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Diplomats Here Deny - Pole-Czech Plan for German Alliance Disclaim Possibility Of Peace Talks With Soviet as Well High diplomatic officials here to- day categorically denied and de- scribed as “misinformed and without foundation” a report published last week alleging that officials of the Polish and Czecho-Slovak govern- ments-in-exile in London are “talk- ing in terms of alliance with Germany or Russia, rather than the restoration of their complete inde- pendence when the war is ended.” The article appeared in The Eve- ning Star under the by-line of Jay «*» G. Hayden, and was based in part on the Czecho-Slovak-Polish decla- ration issued in London November 11 to define mutual relationships between these governments. The Czecho-Slovak Legation de- clined comment, indicating that Minister Vladimir Hurban, en route to New York for the week end, would issue a statement on arrival in that city. At the Polish Embassy, Jan Dro- hojowski. counselor, described the London declaration as “an expres- sion of our present co-operation in the struggle against Hitler Germany,! and a close collaboration of both countries after the war. As for t Russia, remember, please, that Po- | land Still is at war with the Soviet i Union.” Approved by Britain. The little-known London declar- ation was accompanied by the ap- proval of the British government and informed diplomatic sources disclaim the possibility of reading between-the-lines a future program of appeasement and peace-talks with either Germany or the Soviet. Primarily, it is held, the declaration * represents a factual understanding and accord, and was not conceived in terms of an extensive political instrument. Tire single, governing issue is one of amity, which does anticipate that a large number of small European countries will, after the defeat of Nazism, adopt a policy of solidarity. Between 1918 and 1938, it is known that Czecho-Slovak-Polish relations suffered as the result of general dis- order in European politics: The policies of appeasement and constant concessions which signified lack of genuine pre-war agreement between the major powers—England and France—and similarly accounted for the strained relations between small- er European countries dependent on the larger nations for assistance, j Deepened by Distrust. Past disputes between Poland and Czecho-Slovakia admittedly were deepened by the general distrust which at that time filled the whole of Europe. Just as the Anglo- French Entente Cordiale disinte- grated, so did the Baltic Entente, the Little Entente and the Balkan Entente. Under the pressure of Nazi Germany these alliances were not supported, unison was lost and catastrophe resulted. The London declaration, in brief, leaves the analysis of the past to historians, while the statesmen of both nations concern themselves with the problems of the future. No details were included, but Washing- ton diplomats summed up the true significance of the London declara- tion as folows: (1) A new Europe, not Hitler's, but anti-Hitler: (2) not regimented, but united for the tedi- ous constructive work of the future; (3) not totalitarian, but democratic. This, then, is the meaning of the common accord between Poland and Czecho-Slovakia. Indorsed by the British government, the concordat resolves an amity of these govern- ments may possibly become the key- stone of a new order for the free nations of Europe. Egypt' (Continued From First Page.)_ which have spearheaded the Bri- tish counter invasion, struck off to the west once more. How far these advance units pene- trated toward Italian Marshal Rodolfo Graziani's next line of de- fense was not disclosed. It was said, however, that no sign was seen of an Italian “rescue” drive to save the troops at Bardia. British observers assumed that j Bardia's defenders had been as- signed the role of a sacrifice garri- j son to hold up the British while Graziani strengthened new defenses to the west, at Tobruk, Derna and Bengasi. There was no indication how soon the British might try to collapse the Bardia defense. Observers be- lieved they would try to take the town at as small cost as possible by delaying direct assualt until bom- bardment, now in its seventh day, could crack Fascist resistance. The British reported last night that 175 Italian planes had been destroyed with a loss of 14 British planes in the fortnight since the army of the Nile turned the tables on Graziani’s invasion army in Egypt. (Marshal Graziani, in a re- port yesterday to Premier Mus- solini, said 42 British planes had been downed and possibly 20 others. In that report Graziani laid his army's setback largely to the fact that tank units he expected from Italy early in De- cember never reached Libya.) Reuters, British newrs agency, re- ported that news of Britain’s vic- tories in North Africa was spread- ing by “native telegraph" from vil- lage to village through Italian-held Ethiopia. It asserted the Ethiopian and Sudanese frontier was buzzing with rumors of uprisings by Ethiopian tribes against their Italian over- lords. British military circles in London said today besieged Bardia probably was heavily fortified, defended "in depth” from land attacks and with coast defense guns to combat naval bombardment. They expressed be- lief that the British Army of the Nile would not attempt any major thrust on to the west until Bardia had been taken. Italy Claims Sinking Of Auxiliary Cruiser ROME, Dec. 23 (#).—An Italian torpedo plane operating off the North African coast sank an uni- dentified British auxiliary cruiser, the high command reported today. MAILMEN IN RACE WITH SANTA CLAUS—Workers at the City Post Office are shown as they stepped up their pace today to .keep abreast of the torrent of Christmas cards and packages. The clerks above are busy seeing that each piece of mail is directed to the proper channel. —Star Staff Photo. Graziani (Continued From First Page.) by our troops on the desert country, flat, easily looked over and devoid of any tactical possibilities, the enemy had an easy time of pooling masses of armored equipment, med- ium and heavy tanks, aided by fast- moving batteries and effective as- sistance of the air forces,” he re- ported. "Short preparation generally was entrusted to artillery and aviation. A murderous air bombardment had hardly ceased when armored forces rushed from all directions against our troops and thus, despite the most strenuous resistance, the key points, in a few hours, were sub- merged one by one.” The Italians never gave up, Graz- iani asserted, so long as they had a cartridge to shoot. (Earlier British reports said hundreds had surren- j dered with full