- bruk Garrison at Duda EGYPTIAN FRONTIER PIERCED BY GERMANS Axis Drivearies Across Border-Invaders Divide Into Raiding Parties (By Associated Press) The Tcbruk garrison, a conglom- erate of British imperial troops and their Polish and Czech allies, has | fulfilled its mission as a flank threat, to the Axis in Libya by’ striking through the enemy lines to a junc- tion with the main British offensive, the British command said today. This was the garrison’s reward for seven months under German and Italian siege guns. The Tobruk army came out of its shell-hombarded for- tifications November 18, when the main British drive was launched The Germans and Italians sought to contain the garrison but headed by tanks brought by sea to the be- seiged fort, the men of Tobruk thrust relentlessly through the belt of land mines in the seige entrenchments to capture the town of Duda yester- day. A juncture with New Zealand troops was effected at Duda today, this after the New Zealanders re- captured Rezegh Tuesday night, ac- (Continued on Paoc Emm C“' 3 ’Go WASHING'IDN — The President has on his desk a confidential re- port that would warm the heart of the defense-harried little business man if he could read it. Submitted by Lowell Mellett, one of the ‘“passion for -anonymity” White House secretaries, following a careful survey in 35 states, the memorandum by inference severely criticizes OPM and War Depart- ment handling of defense con- tracts. Mellett found that little business generally is bitterly disgusted wita the whole defense administration, is convinced that it is being run by big business and corporation lawyers, and is @p in arms politi- cally about the matter. Mellett warns that the Administration had better do something about the sit- uation and do it fast or it will be just too bad in next year's crucial congressional elections. A long list of specific grievances are detailed in the report: Littie firms excluded from defense or- ders in favor of hig competitors, even though there was ne differ- ence in their prices. Endless run- arounds from OPM and Army brasshats because the little busi- ness men had no “in” with the big shots. Small manufacturers put out of business by the priority system | which enables big concerns with defense contracts to hog supplies of raw materials. Mellett also implies that the Di- vision of Contract Distribution, es- tablished several months ago to help little business, has so far ac- (Continued or; VPage Four) Mediterranean Battle British sources said this is a Fiat B.R. 20 plane (arrow, top) as it attacked the British battleship Nelson while it escorted a convoy through the Mediterranean. At right center (arrow) is the splash of a torpedo dropped by the Italian plane. ‘The Nelson, British ship, was scarcely damaged and the plane was later shot down, one of 13 in the attacking force bagged by anti-aircraft guns., Shrapnel bursts can be seen faintly left of the plane. Flreprool Consiruction Be Keynofe When New Seward Buildings Rise “Huddlc Glrl" Mary Ann Mercer Radio Singer Mary Ann Mercer, native of St. Louis, Mich, has been officially designated as the “huddle girl” of the 1941 football season by the First cavalry di- vision, U. S. army, stationed at Fort Bhss. Texas. Nenana Poslmlslress Confirmed by Senale WASHINGTON, Nov. 27. — The | Senate has confirmed the nomina- tipn of Alice E. Gurtler to be Post- | mistress at Nenana, Alaska. | SEWARD, Alaska, Nov. 27. — A bitter northeast gale, blasting over the bleak burned area in Seward today found catmen and bulldozer- men muffled to the ears clearing away debris and leveling off the ground in readiness for the re- building of the business district. Dining cars along the railway tracks and kitchens on the water- front were doing a rushing busi- ness and the food and medical situation seemed well in hand. Big problem was still to house people still occupying halls, gymnasiums, lodge rooms apd other quarters, now that the emergency feeding of the fire refugees %as been met temporarily. 