Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 164, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 9, 1941 Page: 1 of 6
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? American Losses
In Hawaii Still
Are Not Clarified
'Ciiok and Stark Called
By House Committee To
3
Explain Why Possible
By Lyln O. Wilson
United Press Correspondent
_ WASHINGTON, Dec. 0—(UP)
1-President Roosevelt's address
to the nation tonight will he de-
voted largely lo a discussion of
"the Nazi pattern" of the pres-
ent war involving the United
States, the White House said
' X>day.
Secretary Stephen Earlv said
at a press conference that the
chief executive would spend
most of the day working on his
address, which would deal more
tyilh -'the Naxi pattern of
this overall situation" than with
specific details of war operations
with .Japan in the Pacific.
Early's comment followed the
White House accusation yester-
day that Germany had done ev-
erything possible to push Japan
into the war against this coun-
try. Congressional leaders have
signified instant willingness to
See LOSSES Page ft
BULLETINS
° WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 —
(UP) — The house military af-
fairs committee today approved
legislation repealing restrictions
-on the use of selectees and nat-
ional guardsmen outside the
western hemisphere and U. S.
possessions.
MANILA, Dec. 9 _ (UP) —
>An unconfirmed rumor circulat-
ed today that a Japanese air-
craft carrier has been sunk off
Zamoales, on the west coast ot
Luzon, north of Manila.
• HONG KONG, Dec. 9 —(UP)
—Hong Kong defenders saw a
Japanese scout signaling yester-
day from what he apparently
thought was a natural mound.
..Actually it was a concealed
•imine. The mine was touched
off. The signaler vanished.
LONDON, Dec. 9 — (UP) —
The German radio reported to-
,day that Japanese authorities
• "have ordered air raid precau-
tions in certain districts north
and south of Tokyo.
The German report was heard
by the United Press listening
.post. The order applied to "cer-
-tain districts north and south-
west of Tokyo." The reference
to areas southwest of Tokyo
presumably refers to Yokahama,
great Japanese port.
- WASHINGTON. Dec. 9 —
(UP)—Sen. Tom Stewart, D„
Tenn., asserting that aircraft
based on the French islands of
Martinique could attack on the
.eastern U. S. seaboard told th°
•'isenate today that the U. S.
should immediately seize Mar-
tinique and French Guiana.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 —
. .,(!UP)—Secretary of State Cor-
nell Hull today coupled a warn-
ing that the j United States
should be on guard against
further attacks with a message
that America need have no fear
, of the outcome of the war with
'Japan.
NEW YORK, Dec. 9 — (UP)
—The National Broadcasting
company said today that a Pana-
ana radio broadcast reported
Japanese aircraft flying over the
Panama coast this morning but
that no bombs were dropped.
MANILA, Dec. 9 — (UP) —
.A Tokyo broadcast heard here
- reported that up to 10:20 a. m.
Tokyo time today (7:20 p. m.
CST Monday) no enemy planes
had appeared over Japanese ter-
ritory.
West Texas' Leading City VB More Than 15,000 Readers
Sweetwater Reporter
BUY IT IN SWEETWATER
"West Texas' Leading Newspaper"
DEDICATED TO SERVICE
45TH YEAR
SWEETWATER, TEXAS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1941
NUMBER 164
American Pacific Possessions As War Strikes
ALASKA
U S SOVIET RUSSI
CANADA
WIT1W A3Q
UNAlAiKA P>jS
■
tOKA KOOIAK SlTK>^F=|
PANES* IAS£5
uniteb
STATES:
PAN I
ATTACKED
CHINA
UN
ftLANClSCQ
MIDWAY
WAKC
HAWAII
PALMYRA
east inwes"
ISLANDS ** CU*" >
CAtOtlNE MA IS* ALL
-_IS. (J«p) (jap i
AUSTRALIA
Si s
= 1 CAATOCtAPHMS
-jo* WESTCtN HEMI
PACIFIC OCEAN
UMIT
HEMfSTHEJU
Over lliis vafit rxpanw of Pacific and Far Eastern .territory the United States has come to
grips with Japan. Flags of the belligerent countries mark tile possessions of each and air-line
distances between principal points art shown.