equipment and many with loaded guns.) Graziana asserted it would “cer- tainly be premature to forecast de- velopments in the titantic fight” in Libya. He said the Italian forces were not surprised by the British attacks which began December 9. Italian scouting planes had reported a mass- ing of British troops and equipment east of Matruh from the beginning of October, he continued, and from prisoners captured the night of De- cember 7 it was learned the attack was to start in about 10 days. He had only the highest praise for his men and declared that if the number of prisoners taken by the British was high it was because the Italians held out “to the last spasm.” “Our Italian and Libyan divisions in this battle have held high the traditions of gallantry and heroism of our army,” the marshal reported. “Commanders and troops have writ- ten pages of the most splendid hero- ism in desolate stretches of the western desert. “Italian troops sacrificed them- j selves without sparing. I once more | confirm to you categorically that everybody there has fulfilled his duty as far as possible.” Marshal Graziani commented especially on the support given the British ground forces by the fleet and air force and added that sand- storms had handicapped his own air force. Nevertheless, he said, Italian flyers brought down 42 British planes and possibly 20 more. Preparations Detailed. Marshal Graziani’s report was long, and detailed the preparations for the Italian offensive ordered by Mussolini the day after the Fascist troops reached Sidi Barrani, Egypt, in September. To supply water in the occupied zone in Egypt, the Marshal said, his troops built 72 miles of pipeline and road from Fort Capuzzo on the Libyan frontier to Sidi Barrani. Some of the Italian units, he declared, marched hundreds of miles on foot, to economize on transport facilities, and were “burning for battle.” By the first day of December all the Italians lacked for the offensive was the tanks and mechanized equipment they had ordered from home. The fact that the British were preparing for their own offen- sive was not unknown, Graziani said, and he took measures to deal with the situation. He said the British had an easy chance of employing masses of armored cars, supported by mobile guns and their air force, against the Italian troop positions in the j flat desert. “After short but terrible gun- fire and air bombardments, the armored cars came from every- where encircling our resistance centers which in some hours were overthrown,” the marshal said. But the Italians never gave way so long as they had a single car- tridge to shoot, hfe said. (Reports from British sources said last week hundreds surrendered with full equipment and many with loaded guns.) Little Units Sacrificed. Marshal Graziani said that after the first defeat, another line was formed between Salum, Egypt, and Fort Capuzzo, and the main forces of the Italian troops withdrew to The situation on land in the bat- tle zone of Libya was unchanged, it said. Fascist planes attacked a British advance base and renewed their attacks on British armored equip- ment in this area, a communique said. The British, meanwhile, bombed some centers in Libya, killing one and injuring three, the communi- que added. In localities of the Upper Su- dan, the high command said, "en- emy motor trucks and prepara- tions were bombed.” Churchill (Continued From First Page.) wanted peace and who it was that meant to have war,” Mr. Churchill said. “One man and one man only was resolved to plunge Italy after all these years of strain and effort into the whirlpool of war. And what is the position of Italy today? “Where is that II Duce haa led his trusting people after IB yean that point, necessarily sacrificing little units as they retired. Preparations for the Italian of- fensive against Matruh, Egypt, "overcoming difficulties of all kinds,” were largely completed at the be- ginning of December, Marshal Graziani said. “An acqueduct, an imposing work built with first rate speed and technique using all the pipe then existing in Libya, by December 3 carried four liters (about a gallon) of water per second to Sidi Barrani, * * while a highway built with everything available in Libya was completed as to foundation and largely rolled,” the marshal said. “On the front, deposits of food, munitions and gasoline and almost all estimated requirements were al- ready concentrated. Only the com- pletion of equipment in motor trucks which were forwarded from the mother country was lacking. “Meanwhile our air force sys- tematically demolished the rear lines and supply installations and the enemy was doing the same, con- centrating its attacks on our rear bases, especially Bengasi.” Large Units Assume Lines. Italian troops patrolling the desert to feel out the British resistance and engaging in fights with British mechanized forces noted "growing aggressiveness and audacity cul- minating in a clash in the front of Italian detachments known as the Maletti grouping, Marshal Graziani reported. While large units were assuming lines for an imminent advance on. Matruh, Graziani said he stationed adequate gunpowder at Halifaya, Labia and Sidi Barrani to guarantee marching columns against possible enemy attacks on the southern flank. "Against the key points occupied by our troops on the desert country, flat, easily looked over and devoid of any tactical possibilities, the enemy had an easy time of pooling masses of armored equipment, me- dium and heavy tanks, aided by fast- moving batteries and effective as- sistance of the air forces,” Marshal Graziahi said. “Short preparation generally was intrusted to artillery and aviation. A murderous air bombardment had hardly ceased when armored forces rushed from all directions against our troops and thus, despite the most strenuous resistance, the key points, in a few hours, were sub- merged one by one. “The first to be invested was the Maletti grouping, which began an orderly withdrawal until, overcome, it trailed a second Libyan division, which had sent a strong motorized column to its aid. "Against an armored mass operat- ing concentrically on a wide front, the anti-tank guns and artillery of our divisions, forced to scatter their fire as many fast-moving targets headed decisively for their objective, could have little effect. “The essential reason for the first lightning success gained by the enemy must therefore be sought in the crushing superiority of armored forces employed in masses.” Gen. Maletti Fell in Battle. Gen. Pietro Maletti fell at the head of his Libyan battalions, which were eliminated from the battle, and the British "swept on to Sidi Barrani, where the ironlike ‘Janu- ary