4 All business men burned out, Lepresentativ of the Red Cross and the Army met with the city council last night to formulate | ns for rebuilding. All were anxi- to get started, but with local finances inadequate to handle the project, aid frem the Reconstruc- tion Finance Corporation will be sought, it was decided. with re- quests also to be made that imme- diate priorities be granted for the ' shipment of,needed materia Ship in Materials It is planned to transport a full' cargo of materials, while the Army ! aids in preparing the building sites. The present water system is to be supplemented with a salt water sys- tem and other improvements will| be tied in on the reconstructica | program, such as the improvement of lighting distribution in the burned area, and passage of an! urgent city ordinance to provide concrete fireproof walls on both sides of the street and also pro- | hibit so-called unsafe methods in (Continued oana;;e Three) o STEEL MEN | STILL FIGHT STRIKE CASE & Two Concerns Notify Board Will Not Agree to Find- ings fo Be Made (BY ASSOCIATED PRESS) The Special Arbitration Board | named by President Roosevelt 'm‘; settle the union shop issue in the captive coal mines of the Nation's| major steel companies, have asked | the companies concerned whether | they will accept the board’s find-| ings as final after reports are pub- | lished. [ Two of the steel firms replied they will not agree to accept them published The reports circulated are that the two steel companies making the | “not accept” declaration are the| Republic Steel and National Steel. | The general labor situation ! seemed today to be somewhat im- proved The jul'l\(lll'llonul strike of 'Lnn inued on Page Eight) i | 8,500 | e b 2 ASSAULTS BEING MADE ON MOSCOW Germans Making Frontal Attacks — Also Trying Encirclement BERLIN, Nov. 27—The German | armies on the Moscow front are pos- ed for fresh threats on Moscow and the situation of the Red Army is said to have been “aggravated” dur- ing the past 24 hours, especially in the Volokolamsk sector, 65 miles northwest of Moscow. HUGE FORCES MASSED MOSCOW, Nov. 27.—The news- paper Ilvestia today says the Ger- mans have thrown huge forces on the Moscow front in an attempt to build up numerical superiority on their many pointed offensive on the Moscow front. The newspaper says the Germans are attempting both a frontal as- sault and encirclement. The official communique says the Germans are being held at all points but many battles are raging fiercely e e L DANES MAKE PROTEST ON PACT ISSUE : ‘Demonsfrafl;n_s TakePlace Against Signing of Anti- Comintern Paper STOCKHOLM, Nov. 27. Copenhagen as a protest Denmark’s adherence to the comintern pact, is the report jceived here. The police fired on the den strators on one occasion and & ed some 40 persons in another cident.” Dispatches received by the Dazer Nyheter, Stockholm newspaper, says the Danes have denounced Foreign Minister Scavenius and made dem- 'onstrations against him, shouting “Down with Scavenius! Down vwith Rio! anti- re- n- est- in- | the Traitor!” ) |ing v Five persons, including the engineer and two firemen of a 96 after the train stalled in a 7,000-foot tunnel <or 11 hours near pulled into the open by a switch engine. A Pledge for Housewives All housewives in the nation soon will be asked to observe this pledge, Roosevelt, to being signed by M mml and to save w buy only the things they actually r and tear on manufactured household articles. With Mrs. Roosevelt are Mrs. Nesbitt (left), housekeeper of the White House, and Miss Harriet Elliott, of the Oftice of Price Administration. Unifed Sfates Army MakesBlood Purchase; Capital Is Snooty Citys STINN By JACK WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.- tal talk Of all the odd purchases of the United States Army, the one that stirs the imagination most is that made recently for a million dollars worth of human blood. Five con- tracts were let to chemical labora- tories, totalling $1,026,250 for the purchase of gallons of human plas- ma, The blood bank is against that time, if ever, it might be needed for blood trans- fusions. This doesn't mean a fighting war reserve of human blood. With 1,500,000° men in the Army now, the amount of blood needed for accidents result-| from training activities of Capi- stored ] when al mechanized army and for “nor- mal” illnesses is tremendous. | Washington got a good spanking the gther day for the way it