Japs Strike At Philippines
In Land And Sea Assaults
SEN. TOBEY DEMANDS
TRUTH TOLD PEOPLE
Brother of Mrs.
Bunkley Promoted
f Jaek Paul, Del Rio. and broth-
er of Mrs. Earl Bunkley attend-
ing Sehrelner Institute, Kerr-
ville. was one of six students to
he pledged to membership in the
Phi Theta Kappa, an honor sor-
Ifirity for high seholastie aver-
ages.
Jaek also has been promoted
in rank to a corporal and has
received honorable mention with
77 other students for his at-
tainments.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 0 —
(UP — Sen, Charles W. Tobey,
R., N. H., sadi today it was "re-
R. N. Y., said today it was "re-
a large part of the Pacific fleet
has been wiped out" and de-
manded that the American peo-
ple be informed of the true sit-
uation.
Walsh had just come from a
secret session of the senate na-
val affairs committee at which
members discussed "the serious-
ness of what has already oc-
curred in the Pacific" and pre
dieted expansion of the naval
program.
Walsh toid the senate that
Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief
of naval operations, had in-
formed him that "the navy is
not in*a position to give us addi-
tional information other than
what President Roosevelt has
already given congress."
"Personally, I think that sug-
gestion may be desirable, but
for the time being I adhere to
my previous position of no com-
ment until the president speaks
tonight," Walsh said.
Walsh said 8tark suggested
that congress defer inquiry un-
til after the president speaks on
the radio tonight.
"Does the senator under-
See TOBEY Page 6
Sweetwater Youth
Gets RCAF Wings
o
Billy Mitchell, son of Mr. and
Mrs. W. M. Mitchell, one of
Sweetwater's 14 youths in the
Royal Canadian Air Force, re-
ceived his wings, Dec. 4, at
Yorktown, Saskatchewan.
Billy, a graduate of Sweet-
water high schtul, enlisted in
the RCAF in .Harch. At the
time he was an employe of the
U. S. C.ypsum company. He re-
ceived extensh e training as an
airman and was commissioned as
a sergeant pilot. Later his com-
mission will be n pilot officer.
Billy reached Sweetwater Sun-
day night on a 15-day furlough
and to visit his parents.
Red Dispatches
Report Germans
Lose 6 Millions
By Robert Dowson
United i'ress Correspondent
LONDON, Dec. 0— (UP)— Rus-
sian dispatches said today that
since the start of the war the
Germans have lost (>,000,000 men
in killed, wounded and prison-
See REDti Page 6
v
City Offers To
Join County In
Free Library
The city-county free library
which has long been sought here
came in for considerable dis-
cussion at a meeting of the
Sweetwater city commissioners
Monday night in the municipal
building with about 20 visitors
present.
The city reiterated its pro-
posal to support such a library
to the same extent that they
are supporting the present
library, provided the county
would furnish a building and
any other necessary expenses.
Mrs. R. H. Bennett, Mrs. Har-
ry Bondies and other represen-
tatives of the county free lib-
rary committee, Judge Delas
Reeves, Mrs. Dorothy Journeay,
field representative of the Tex-
as State Library association and
R. C. Crane also were present.
The commission passed an
ordinance in regard to re-eon-
struction of Highway 80 through
Sweetwater, approved current
accounts and adjourned.
Present were Mayor Lee
Langle.v. who presided; Commis-
sioners J. M. Lawrence, H. T.
Marshall. Ben Roberts and C.
C. Johnston; W. H. Whaley,
city comptroller; R. C. Hoppe,
city manager: and Carl Ander-
son, city attorney.
MANILA, Dec. 9 — (UP) —
United States defense forces
were officially reported today
to have inflicted "considerable"
losses on Japanese air squad-
rons attacking the Philippines
still withheld comment on re-
ported enemy land operations
on the islands of Lubang and
Mindanao.
Lieut. (Jen. Douglas Mr-
Arthur, com mander-in-chief
of the American forces in
the far Fast, said the Japa-
nese "sustained considerable
atrial losses" in attacks on
island objectives, including
Nichols field just south of
Manila.
The attacks ranged from Lu-
zon Island, on which Manila
is situated, to Davao on Minda-
nao Island in the south. Clark
field near Manila was reported
heavily damaged, while Iba and
Taguebarao were bombed.