Third’ Blackshirt Division, bombarded by sea and air, resist- ed gallantly for two days * * The first Libyan division which had attempted to reach Sidi Bar- rani from Nadimaktla, where it was intensely bombarded by the British fleet, found the road barred by armored cars, but held out a long time "although knowing its doom was sealed.” The infiltrations of British troops on the Buq Buq road threatened to overthrow for a second time the divisions of Catanzaro and Cirene, too, Marshal Graziani reported. “If it had been possible to throw them back in a counterattack against the armored cars, this would have meant sending them to cer- tain destruction,” he said. “There- fore, profiting from the resistance of the troops barricaded in Sidi Barrani, I decided to withdraw those divisions from the enemy grip and bring them back to the line between Halfaya, Salum and Ca- puzzo, where I had meanwhile sketched a defense with those di- visions. "On the afternoon of December I of dictatorial power? What hard choice is open now? “It is to stand up to the battery of the whole British Empire on the sea, in the air and in Africa and in the vigorous counter-attack of the Greek nation; or, on the other hand, to call in Attila over Brenner Pass with his hordes of ravenous soldiery and his gangs of Gestapo policemen to occupy, hold down and protect the Italian people for whom he and his Nazi followers cherish most bitter and outspoken contempt that is on rec- ord between races. "There is where one man and one man only has led you, and there I leave this unfolding story until the day comes—as come it will—when the Italian nation will once more take a hand in shaping its own fortunes.” Burned by Kerosene Sherman Campbell, 15, colored, of 1721 Marion court N.W., was treated at Freedmen's Hospital for face and neck bums received when kerosene he was pouring into a lighted stove flared up. 10, therefore, I ordered a retreat. This was carried out fairly regularly by the Cantanzaro division up to the heights of Tishidada, when the march was encircled and caught in the fire of armored cars and thrown into disorder. The sacrifice of some detachments which resisted until December 12 permitted two-thirds of the division to reach our lines at Salum. Fierce Fight in Square. “The Cirene division, on the other hand, escaped the enpmy's grip bet- ter, but arrived rather tired at Hal- faya. “On the night of December 12. while the remaining defenders at Sidi Barrani and Maktila—encir- cled for three days—offered the last fierce resistance, the vanguard of the enemy of armored columns closed in on our troops at Halfaya, attempting to envelop their right flank." From December 13 to 15 fierce fighting took place in the square area between Halfaya, Sidomar. Ca- puzzo and Salum, where Marshal Graziani said "intrepid” Gen. Ber- gonzilo's troops,, in counterattack- ing, succeeded in eliminating the threatening enemy infiltrations which were attempting to cut the Italian line in two and seperate it from the fortified city of Bardia. On the night of December 15, while new mechanized columns pressed in a concentric maneuver toward Salum, Gabrabu and Faizes, and the group at Sidomar already was appearing at Sidi Azeiz. all of Gen. Bergonzoli's troops fell back “in perfect order” on Bardia, where Marshal Graziani said they “are still holding out against enemy at- tack with a gallantry equal to the decisive will to resist to the end.” An idea of the Italian fighting in the desert can be obtained, the marshal reported, from the figures showing that Italian bombing planes had flown 900 hours, the fighters 1.300 hours, and that two torpedoes and 13,000 bombs weighing 1.000 ! tons had been dropped and 17.000 rounds of machine gun ammunition fired. Regular Army Strength Passes 400,000 Mark Advancing toward its goal of 1.400,- OOO men in the Army by June 1, the War Department disclosed todav j that the Regular Army alone has j now passed the 400.000 mark, largest figure for peace time. Some 600 units will be activated I in January, it was said, recruited mainly from selective service men. The strength of the Regular Army is in addition to 124.000 National Guard troops and the 20.000 selec- tees inducted into service. The last official figures, as of De- cember 7, revealed a Regular Army of 395,000 men. Since then it has increased considerably. Christmas _(Continued From First Page.) for food Wednesday. The rest I will save and use to give my family an extra merry Christmas. I want to thank all those who made it possible for us to share the Christ- mas gift a very merry Christmas.’’ And from another letter: “I am going to buy clothes and things which my six boys need so much. I hope every one will have as happy a New Year as they have tried to make ours.’’ Another mother wrote that the check was welcomed because “I had thought I would not be able to get my little girl much of a gift for Christmas." “The check is certainly ap- preciated,” wrote a mother, “as the family seems to require so much more this year. The youngest child goes to school this year and she needs so many warm clothes that I shall put most of the check on her.” Today, for the last time, broad- casts were scheduled for Christ- mas House. By the end of the last program tonight, a total of 53 broad- casts will have been made from the little house. Interviewed on the broadcasts have been representa- tives from Federal departments, District officials and civic leaders, members of the Citizens Christmas Committee, talent from the Earle Theater and hundreds of indivi- duals who stopped by Christmas House during broadcast periods to leave their gifts and ring the great bell that sounds every time a con- tribution is left in Santa’s pack. Choral groups have sung for the sidewalk broadcasts and bands have played. Those who have presided at the microphones during the broadcasts have been Larry Marino and Toby David, the Station WMAL Kibit- zers: Dorian St. George of the National Broadcasting Co. and Bill Coyle, radio editor of The Star. The last broadcast from Christ- mas House will be heard at 7:30 o’clock tonight. KODAKS ** M0VIE % IJ% CAMERAS ^Woff WESTON MASTER METERS BOBBIN'S S29 14th St. N.W. NA. 7024 OPEN EVENINGS UNTIL XMAS New Mannheim Attack And Raids on Ports Reported by British Pilots Tell of Inflicting Heavy Damage From Norway to Adriatic B> the Associated Press. LONDON, Dec. 23.