Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 171, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 21, 1941 Page: 1 of 18
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«
NEW LANDING
; i
U. S. Subs Sink Second Transport
."We'U Do The Job," Veteran Tells Red Cross Mass Meet
jiPsvHMm
•Heavy Fighting In
„ Mindanao Island
Against Invaders
* By Frank Hewlett
United Press Staff Correspondent.
MANILA, Dec. 20—(UP)—American defense forces were re-
ported still holding the capital and Port of Ilavao tonight after
heavy fighting against strong Japanese landing units on Minda-
# nao Island.
Fragmentary reports from the Mindanao front, where Ijieut.
Col. Rogers Hi Is man is commanding defense forces, Indicated that
the most, serious battling of the war in the Philippines was in
progress, hut failed to givf a detailed picture of developments.
Refugees arriving from southeastern Luzon province, mean-
while, disclosed that evacuation of the I'aracale sector had result-
ed In loss of one of the richest gold inline areas in the far East lie-
cause the mines were flooded as soon as pumping operations
ceased.
4f> Japanese air attacks on Luzon were slight, with only a few
bombs dropped on Nichols field
I
t
i
if
Hong Kong Holds
c, But Capture At
Any Hour Likely
By Sidney J. Williams
^ UP Staff Correspondent
* LONDON, Dec. 20—(UP)—A
fearless but apparently doomed
band of British Imperials fought
in the bomb-scarred streets and
on the shell-furrowed hills of
M Hong Kong today without ask-
ing or giving quarter to over-
whelmingly stronger Japanese
invaders.
The end of 100 years of British
rule may come at any hour for
the little crown colony, military
^ dispatches said, hut for the time
being the defenders of Ilong
are holding fast to the rugged
skies of 1,825-foot Victorie peak
ami to their trenches on lesser
hillsides.
4, • isti'eet fighting has been in
jtfogress in some - sections since
last night, dispatches from
Chungking said, but a message
from Giv. Sir Mark Young said
that the Japanese were not yet
^ in control of the island.
The diminishing band of Hong
Kong defenders have little or no
clv'ncp of being withdrawn, a
a United Press dispatch from
Singapore emphasized.
_ Singapore officials said that it
was understood that as many
as possible of the defenders and
population were being given ref-
uge on Victoria Peak, which is
so rought and steep that there
~ are no roads up its sides except
* for pedestrians and sedan chairs.
British guns perched on Vic-
toria and on another range of
smaller hills were reported by
Singapore to be taking a heavy
toll of enemy assault troops, but
* Japanese big guns in Kowloon
were hammering at the British
positions and protecting the land-
ing of more and more enemy
forces.
* Goodfellows
Over The. Top
* Although Sweetwater Good-
fellows have "gone over the
top" with donations exceeding
$7!j0, a goal set by the commit-
tee to bring cheer to Sweetwat-
er's needy, additional contribu-
te tions will be used to swell the
gift and any money received will
be used to make Christmas
sacks of goodies larger, the com-
mittee suggested.
Additional donors:
Hillsdale Gravel Co $10.00
} Browning Grain Co 100
E. B. Garrett 1-00
J. M. Hayes 1-00
O. E. Morgan luo
E. G. Patton 100
C. M. Pearce I-00
Sunbeam Grocery 1500
R. and R. Theatres 5.00
W. M. Mullins 1.00
Triple Four Bridge club 2.50
C. V. Taylor L00
Woolworth 10-00
' Previously reported .. $747.oO
south of thi" capital. Damage
was small and no fires could he
seen. The planes later went ov-
er Cavite where defense batter-
ies fired on them.
Late advices from Minda-
nao—center of Japanese pop-
ulation in the Philippines—
indicated that heavy fight-
ing was in progress against
enemy forces that landed in
large numbers front trans-
ports protected by warships
and ii'.—lane carriers at l)a-
vao gulf.
Exact positions of the defense
forces were uncertain but unof-
ficial reports said the Japanese,
presumably expecting a benefit
from the aid of the Japanese
population, were making a big-
scale drive to seize Davao as a
base for naval operations.