The heaviest Japanese attack,
which started some fires south
of Manila, was by moonlight at
3 a. m., but enemy planes were
over the islands again this morn-
ing.
McArthur said that the Am-
erican defenders suffered losses
in the fighting, but that the
number of planes lost by both
sides was a military secret.
Reports circulated that Japa-
nese troops had landed on Lu-
bang Island, which lies off the
entrance to Manila bay, but of-
ficials refused comment. They
also declined comment on ear-
lier rumors that Japanese resi-
dents had attempted an uprising
on Mindanao Island, where the
greatest Japanese settlement in
the Philippines centers around
Davao.
It was believed, however, that
the situation was in control in
Mindano.
Local Officials
Call Meeting On
Defense Program
Conference On Plans
For Wartime Efforts
To Be Held At 7:30
Spurred by opening of active
warfare against Japan in the
Pacific, leaders in Sweetwater
and Nolan county defense work
plan to enlist large numbers of
citizens in varied wartime work
here at home.
County Judge Delas Reeves
and Mayor Lee Langley, official-
ly in charge of civilian defense
work in county and city, respec-
tively have asked all World War
and Spanish war veterans, with
their auxiliaries, and other pa-
triotic organizations to help
push defense efforts in this area.
At a meeting to be held at 7:30
Tuesday night at the quarters of
Musician's Post No. 333, 406
See OFFICIALS Page 6
v
CASUALTIES
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -
(UP) — The war department,
issuing the first official casual-
ty list of the United stales •
Japanese war. today listed the
names of 37 American soldiers
who were killed in Japanese air
raids on Oahu.
The list of men killed in
bombardment of the Hawaiian
base included:
Second Lieut." Robert H. Mark-
ley, air corps, next of kin. Ar-
thur H. Markley, father, Nar-
din, Okla. ■
Second Lieut. Jay E. Pietzsch,
air corps, next of kin. Ottj
Pietzsch, father, Amarillo, Tex.
Frst Lieut. John S. Greene,
air corps, next of kin, Mrs. D.
H. Greene, wife, Colfax, la.
First Lieut. Robert M. Rich-
ey, air corps, next of kin, Mrs.
George K. Richey, mother.
Wellsburg, W. Va.
Second Lieut. George A.
Whiteman, air corps, next of kin,
John C., Whiteman, relationship
unlisted, Sedalia, Mo.
Second Lieut. Hans C. Christ-
iansen, air corps, next of kin.
Peter C. Christiansen, father,
Woodland, Calif.
Private Robert G. Allen, air
corps, next of kin, Mrs. Sarah E.
Allen, mother, Sims. Ind.
First Sgt. Edward J. Burns,
air corps, nearest relative,
See CASUALTIES Page 6
U. S. Hits Back At
Japs; Declaration
By Nazis Rumored QN ALERT
ARMY AND
NAVY GOES
Japanese Slash At Philippines And
Malaya; Tokyo Orders Precautions
As American Raids Unconfirmed
All Defenses Summoned
As Hostile Planes Are
Reported Off Coast
BULLETIN
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8
—(CP) _ Ail California ra-
dio stations were ordered
off the air indefinitely today
after recurrent air raid
alarms. Army and navy au-
thorities said enemy planes
had approached the central
California coast.
By .Io.e Alex Morris
United Press Foreign Editor
Japan slashed at the Philippines and .Malaya today but there
were hints that American long-range bombers had retaliated with
attacks on Tokyo, Kobe and the Island of Formosa.
Official confirmation of raids on Japanese industrial and nava'
centers was lacking hut the German radio said that Tokyo and
ordered air raid precautions in the areas north and southwest of
the capital.
A Tokyo broadcast said that there had been no enemy
planes over Japan up to 8:20 p. m., EST^, Monday, but a Col-
umbia Broadcasting System correspondent at Manila relayed
reports that the Japanese capital and Kobe, which is the
center of an important naval yard, had been bombed.