—R. A. F. planes again blasted the German industrial center of Mannheim and the nearby suburbs of Ludwigshaven last night and also attacked the invasion ports of Flushing, Dunkerque and Calais, the Air Ministry announced today. It was the second week end attack on Mannheim, important Rhineland rail junction and manufacturing city, which last week was raided heavily on four successive nights. Last night's attacks capped a series of British raids since Saturday on Germany, Italy and four Nazi- conquered countries. The Air Minis- try said only one plane was lost in the latest forays. "Industrial targets at Mannheim were the main objectives of the R. A. F„” the ministry said, and there were fires and explosions both there and at Ludwigshafen, on the opposite oank of the Rhine. The communique said targets elsewhere in the Rhineland and air- fie'ds in Germ an-occupied territory also were bombed. (Reports from Switzerland that unidentified planes passed over the Alps last night for the second consecutive night indicated the British also might have struck again into Italy. The Swiss re- ports said Bern, Basel and Zurich had alarms and 11 persons were injured by bombs dropped near Zurich.) Rail Link Believed Target. Observers believed the renewed attack on Mannheim was intended to sever the main rail link between Germany’s vast Saar Valley coal fields and the war-vital heavy in- dustries of Northern Italy. One source said such raids were the R. A. F.’s part in the British land, sea and air effort to knock the Fascists out of the war quickly, thus releasing Britain's Mediter- ranean fleet for Atlantic convoy duty and to guard against the still- present threat of German invasion. Pilots returning from the far- flung raids told of inflicting heavy damage from Norway to the Adriatic. The Air Ministry reported fires were started in a petroleum re- finery and docks and factory build- ings at Porto Marghera, near Venice, in a half-hour attack around mid- night Saturday. Flyers were quoted as saying they broke through heavy anti-aircraft fire along the Nazi-held coast of France, crossed the Alps flying at 17.400 feet in temperatures 30 de- grees below zero, but could see the dark lines of the Venice canals dis- tinctly as they neared their target. (The Italian high command said bombs dropped in a lagoon at Venice, causing neither casual- ties nor damage. The Italians also said Fiume was bombed by the British the same night. Fiume is 100 miles east of Venice and just across the frontier from the Yugoslav town of Susak. The Yugoslav government said bombs fell in Susak, injuring several persons and causing considera- ble damage. The government declared it would demand com- pensation from Britain.) Docks and Bases Bombed. In the daybreak attacks yesterday, coastal command planes were re- ported to have bombed important German docks at Wilhelmshaven and the Nazi bases at Lorient and Brest, which are believed used by submarines and light naval units preying on shipping in the Atlantic. Late the night before, other coast- al command planes dumped ex- plosives on the railroad line which the Germans were said to be using to carry supplies from Oslo to the Norwegian port of Bergen. The Air Ministry reported that other raids were directed at oil stores and industries in Western Germany, and docks at Rotterdam and Flushing, in the Netherlands, Antwerp and Ostend, Belgium, and Calais. The British Admiralty announced last night the apparent loss of the 640-ton overdue submarine Sword- fish. Two Choices for Germany. Meanwhile, one observer expressed the opinion that the increasing force of Britain's blows against Germany from the air and against Italy from the air, sea and land seemingly gave Germany only two choices: 1. Invasion of England before Britain’s sinews of war had been strengthened fully by home and empire production and an increasing flow of materials from the United States. 2. Enforcement of a more effec- tive blockade—at least doubling the present average shipping toll of 62,000 tons a week. This source said Britain has been “somewhat up against it” because “she has only one navy to do three jobs—protect shipping, fight the Italians and guard against inva- sion”—and added: “If Britain could dispose of the Italians without leaving herself too wide open to invasion and witnout losing too much shipping before the Mediterranean fleet is able to join in convoy work and submarine hunts, we'd feel pretty good.” COAL flLflSKflcMoTcAoGIL Better rrade coale—no hlrher price t Yards for Quick Delivery 9.940 lbs. to the ton Every Pound Delivered in Bare to Tour_Bin at No Extra Charre. BLACK DIAMOND—Bitnmineue Hard Structure. Ltrht Smoke. Err Size. $8.50; 76% Lump. *7.75; 60s Lump. *7.95 Lump and Fine Coal barred separately;_ MARYLAND SMOKELESS $ Bituminous Coal with little Smoke. Soot or Gas, Err Size. $9.76; 80% Lump $8.75;_Nut Size. $9.50. VIRGINIA HARD COALS Err Site. *10.00; Stove. *10.95; Nut. $10.95; Pea. *8.75; 8peeial Stove <halMJtove_and_Pea>. *9.60. POCAHONTAS OIL TREATED Low ash. hitbest rrade bituminous. Ere Size. $11.95; Stove. *11.00; Nut. $10.00; Pea. *8.10. PA. HARD COALS Alaska Nurret Anthracite—Stove, $19.95; Nut. *19.96; Pea. $11.10; Buckwheat, $0 00._ All coals thorouthly re- DIAL NA. 5885 or Jackson 200* ORDERS TAKEN DAT OB NIGHT a* List of Christmas Donors Gifts Will Bring Cheer at Yuletide To Hundreds in Capital Area Just how many needy families can be taken care of on Christmas Day depends on the number of names to appear In this column. Here are the dollars that will enable the mothers of needy children to buy the things that make a Christmas. And here are the people who today put those mothers and children on their own Christmas lists by contributing to The Star Christmas funds: Previously acknowledged_$9,111.51 James T. McCarthy. 10.00 Anonymous. 5.00 A friend l.oo Robert Story Johnston_ 5.00 Anonymous.. l.oo Anonymous._. 15.00 T. R.. 1.00 Anonymous.. 5.00 Sally Martin_ .25 Anonymous. 55 Anonymous_ 4.00 Edward A. Vogts__ 3.00 Anonymous__ 2.00 Dr. Russell Jon Jansen_ 10.00 In memory of B. C. B._ 5.00 Amy D. Crippen_ 10.00 E. M. Kupersmidt_ 5.00 Anne Wise Kupersmidt_ 5.00 S. E. Printz _ 2.00 W. W. M. Bailey_ 10.00 Anonymous _ 5.00 A friend_ 1.00 Elaine and Jimmie_ * 1.00 Anonymous_...._ 5.00 Helen B. Mitchell_ 5.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 G. P. Snyder_ 10.00 C. A. Lindquist_ 5.00 I Rosalie E. Briscoe_ 2.00 J. M. Fluke_ 5.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 Patricia Valline. —.1.00 Mary Lynn Thomen_ 5.00 An 88-year-old_ .50 Girl Scout Troop No. 7_ 5.00 L. S- 3.00 E. E. S... 2.00 The Crane children_ 5.00 H. M. W...._. 1.00 A friend-__ 1.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 Lucy H. Rawlings_ 10.00 Bessie K. Hibbs _ 10.00 L. F. G. 5.00 Rosemary Greathouse. 2 00 Helen S. Taylor _ 3 00 Robert Lincoln Beckwith __ 25.00 Mr. and Mrs. Clark M. Rich- ards _ 1.00 Mary Hahn_ 10.00 Ahonvmous_ 5.00 Anonymous.. 1.00 N. F. H. 1.00 In memory of Mary T. Her- beck _ 1.00 Anonymous_ 2.00 Anonymous.. 