hasi necessarily | been entertaining and receiving soldiers on leave. Dr. Frank S Lloyd, of the Federal Security Agency recreation division, admin- (Continued on Page Three) 'is $21 a ton for tungsten, ar freight train, were found suffocated n Nuys, The locomotive was burning after a fire started in oil drippings. Calif. Here the locomotive is ARGENTINA, U. 5. MAKE TRADE PACT Entire Tungs!en Production of South American Nahon Sold BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 27. — A three-year agreement under which | Argentina will sell her entire pro- duction of tungsten to the United States, has been concluded, author- | s declared today aid the price to be made most of which has been coming from China. and has been selling from $24 to $26 ized sourt It is !'a ton in New York Tungsten is essential in the pro- | duction of steels used in the manu- | | facture of munitions. -e SUCCESSOR T0 DANIELS NOW NAMED eorge Me;;érfimith Nom- inafed as U. 5. Ambas- sador fo Mexico WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.—George| S. Messersmith, now istered the verbal paddling, with Ambassador to Cuba, was nomin- such observations as, “This is the ated loday by President Roosevelt coldest, snootiest, most upturned to be Ambassador to Mexico, to nose area in the United States, succced Josephus Daniels, recently ——— barring none.” resigned because of the ill health] This ties in with a recent per- of Mrs. Daniels sonal experience. Falling in with Messersmith has had a success- three lads on leave from Fort ful career as a diplomat Eustis, Va., I ked them what b« 7 olipa sbout the national capital @ they NO SITKA FLIGH | disliked most and the answer was wraral immediate and all agreed: “"We poo. flying weather today sty- never have anybody to talk 10" e air traffic between Juneau Explanation brought out that the'szng gjtka, no pilots attempting boys get pretty wedry of "“_'- the flight. Dean Goodwin, Alaska ed like persons apart—or lke goastal Airlines pilot who flew to MAreyrs the defense city Tuesday, still | According to morale officers, i awaiting better weather there. queer bit of vicious racketeering e e ee BUY DEFENSE STAMPS United States| is I1SSUE ON PACIFICIS ~ DISCUSSED iImportant Conference Sud- denly Called in Na- 1 tional Capital HULL PUTS QUESTION DIRECT TO NIPPON NOW i Facts for Seftlement Placed | Before Representa- tives of Japan ETIN—WASHINGTON, Nov, 27.—After a While House conference this afternoon, the Japanese envoys said they had a “very friendly” conversation. H President Roosevelt was silent, however, on whether negotia- tions for solution of the Japan- ese-American problems will be resumed, BU WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.--Presi- dent Roosevelt, Secretary of State :Cordell Hull, Japanese Ambassador Nomun and Special Envoy Saburo | Kurusu will meet this afternoon as ‘nn aftermath of Secretary Hull'’s | step taken last night, in puttifig | the issue of peace or war on the ;Faciflc squarely up to the Japanese ! government. The State Department announces that the basic American proposals in adjusting the long standing prob- | lems of the Pacific with Japan, have | been handed to Admiral Nomura | and Special Envoy Kurusu The White House, early this fore- 1 noon gave no details for the reasens | underlying this afternoon’s confer- ;e-nce. i Reports reaching authoritative | Washington quarters indicate Japan \ls rapidly strengthening her forces |in French Indo-China during the | past week. Reports mention not only large troop transports reaching northern' and southern Indo-China but also large shipments of war materials of all kinds, including aviation gaso- line, are also being landed. Some reports hold out the pos- sibility that a Japanese thrust, pers haps In Thailand, will be made | within the next few dnys CHURCHILL REGIME T0 ~ STANDFIRM {House of Commons Turns | Down Labor Move-Votes Government Confidence LONDON, Nov. 27-~Bolstered by a new vote of confidence by Parlias | ment, the Churchill government to- day voiced the belief that Germany { Is seeking a respite from the war in Russia and is shaping a .peace of- fensive n\ruuuh the expanded anti- \Conunued on Page mht) Shopping Days Lill C’Auufmai 23