A British communique said that artillery batteries at Hong
Kong had "halted" a Japanese land attack on that isolated and
blockaded colony, with Canadian troops taking the lead in defense
action. One Japanese plane was hit by anti-aircraft guns, the 1
communique said. j NEW 10RK, Dec: 9 — (UP)
Japanese airplanes bombed the Manila area by moonlight and —A" army and navy air sta-
returned to the islands this morning after a series of attacks that tions were ordered on the alert
caused considerable damage at Clark Field, near Manila, and to today as a precaution agains* air
scattered objectives throughout the Philippines including Davao. raids.
Iba, Baguio, and Tagueharao. One American naval ensign was there was no official cornr-
killed at Davao and one was killed and 12 wounded at the United mation from military or naval
BULLETIN
NEW YORK, Dec. 9 —
(l'P) — An "all clear" sig-
nal in New York and Bos-
ton ended air raid alarms
that kept the North Atlan-
tic coast on guard today
against possible hostile air-
era St for more than two
hours.
States army station of Nichols field.
There were persistent reports without confirmation that
Japanese had landed on the island of Lubang, which lies off
the entranr>e to Manila bay and is about 80 miles from the
Philippine capital.
Japanese claims" that Guam and Wake Islands had been tak-
en, also were not confirmed.
Severe land fighting was in progress on the Malaya coast, how-
ever, as the Japanese sought to strike toward Britain's great
naval base at Singapore.
Japanese seizure of Thailand facilitated the drive against north-
sources of rumors that hostile
aircraft were near the eastern
seaboard, and one military auth-
ority in Boston suggested th?
reports might have been start-
ed by a United States airplane
that was flying out to test air-
raid precaution devices.
Most of the precautionary act-
ivity centered in Boston where
civilian defense units were ord-
ered on duty, 12.500 air raid
wardens were summoned to 24-
western Malaya, but British dispatches said that the enemy land- hour duty and police were ord-
ered to advise manufacturers
to prepare for an air raid.
The United Press instructed
all of its coastal correspondents
to be especially careful about
giving circulation to rumors
of enemy aircraft activity in
the interests of preventing un-
due alarm.
"Stick to authorized sources,"
the instructions said.
Explaining that no confirma-
Japs Halted By *
Hong Kong Guns
HONG KONG, Dec. f) — (UP)
—A British communique to-
night reported that Hong
Kong's artillery batteries open-
ed up on Japanese attackers and
"lialted their ddvnrie-> "
The communique did not sptv
cify the exact ...en < . ■ . . .
anese land operations but. it
was presumed they are on the
mainland opposite this island
One Japanese plane was crip-
pled by Hong Kong's air de-
fenses in an air attack, the
communique said, and no ser-
ious damage was caused
A meeting of all contractors
involved in building, real estate
men, material supply firms, city
officials, newspapermen, and
persons nterested in building
new homes was announced Mon-
day night by Ed Ponder, chair-
man of the Sweetwater build-
ing committee, for 10 a. m. Wed-
nesday in the Board of City
Development offices.
The announcement was made
at the BCD meeting when Pon-
der gave a detailed report of
all work done to boost Sweet-
water home building under
Title VI, FHA.
James E. Ferguson reported
on various phases of the Christ
mas celebration held here last
week, and Philip Yonge report-
ed details of the written con-
tract with T. J. Tidwell shows
which has rented two of the fair
buildings. Yonge spoke to show
the board that the fair manage-
ment was amply protected in
the contract.
President Peter Fox and
Manager Milo K. Roth were au
thorized to attend the annua!
Colorado City Chamber of Com-
merce membership banquet at
Colorado City tonight.
Present for the meeting were
Fox, Roth, Ferguson, Ponder,
Yonge, George Bennitt, Irving
Loeb. A. R. Norred, John Schrie-
ver, P. L. tJHom.
ing parties which gained a foothold on the beaches near Kota
Bharu airport were being wiped out.
Northward, where Thailand joins Burma and Indo-China, the
Japanese were said by the Berlin radio to have opened an attack
on the Burma road supply route to China.
Japan was paying greatest attention to the position of
Germany and the Soviet I'nion toward the far eastern war,
and indicated that immediate help was expected from her
axis partners.