25.00 A friend 1.00 Anonymous. .25 Louis Mvers_ 1.00 C.L. Melton ..— 1.00 M. S. H. and G. E. H. .. 3.00 Norma Jean Crown_ 1.00 Ronald Lee Crown _ 1.00 George M. Rowzee, 3d.. 1.00 M. K. S_ 1.00 Manchester (Continued From First Page.) many other parts of England and London had two alarms last night. A famous old naval inn was smashed in a south coast town and one of the town's oldest mansions and a big motion picture theater were set on fire. Britons had a rest from bombing during the daylight hours yesterday after the Germans had delivered two smashing blows at the great port of Liverpool on successive nights. Nazi flyers described their on- slaughts on Liverpool' Saturday night as “worse than Coventry.” The German high command said Italian flyers had attacked Harwich harbor facilities that night “with good effect.” Factories and Storehouses Fired ia Raid, Nazis Say BERLIN, Dec. 23 (fP).—German raiders started "gigantic conflagra- tions in factories and storehouses at Manchester, in the industrial heart of England, last night and attacked additional military targets in Lon- don, Bristol, Liverpool. Southamp- ton, Portsmouth and other English cities, the high command announced today. The attacks followed a daylight assault yesterday on Fort William in Northern Scotland by a lone Nazi dive-bomber which was declared to have started explosions in a big aluminum plant. Today’s communique said British planes dropped “a small number of explosives and incendiaries" at a few places in the western border re- gion of Germany last night. It said there was only ‘‘slight damage to the populace and unimportant dam- age to apartment houses.” The high command reported that strong -formations of heavy combat planes carried out the Manchester raid. Informed quarters reported the German raider badly damaged Fort William. nie plane was said to have Mrs. C. Williams__ 2.00 Clara Roche Davis. 5.00 Anonymous_ 1.00 A friend_ 1.00 Anonymous__ 1.00 A friend__..... 1.00 Anonymgus__ l.oo Potomac Stamp Co,.. 5.00 Anonymous... 5.00 G. D. C.. 1.00 P. H. Eastman .. 5.00 Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Eells.... 2.00 Mr. and Mrs. W. C. H... 10.00 L. B. L. 1.00 Anonymous_ 1.00 A friend_.... 1.00 J. H. Geisse_...... 5.00 Thelma P. Carter_ 3.00 Anonymous. 5.00 Florence P. Oliver__ 2 00 Florence Bliss Murray_ 2.00 Anonymous. 1.00 Mrs. Anne Shanklin White.. 1.60 George and Myron Stocking 1.00 Anonymous__ 1.00 Inez M. Demonet _ 10.00 Louis W. Labofish and family 5.00 N. J. Boland__ 1.00 Anonymous .1_ 1.00 Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nelson. 2.00 Mel Bee_ 5.00 Mary E. Kellner__ 5.00 Anonymous ._. 5.00 Allen E. DeHaven .. 5.00 Shirley _ 100 H. T. Kovnu .. 5.00 R. C. Kidd_ 2.00 Baby Bobby Fioramonti_ 1.50 Anonymous _ .2.00 Navy Yard Bowling League, Queen Pin Alley.. 7.45 Capt. A. C. Raguet, U. S. N._ 5.00 Anonymous .. .50 Anonymous .25 Peter Bitzer_ 1.00 Jacquad 5.00 Sherman Suiles__ 5.00 Anonymous 10.00 F. Harper Craddock_ 3.00 John R. Respess_ 5.00 Lillie P. Leigh .. 3.00 Anonymous 25.00 H. R. C... 2.00 Anonymous 2.00 Anonymous .._. 3.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 C. L. W... 2.00 Pattie Stone _ 4.75 L. S. C._ 10.00 Mrs. Charles H. Duell_ 5.00 Santa Claus_ 5.00 Anonymous 2.00 Patsv Ann 3.00 M. Hadaway. 2.00 Anonymous .. 1.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 Chester W. Callbeck. jr. _. 1.00 Vanity Fair dept., Frank R. JellefTs _ 2.00 Anonymous.. 1.00 J. M. W.'_ 3.00 Anna C. Hilleny_ 5.00 Mrs. Birdie Samuel .. 5.00 Mrs. Isabel T. Baldwin_ 2.00 R. Harvey Sargent 3.00 Barbara and John Friedman 3.00 _ Total .$9,642.81 reached its objective at the western end of Loch Ness Canal in West- ern Scotland despite unfavorable weather and then to have put a large factory power plant out of operation with a single heavy bomb dropped in a low dive, j Other hits were reported on the ! factory itself, where sections of the building were said to have collapsed. German submarines sank two merchantmen, one of 18.000 tons and one of 9,000 tons, these sources said. All Types of Arms Arrive in Malaya, British Chief Says Warplanes, Artillery And Personnel Added To Far East Command By the Associated Press. SINGAPORE, Dec. 23.—Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, British commander in chief in the Far East, announced today that “substantial reinforcements of all arms have recently arrived in Ma- laya." “The reinforcements include air- craft, air force personnel, members of Indian infantry, artillery, engi- neers and auxiliaries,’’ the official announcement said. “The reinforcements not only strengthened already formidable de- fenses at Singapore, but also in- creased defense forces in other areas of the Far East command.” The Far East command includes Malaya, Burma and Hong Kong. Informed quarters said the rein- forcements included additional units of Australian %nd New Zealand air forces. Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of the Straits Settlements, announced in a broadcast yesterday that the mainland of Malaya as well as Singapore and Penang were being placed in a state of defense. The great naval base of Singapore guards Britain's communications with the Far East, Australia and New Zealand and stands as a power behind Netherlands forces in the Netherlands Indies, important pro- 1 ducer of oil, tin and rubber. A thousand miles to the north of Singapore. Thailand <Siam> is em- broiled with French Indo-China in border trouble which has flared ! sporadically into bombings, artillery exchanges and other incidents. Another 500 miles to the north the Chinese are feeding supplies to the armies of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek along the Burma road. Plymouth onr n* Brakes Relined A »*9*9 20*000 Mile Guarantee w Duplicate D C. Testino Machine CLIFT S BRAKE SERVICE 2002 K St. y.W._ME. 6232 We Pay for Ashes! $9.00 buys three-year, $4,000 Fire Insurance on your brick home. Old Line Companies Only K. M. LIVINGSTONE & CO, INC. INSURANCE AGENTS 705 Colorado Bldg. Dl. 0700 IT COSTS NO MORE To Pork ot the CAPITAL GARAGE A mgf 1st Hour TCc 5c Ea. Add. Hr. EVENING RATES C- 6 P.M. to 1 A.M. C 1320 N. Y. AVE. €tshtj>=®too Christmases We have had the pleasure of extending holiday greetings to a circle of friends and patrons which has grown steadily over three generations. This year we again offer them our sincerest good wishes and pledge our best efforts to merit a continuance of their confidence during 1941. Jllarioto Coal Co. 811 E Street N.W. National 0311 r . I NOld* WoNSTEU ART'S EASY M BUDGET PLAN-NO tFMONEY DOWN...TAKE SIX MONTHS TO PAY. __ H Lincoi« Zephy ru Avenue MJf E [Wl**"Y°3*rHSt--‘NE