The possibility of Japanese
fifth-columnist activities wa,s
believed to have been overcome,
however, by work of the con-
stabulary in rounding up some
18,000 Japanese residents on
Mindanao Island.
On Luzon, official sources said
that patrol action continued
against Japanese forces attempt-
ing to advance from the Legas-
pi sector southeast of Manila.
The Paracale mining district
is oniy a few feet above sea
level and as soon as the pumps
were stopped the mines were
flooded. Mining officials said
that it probably will take years
to reclaim the flooded mines,
which had a monthly production
of about $1,200,000 worth of gold
and base metals or about 2fi per
cent of the Philippines mineral
production.
About 150 American men, wo-
men and children were ordered
evacuated from the district and
some of them walked or hitch-
hiked 200 miles to Manila. Oth-
ers used horse drawn vehicles.
In some of the mines, dyna
mite was exploded at strs
points to prevent the Japanese
from using them. One mine su
perintendent arrived in Manila
without any personal belongings
but he carried $10,000 worth of
gold.
There was a light Japanese
bombing attack on Nichols field
at noon and the all clcar sound-
ed at 1:45 p. m„ but the main
field of action had shifted to
Mindanao.
Total
$798.00
V.
Free Pict ure For
School Children
A custom of long standing
will be carried out again this
'I Christmas when the R and R
1 * Theatres and Henry Rogers sr
manager, will entertain all
school children in Sweetwater
with a free movie Christmas
morning.
_ The feature, "Flying Ducses"
• will begin promptly at 10 a. m.,
Dec. 24. Every school age child
In (Sweetwater will lie wel-
come," Mr. Rogers said.
Enemy Destroyer
Probably Bagged,
Navy Announces
J
New Successes Add
To Toll Exacted Of
Japanese Sett Forces
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 —
(UP) — U. S. submarines in
the Far East, harassing Japan's
sea supply lines, today scored
a new success with the sinking
of a second enemy transport
within a week.
The successful attack was re-
vealed in the navy's 13th com-
munique of the war.
The communique also told of
a heavy assault on Cavite, site
of the Asiatic fleet's base in the
Philippines, by Japanese bomb-
ers. Some damage to property
resulted, the navy said.
The navy revealed Thursday
that its submarines in the Far
East had torpedoed and sunk
an enemy transport. That com ]
munique also said an enemy
destroyer probably was sunk.
Army fliers in the Philippines ]
last, week claimed the destruc-
tion of four Japanese transports
and damage to many othes. as
well as the sinking of a Jap-1
anse battleship, the 29,000 ton
Hauna. Navy fliers, operating!
in the Philippines area, also)
claimed (o have bombed and sev-
erely damaged an enemy battle-
ship of the Kongo class.
Today's communique bad no
new developments to report
from other areas of the Pacific
and the Atlantic 'theatre.
There was no further word
about the heroic defense of j
Wake or Midway islands in the
mid Pacific, by their marine gar-
risons. The navy has said pre
viously that marine corns fliers
sank a Japanese light cruiser
and a destroyer seeking to sup-
port landing operations at
Wake.
Wake has been subjected to
numerous bombing attacks but
according to the navy the mar-
ines have continued to counter
the blows of the enemy.
U. S. submarines in the Far
East apparently have been a
source of concern to the Japan-
ese, who earlier this week war-
ned that American undersea
cnaft were active around the
island empire. It was also re-
called that soon after the out
break of war in the Pacific, Ad
miral Thomas Hart, commander-
in-chief of the Asiatic fleet, re
minded that U. S. submarines
were still to be heard from.