The Japanese radio also issued an indirect wanting to the
Soviets to keep out of the conflict, asserting that Japanese-held tion of the presence of hostile
Manchukuo is prepared to keep her northern frontiers intact, [aircraft off the coast had been
Tokyo has frequently asserted that it would fight any attempt obtained. Lieut.-Gen. Delos Em-
to establish British or American air bases in the Vladivostok sec- | command*' an-
tor, from which attacks could be launched on Tokyo. | nounced through the White
Germany's role in the "Pacific conflict still was not clear, al-1 House in Washington that
though the Axis spokesmen indicated that every assistance would "we're taking no chances and
be given Japan. A Montevideo newspaper reported that the 10,000-1 remain on the alert."
ton German pocket battleship Lutzow was already raiding off , ^"out '1'an,cls t00^
„ .. , , from Mitchel Field, an armv
the South American coast. . field near New York, for recon-
Rumors circulated without official support that Germany might naissa,nee flights. Fire-fighting
declare war against the United States, but Berlin sources describ- j apparatus and ambulance detals
ed this as "improbable." j went to emergency posts at
— — \ Mitchel Field and rifles, steel
i helmets and gas masks were is-
! sued to the 7,500 men at the
field.
At 1:34 p. m. the Brook-
lyn police broadcast: "Ene-
my aircraft are expected ov-
er New York in 10 minutes."
Earlier all Brooklyn boro-
ugh police stations were ord-
ered to "take necessary
precautions" for an air raid.
Army interceptor planes cross
Hartford, Conn., early in the
afternoon and headed" toward
Long Island Sound. A few minu-
tes later three pursuit ships
followed the interceptors.
The New York police tele-
type system carried the follow-
ine instructions:
"Notify all radio cars to be
on the alert in the event of a
"rave emergency which may
occur at anv moment. U=e the
siren to warn the people in
the immediate ar^a to lenvo ♦he
streets. and highwavs ard seek
Meeting On Home Building
Program Called Wednesday
WAR QUOTA OF $4,000 SET
BEFORE COUNTY RED CROSS
The first impact of the sacri-shortly be held to organize the
fice which America will be call-1 new drive. The time and the
ed upon to make, if it sustains organization for the campaign
its national honor and defeats will be announced as soon as
Japan and, probably, her axis possible.
allies in the war that has been | The telegram which he receiv-
thrust upon this nation, came ed reads:
upon Sweetwater Tuesday with) "Again the American Red
announcement that the American j Cross is called upon to serve j shelter inside bui'dines away
Red Cross must meet demands i our nation in war. Both nation-1 from windows and falling ma-
for vastly increased service. j ally and locally we face vast,
\V ith the normal Roll Call > and dpfinits responsibilities fo< , operators anrl rpr^rdprs
campaign only just completed, | services to our armed forces and j will notifv all foot natro'me i,
Dr. Albert Brann, chairman of for relief to distressed civilians, traffic patrolmen, mo'orcvc'e
the Nolan county chapter, has To provide essential funds Red natrolmen and mounted natrol-
I men to advise all persons on
| ctree's as abo%*e."
A mi"nt" lit^r «h" ^'low-
ing messaee was
"Fmers-enc'- may occur at
any moment."
Air raid sirens sounded
I 'hrousrhout Nassau courtv on
T one* Island and children were
received an urgent telegram j
from regional headquarters ask-
ing an effort of twice the mag-
nitude of the regular call.
The chapter. Dr. Brann said,
must raise almost twice as much
money if it meets this new chal-
lenge. A quota of $4,000 has been
set.
Dr. Brann, appealing to the
people of the city and county to
respond to this new appeal in
the true spirit of Americanism
rising to an emergency, an-
nounced that a meeting will
Cross today is launching a cam
paign for war funds of mini-
mum of 50 million dollars The
President will issue on Friiiuv
a proclamation supporting this
appeal. Your chapter quota is
4,000 dollars. Chapters may re-
tain 15 per cent of their collec-
tions for local war relief ex-
penditures. Chapter should at ] sent home from scb^oie ->nd
once devote full" efforts to rai- 1 tn'd not to return until further
ing their quotas in shortest pos notification. Police ^d ^bool
sible time. Please report action ,-biiftren in the borough of
taken. We must not and shall , Prooklvn also would be sent
not fail in this crisis." 'homo.
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 164, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 9, 1941, newspaper, December 9, 1941; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282452/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.