To Area SaysThe London declaration, in brief, leaves the analysis of the past to historians, while the statesmen of both nations concern themselves with the problems of future. No

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Page 1: To Area SaysThe London declaration, in brief, leaves the analysis of the past to historians, while the statesmen of both nations concern themselves with the problems of future. No

Diplomats Here Deny - Pole-Czech Plan for

German Alliance Disclaim Possibility Of Peace Talks With Soviet as Well

High diplomatic officials here to-

day categorically denied and de- scribed as “misinformed and without foundation” a report published last week alleging that officials of the Polish and Czecho-Slovak govern- ments-in-exile in London are “talk-

ing in terms of alliance with Germany or Russia, rather than the restoration of their complete inde-

pendence when the war is ended.” The article appeared in The Eve-

ning Star under the by-line of Jay «*» G. Hayden, and was based in part

on the Czecho-Slovak-Polish decla- ration issued in London November 11 to define mutual relationships between these governments.

The Czecho-Slovak Legation de- clined comment, indicating that Minister Vladimir Hurban, en route to New York for the week end, would issue a statement on arrival in that city.

At the Polish Embassy, Jan Dro- hojowski. counselor, described the London declaration as “an expres- sion of our present co-operation in the struggle against Hitler Germany,! and a close collaboration of both countries after the war. As for t

Russia, remember, please, that Po- | land Still is at war with the Soviet i

Union.” Approved by Britain.

The little-known London declar- ation was accompanied by the ap- proval of the British government and informed diplomatic sources

disclaim the possibility of reading between-the-lines a future program of appeasement and peace-talks with either Germany or the Soviet. Primarily, it is held, the declaration

* represents a factual understanding and accord, and was not conceived in terms of an extensive political instrument. Tire single, governing issue is one of amity, which does anticipate that a large number of small European countries will, after the defeat of Nazism, adopt a policy of solidarity.

Between 1918 and 1938, it is known that Czecho-Slovak-Polish relations suffered as the result of general dis- order in European politics: The

policies of appeasement and constant concessions which signified lack of genuine pre-war agreement between the major powers—England and France—and similarly accounted for the strained relations between small- er European countries dependent on the larger nations for assistance, j

Deepened by Distrust. Past disputes between Poland and

Czecho-Slovakia admittedly were

deepened by the general distrust which at that time filled the whole of Europe. Just as the Anglo- French Entente Cordiale disinte- grated, so did the Baltic Entente, the Little Entente and the Balkan Entente. Under the pressure of Nazi Germany these alliances were

not supported, unison was lost and catastrophe resulted.

The London declaration, in brief, leaves the analysis of the past to

historians, while the statesmen of both nations concern themselves with the problems of the future. No

details were included, but Washing- ton diplomats summed up the true significance of the London declara- tion as folows: (1) A new Europe, not Hitler's, but anti-Hitler: (2) not regimented, but united for the tedi- ous constructive work of the future; (3) not totalitarian, but democratic. This, then, is the meaning of the common accord between Poland and Czecho-Slovakia. Indorsed by the British government, the concordat resolves an amity of these govern- ments may possibly become the key- stone of a new order for the free nations of Europe.

Egypt' (Continued From First Page.)_

which have spearheaded the Bri- tish counter invasion, struck off to

the west once more. How far these advance units pene-

trated toward Italian Marshal Rodolfo Graziani's next line of de- fense was not disclosed. It was said, however, that no sign was seen

of an Italian “rescue” drive to

save the troops at Bardia.

British observers assumed that j Bardia's defenders had been as-

signed the role of a sacrifice garri- j son to hold up the British while Graziani strengthened new defenses to the west, at Tobruk, Derna and Bengasi.

There was no indication how soon the British might try to collapse the Bardia defense. Observers be- lieved they would try to take the town at as small cost as possible by delaying direct assualt until bom- bardment, now in its seventh day, could crack Fascist resistance.

The British reported last night that 175 Italian planes had been destroyed with a loss of 14 British planes in the fortnight since the army of the Nile turned the tables on Graziani’s invasion army in

Egypt. (Marshal Graziani, in a re-

port yesterday to Premier Mus-

solini, said 42 British planes had

been downed and possibly 20 others. In that report Graziani laid his army's setback largely to the fact that tank units he

expected from Italy early in De- cember never reached Libya.) Reuters, British newrs agency, re-

ported that news of Britain’s vic- tories in North Africa was spread- ing by “native telegraph" from vil- lage to village through Italian-held Ethiopia.

It asserted the Ethiopian and Sudanese frontier was buzzing with rumors of uprisings by Ethiopian tribes against their Italian over- lords.

British military circles in London said today besieged Bardia probably was heavily fortified, defended "in

depth” from land attacks and with coast defense guns to combat naval bombardment. They expressed be- lief that the British Army of the Nile would not attempt any major thrust on to the west until Bardia had been taken.

Italy Claims Sinking Of Auxiliary Cruiser

ROME, Dec. 23 (#).—An Italian torpedo plane operating off the North African coast sank an uni- dentified British auxiliary cruiser, the high command reported today.

MAILMEN IN RACE WITH SANTA CLAUS—Workers at the City Post Office are shown as they stepped up their pace today to .keep abreast of the torrent of Christmas cards and packages. The clerks above are busy seeing that each piece of mail is directed to the proper channel.