—v
4-H Club Boy Has
js New Piji Project
Carroll Wilkes, 4-H club bov
of the Decker community, north
east of Maryneal, now is laun
ched in the club demonstration
work with 11 pigs and a brand
new feeder built Wednesday by
County Agent R. B. Tate and a
half dozen other 4-H boys.
jpA West Texas' Leading City ■■ More Than 15,000 Readers
Sweetwater Reporter
BUY IT IN SWEETWATER
"West Texas' Leading Newspaper"
DEDICATED TO SERVICE
t-STH YKAR SWEETWATER, TEXAS, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1911
NUMBER 171
This brings the number of
t^vo exonerating in this work I seized the Derna airdrome,
in Nolan county to 50. See DERNA Page 6
Niffht View Of Sweetwater Decoration
This night photo of the Sweetwater courthouse and square strikingly pictures the attractive-
ness of the Christmas decorations which are praised as the most beautiful in West Texas.
Photo courtesy Bob's Studio.
*
McArthur May Be
Named Allied Chief
In Far East War
By Ernest Ha reel la
United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 211—(UP)—The anti-Axis powers may
be preparing a super-strategy plan that will plac.e America's new-
est general—Douglas Mac Arthur—in supreme command of all
allied forces in the crucial far eastern struggle.
This possibility was viewed today as the real answer to pre-
———- sident Roosevelt's action in pro-
it/j z' i 1 moting MacArthnr, chief of the
iVlav tonimand l\ S. army of the Philippines, to
J temporary rank as full general.
FJ *1" til* And it seemed to add up be-
racihc Allies cause
1. Mr. Roosevelt announced
the promotion even as he con-
firmed that plans for establish-
ing an inter-allied command to
master-mind operations of a
world-wide front are being dis-
cussed here.
2. Swift senate approval of
the promotion came on the
>- admitted basis that Ma^Ar- i
iIiiii- probably would have to
have the rank of full g'p&l
eral to "deal on an rc|iiaij.^
sis" with military
of America's allies. y
3. London, which broke the
See MacARTHUR Page 2
y
Many Thousands
Of Nazis Faced
With Entrapment
K ,' Henry Shapiro
CP Staff Correspondent
MOSCOW, Dec. 20 —(UP) —
The Red army is hammering
axis forces falling back on the
central front and breaking up
desperate German attempts to
fight a rearguard action, war
dispatches reported today.
Russian tank and cavaUy ad-
vances both northwest and
southwest of Moscow were re-
ported threatening the entrap-
ment of tens of thousands of
enemy troops in addition to
thousands already lost in the
German retreat.
(A German radio broadcast,
heard by National Broadcasting
company, said that the retire-
ment "along the entire eastern
front" is to establish efficient
new battlelines. A Finnish com
munique broadcast by Berlin
radio said that the Russians
were attacking in the north but
had been "thrown back.")
South of Moscow in the Tula
sector, a correspondent of
Pravda said, many enemy offi-
cers and soldiers are "voluntar-
ily surrendering."
"An officer of the 2nd
battalion of the 109th hea-
vy artillery regiment named
See' THOUSANDS Page 6
v—
Dutch Score Hits
On Jap Cruisers
LONDON, Dec. 20—(UP)—Ra-
dio Batavia today broadcast a
special Netherlands war commu-
nique which said that three Jap-
anese cruisers had been put out
of action in the course of Dutch
air actions off Miri, Sarawak
(north Borneo).
Following is the communique
broadcast by radio Batavia and
recorded by the United Press
in London:
"Following successes of the
Royal Netherlands East Indies
Air forces against Japanese nav-
al units off Miri it now is re-
ported that Glenn-Martin homb-
ers of the N.E.I, air force this
morning made a new attack on
Japanese naval units, scoring di-
rect hits on one cruiser and one
transport, both of which were
left blazing.
"Altogether three cruisers thus
have been put out of action off
Miri."
Jap Far East Moves
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, coin-
maiiilci'-in-clii.ff of the Ameri-
can Philippine army, wlio, it
is reported, will be made gen-
eralissimo of all allied forces
fighting the Axis in the Pa-
cific.
Derna. 200 Miles
Inside Libya, Is
Taken Bv British
CAIRO, Dec .20—(UP)—Brit-
ish troops, out to "utterly de-
stroy" Axis forces in North Af-
rica, have occupied Derna, the
major German-Italian base on
the hump of Libya 200 miles in-
side the Egyptian border, and
F.I Mekili, vital highway junc-
tion south of Derna, British gen-
eral headquarters for the middle
East said today.
"Our troops occupied both
Derna and Mekili without oppo-
sition Friday morning," its com-
munique said.
The British previously had
ZAP ATTACKS
BOMBED BY MPS ^
MILES
PACIFIC
OCEAN
FORMOSA
KONG KONG
m
in/
IGAN
1*5
LUZON
HAINAN
MANI
PHILIPPINE -
ISLANDS . A
South China Seo *AH
LEG ASF I
BRITISH
SAIGON
NORTH
MINDANAO
BORNEO
Celebes Sco
ENANG
MALAY
STATES
BRITISH
EFf NSC
CELfcetS
SINGAPORE
PONTIANA
DUTCH
llll
Indtan Q)
Oc con
DUTCH EAST INDIES
(I)—.laps report capture of Hong Kong but British report
fighting still in progress; (2)—Three-way drive on Luzon
Island in Philippines, Manila bonih.'d; (:{)—Panay bombed;
(4)—Drive into British Borneo, bomb Dutch Borneo; (5) —
Drives into Burma and against British defense lines before
Singapore. (NEA Telemap).
Enemy U'Boats
On Atlantic Coast
Savs Col. Gibbons
War Forced On Us
But We'll Win It
Speaker Appeals For
Support Of Emergency
Fund Asked Of County
"War is a nasty, dirty, filthy
job; but this war, forced upon
America by the bandit nation
Japan, is a job that must be
done; and by the grace of God
will be done."
Col. Murray F. Gibbons, vet-
eran of World War and Philip-
pine island fighting, was ad-
dressing a Sweetwater mas3
meeting Saturday from the im-
provised platform on the west
steps of the courthouse in a
stirring appeal for support of
the American Red Cross wartime
appeal for $4,000 in Nolan coun-
ty-
"The life of this very Ameri-
can nation, and our democratic
way of living are at stake," the
Camp Barkc-ley officer contin-
ued.
"When the church bells ring
in Sweetwater every man, wo-
man and child can go to church
of their choice, or stay at home
and worship God in any manner
they choose.
"This is one sign of our
freedom, and our very right
to assemble here in a public
meeting is another; but let
us not forget that all of our
freedom has come down to
us by the heroic sacrifices
of our ancestors.
"Are we worthy of these sac-
rifices, and of this freedom. If
so let us prove it here, for the
time for lip service has passed.
This is the time, the place and
the circumstances that must
bring action, brutal, forceful and
sacrificing action.
"Three million young Ameri-
cans answered their call to du-
ty in the last World War that
you and I might stand here to-
day as free Americans: and oth-
er millions are preparing to
fight the cruel forces against us
now to preserve our rights as
a free nation.
"We are not asking all of you
who stay here at home to sac-
rifice as these boys must but to
help make their sacrifice easier
to bear.
"The Red Cross will help look
after the wounded boys, and
their families, and it si time for
those of us who can to dig down
into our pockets to see that the
Red Cross has the funds to do
this with."
Col. Gibbons was introduced
bv Carl Anderson. Sweetwater
chairman of the Red Cross drive
who also made a rousing ap-
See WE'LL DO Page 2
WASHINGTON', Dec. 20—(UP)—The navy disclosed today, for
the first time, that enemy submarines have been operating along
the Atlantic coast.
The navy did not identify the "enemy" but it was assumed
the submarines were German.
The disclosure was in a navy department statement that said
a radio news broadcast about
weather "aided operation of en-|
emy submarines on the Atlantic
coast."
The broadcast, the navy said, I rt t
mentioned sub-freezing weather ror Japanese
in the Dakotas and a tempera- i
ture of nine degrees below zero 4/^J 4 ccon I f *
at Duluth, Minn.—points remote iTlulul /Aontlll 11
Only One Change
In All-County
\CA Committee
j Singapore Girds
from the Atlantic coast and ap-
parently not concerned with na-
val or military operations.