—Star Staff Photo.

Graziani (Continued From First Page.)

by our troops on the desert country, flat, easily looked over and devoid of any tactical possibilities, the enemy had an easy time of pooling masses of armored equipment, med- ium and heavy tanks, aided by fast- moving batteries and effective as-

sistance of the air forces,” he re-

ported. "Short preparation generally was

entrusted to artillery and aviation. A murderous air bombardment had hardly ceased when armored forces rushed from all directions against our troops and thus, despite the most strenuous resistance, the key points, in a few hours, were sub- merged one by one.”

The Italians never gave up, Graz- iani asserted, so long as they had a

cartridge to shoot. (Earlier British reports said hundreds had surren- j dered with full equipment and many with loaded guns.)

Graziana asserted it would “cer- tainly be premature to forecast de- velopments in the titantic fight” in Libya.

He said the Italian forces were not surprised by the British attacks which began December 9. Italian scouting planes had reported a mass-

ing of British troops and equipment east of Matruh from the beginning of October, he continued, and from prisoners captured the night of De- cember 7 it was learned the attack was to start in about 10 days.

He had only the highest praise for his men and declared that if the number of prisoners taken by the British was high it was because the Italians held out “to the last spasm.”

“Our Italian and Libyan divisions in this battle have held high the traditions of gallantry and heroism of our army,” the marshal reported. “Commanders and troops have writ- ten pages of the most splendid hero- ism in desolate stretches of the western desert.

“Italian troops sacrificed them- j selves without sparing. I once more | confirm to you categorically that everybody there has fulfilled his duty as far as possible.”

Marshal Graziani commented especially on the support given the British ground forces by the fleet and air force and added that sand- storms had handicapped his own air force. Nevertheless, he said, Italian flyers brought down 42 British planes and possibly 20 more.

Preparations Detailed. Marshal Graziani’s report was

long, and detailed the preparations for the Italian offensive ordered by Mussolini the day after the Fascist troops reached Sidi Barrani, Egypt, in September.

To supply water in the occupied zone in Egypt, the Marshal said, his troops built 72 miles of pipeline and road from Fort Capuzzo on the Libyan frontier to Sidi Barrani.

Some of the Italian units, he declared, marched hundreds of miles on foot, to economize on transport facilities, and were “burning for battle.”

By the first day of December all the Italians lacked for the offensive was the tanks and mechanized equipment they had ordered from home. The fact that the British were preparing for their own offen- sive was not unknown, Graziani said, and he took measures to deal with the situation.

He said the British had an easy chance of employing masses of armored cars, supported by mobile guns and their air force, against the Italian troop positions in the j flat desert.

“After short but terrible gun- fire and air bombardments, the armored cars came from every- where encircling our resistance centers which in some hours were

overthrown,” the marshal said. But the Italians never gave way

so long as they had a single car-

tridge to shoot, hfe said. (Reports from British sources said last week hundreds surrendered with full equipment and many with loaded guns.)

Little Units Sacrificed. Marshal Graziani said that after

the first defeat, another line was

formed between Salum, Egypt, and Fort Capuzzo, and the main forces of the Italian troops withdrew to

The situation on land in the bat- tle zone of Libya was unchanged, it said.

Fascist planes attacked a British advance base and renewed their attacks on British armored equip- ment in this area, a communique said.

The British, meanwhile, bombed some centers in Libya, killing one

and injuring three, the communi- que added.

In localities of the Upper Su- dan, the high command said, "en- emy motor trucks and prepara- tions were bombed.”

Churchill (Continued From First Page.)

wanted peace and who it was that meant to have war,” Mr. Churchill said.

“One man and one man only was

resolved to plunge Italy after all these years of strain and effort into the whirlpool of war. And what is the position of Italy today?

“Where is that II Duce haa led his trusting people after IB yean

that point, necessarily sacrificing little units as they retired.

Preparations for the Italian of- fensive against Matruh, Egypt, "overcoming difficulties of all kinds,” were largely completed at the be- ginning of December, Marshal Graziani said.

“An acqueduct, an imposing work built with first rate speed and technique using all the pipe then existing in Libya, by December 3 carried four liters (about a gallon) of water per second to Sidi Barrani, • * * while a highway built with everything available in Libya was

completed as to foundation and largely rolled,” the marshal said.

“On the front, deposits of food, munitions and gasoline and almost all estimated requirements were al- ready concentrated. Only the com-

pletion of equipment in motor trucks which were forwarded from the mother country was lacking.

“Meanwhile our air force sys- tematically demolished the rear lines and supply installations and the enemy was doing the same, con-

centrating its attacks on our rear

bases, especially Bengasi.” Large Units Assume Lines.

Italian troops patrolling the desert to feel out the British resistance and engaging in fights with British mechanized forces noted "growing aggressiveness and audacity cul- minating in a clash in the front of Italian detachments known as the Maletti grouping, Marshal Graziani reported.

While large units were assuming lines for an imminent advance on.

Matruh, Graziani said he stationed adequate gunpowder at Halifaya, Labia and Sidi Barrani to guarantee marching columns against possible enemy attacks on the southern flank.

"Against the key points occupied by our troops on the desert country, flat, easily looked over and devoid of any tactical possibilities, the enemy had an easy time of pooling masses of armored equipment, me-

dium and heavy tanks, aided by fast- moving batteries and effective as-

sistance of the air forces,” Marshal Graziahi said.

“Short preparation generally was

intrusted to artillery and aviation. A murderous air bombardment had hardly ceased when armored forces rushed from all directions against our troops and thus, despite the most strenuous resistance, the key points, in a few hours, were sub- merged one by one.

“The first to be invested was the Maletti grouping, which began an

orderly withdrawal until, overcome, it trailed a second Libyan division, which had sent a strong motorized column to its aid.

"Against an armored mass operat- ing concentrically on a wide front, the anti-tank guns and artillery of our divisions, forced to scatter their fire as many fast-moving targets headed decisively for their objective, could have little effect.

“The essential reason for the first lightning success gained by the enemy must therefore be sought in

the crushing superiority of armored forces employed in masses.”