However, a weather-wise com-
manding officer of a U. S. naval
base in the Atlantic heard the
broadcast and immediately con-
cluded that in a few days his
patrol area would have a clear
day or two with high visibility
and conditions ideal for enemy
submarine attack.
"Special precautions were tak-
en in patrol work on the calcu-
lated day, which turned out as
predicted," the navy said, "and
in the course of operations it
See ENEMY Page 6
Personnel of the all-countv
committee of the Agricultural
Conservation association was
changed in only one name Sat-
urday. Carlton L. McLeod, Trent,
being named vice-chairman, re-
placing George R. Pepper.
Community commit teemen
were re-elected for Blackwell
and Roscoe. but the Sweetwater
group will be made up of entire-
ly new members,
Arthur J. Duncan, Alonzo H.
McElmurray. and Clarence J.
Harris, delegates elected from
By Harold Guard
IT' Staff Correspondent
SINGAPORE. Dec. 20— (UP) | the communities to attend the
—Authorities speeded up organ- county convention of the Nolan
ization of the whole able-bodied j county ACA Saturday, at 10 a.
population today to withstand an I m.. for the purpose of electing
expected Japanese "grand as- j 1942 county committeemen, elect-
sault." ed the following:
With the loss of Penang is-1 Jurd B. Cooper. Roscoe, Chair-
land. the invasion of Hong Kong man: Carlton L. McLeod, Tren|,
and the advance of enemy forc-
es on the west coast of Malaya,
government officials said that
vice-chairman; Cecil B. Smith,
Blackwell, regular member; Al-
onzo H. McElmurray, Trent,
the Japanese were believed to I first alternate, and Ray W. Hen-
be massing for a front attack dricks, Roscoe, second alternate,
front the Kriang river line some ; The following community com-
See SINGAPORE Page 6 I See COMMITTEE Page 6
Posthumous Citation Tells
How Naval Hero Lost Life
, as an answer to the first prayer 1 and the crew of his bomber
! by Mrs. Marion Kellv, wife of 1 wore winging for their home
base after sinking the Haruna.
the flier, when she was inform- i *1.
By ROBERT CRABB
lTnlted Press Correspondent
MANILA, Dec. 20 — (UP)
The captain went down with his j ed of his death. "Please, Lord,"
ship. jshe said, "I hope that Colin knew
He was Capt. Colin P. Kelly. 1 he got that battleship before
jr., of the army air corps, and j he died.")
his ship was a flaming bomber Kelly's name already had been
that had just dealt a death blow 1 written high on the roll of Am
to the Japanese battleship Ha ' erican military and naval heroes
runa, off the Philippine coast. I for his feat in sinking the Ha-
Six American men are alive be-
cause Kelly gave his life
The fullly story of Kelly's he-
roism became known only to-
day when Gen. Douglas MacAr-
thur, American commander In
the far East, awarded distin-
guished service crosses to 13 of-
ficers and men—three of them
posthumously—for gallantry m
defense of the Philippines.
(Mac Arthur's citation came
acArthur's citation tells the
rest:
"With his airplane the focal
point of fire from strong hostile
naval forces, Captain Kelly ex-
hibited a high degree of valor
and skill in placing three direct
hits on an enemy battleship, re-
sulting in its destruction.
"En route to his home If
field after completion of his mis-
the contrary, that he died roar-1 sion his airplane was set afire
runa. It had been assumed,
the absence of information
ing down the dreadnaught'v
guns to loose his bombs. But
Mac-Arthur's terse citation re-
vealed there were two chapters
in the story of Kelly's heroism.
The second chapter was writ-
ten near Aparri. on the north
coast of the Philippine Island of
Luzon on Dec. 9, when Kelly
by an attack of two enemy fight-
ters. This officer ordered his
crew to bail out. Six men there-
by saved themselves, but Kelly,
the last to leave the burning
plane, was killed in the result-
ing crash. The next of kin is
Mrs. Marion Wick Kelly of Hlck-
am Field, Hawaii."
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 171, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 21, 1941, newspaper, December 21, 1941; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282462/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.