Gen. Maletti Fell in Battle.

Gen. Pietro Maletti fell at the head of his Libyan battalions, which were eliminated from the battle, and the British "swept on to Sidi Barrani, where the ironlike ‘Janu-

ary Third’ Blackshirt Division, bombarded by sea and air, resist- ed gallantly for two days * *

The first Libyan division which had attempted to reach Sidi Bar- rani from Nadimaktla, where it was intensely bombarded by the British fleet, found the road barred by armored cars, but held out a

long time "although knowing its doom was sealed.”

The infiltrations of British troops on the Buq Buq road threatened to overthrow for a second time the divisions of Catanzaro and Cirene, too, Marshal Graziani reported.

“If it had been possible to throw them back in a counterattack against the armored cars, this would have meant sending them to cer- tain destruction,” he said. “There- fore, profiting from the resistance of the troops barricaded in Sidi Barrani, I decided to withdraw those divisions from the enemy grip and bring them back to the line between Halfaya, Salum and Ca- puzzo, where I had meanwhile sketched a defense with those di- visions.

"On the afternoon of December I

of dictatorial power? What hard choice is open now?

“It is to stand up to the battery of the whole British Empire on

the sea, in the air and in Africa and in the vigorous counter-attack of the Greek nation; or, on the other hand, to call in Attila over

Brenner Pass with his hordes of ravenous soldiery and his gangs of Gestapo policemen to occupy, hold down and protect the Italian people for whom he and his Nazi followers cherish most bitter and outspoken contempt that is on rec-

ord between races.

"There is where one man and one man only has led you, and there I leave this unfolding story until the day comes—as come it will—when the Italian nation will once more take a hand in shaping its own fortunes.”

Burned by Kerosene Sherman Campbell, 15, colored, of

1721 Marion court N.W., was treated at Freedmen's Hospital for face and neck bums received when kerosene he was pouring into a lighted stove flared up.

10, therefore, I ordered a retreat. This was carried out fairly regularly by the Cantanzaro division up to the heights of Tishidada, when the march was encircled and caught in the fire of armored cars and thrown into disorder.

The sacrifice of some detachments which resisted until December 12 permitted two-thirds of the division to reach our lines at Salum.

Fierce Fight in Square. “The Cirene division, on the other

hand, escaped the enpmy's grip bet- ter, but arrived rather tired at Hal- faya.

“On the night of December 12. while the remaining defenders at Sidi Barrani and Maktila—encir- cled for three days—offered the last fierce resistance, the vanguard of the enemy of armored columns closed in on our troops at Halfaya, attempting to envelop their right flank."

From December 13 to 15 fierce fighting took place in the square area between Halfaya, Sidomar. Ca- puzzo and Salum, where Marshal Graziani said "intrepid” Gen. Ber- gonzilo's troops,, in counterattack- ing, succeeded in eliminating the threatening enemy infiltrations which were attempting to cut the Italian line in two and seperate it from the fortified city of Bardia.

On the night of December 15, while new mechanized columns pressed in a concentric maneuver toward Salum, Gabrabu and Faizes, and the group at Sidomar already was appearing at Sidi Azeiz. all of Gen. Bergonzoli's troops fell back “in perfect order” on Bardia, where Marshal Graziani said they “are still holding out against enemy at- tack with a gallantry equal to the decisive will to resist to the end.”

An idea of the Italian fighting in the desert can be obtained, the marshal reported, from the figures showing that Italian bombing planes had flown 900 hours, the fighters 1.300 hours, and that two torpedoes and 13,000 bombs weighing 1.000 ! tons had been dropped and 17.000 rounds of machine gun ammunition fired.

Regular Army Strength Passes 400,000 Mark

Advancing toward its goal of 1.400,- OOO men in the Army by June 1, the War Department disclosed todav j that the Regular Army alone has j now passed the 400.000 mark, largest figure for peace time.

Some 600 units will be activated I in January, it was said, recruited mainly from selective service men.

The strength of the Regular Army is in addition to 124.000 National Guard troops and the 20.000 selec- tees inducted into service.

The last official figures, as of De- cember 7, revealed a Regular Army of 395,000 men. Since then it has increased considerably.

Christmas _(Continued From First Page.)

for food Wednesday. The rest I will save and use to give my family an extra merry Christmas. I want to thank all those who made it possible for us to share the Christ- mas gift a very merry Christmas.’’

And from another letter: “I am going to buy clothes and

things which my six boys need so much. I hope every one will have as happy a New Year as they have tried to make ours.’’

Another mother wrote that the check was welcomed because “I had thought I would not be able to get my little girl much of a gift for Christmas."

“The check is certainly ap- preciated,” wrote a mother, “as the family seems to require so much more this year. The youngest child goes to school this year and she needs so many warm clothes that I shall put most of the check on her.”

Today, for the last time, broad- casts were scheduled for Christ- mas House. By the end of the last program tonight, a total of 53 broad- casts will have been made from the little house. Interviewed on the broadcasts have been representa- tives from Federal departments, District officials and civic leaders, members of the Citizens Christmas Committee, talent from the Earle Theater and hundreds of indivi- duals who stopped by Christmas House during broadcast periods to leave their gifts and ring the great bell that sounds every time a con- tribution is left in Santa’s pack. Choral groups have sung for the sidewalk broadcasts and bands have played.

Those who have presided at the microphones during the broadcasts have been Larry Marino and Toby David, the Station WMAL Kibit- zers: Dorian St. George of the National Broadcasting Co. and Bill Coyle, radio editor of The Star. The last broadcast from Christ- mas House will be heard at 7:30 o’clock tonight.

KODAKS ** M0VIE % IJ% CAMERAS ^Woff

WESTON MASTER METERS

BOBBIN'S S29 14th St. N.W. NA. 7024

OPEN EVENINGS UNTIL XMAS

New Mannheim Attack And Raids on Ports Reported by British

Pilots Tell of Inflicting Heavy Damage From

Norway to Adriatic B> the Associated Press.

LONDON, Dec. 23.—R. A. F. planes again blasted the German industrial center of Mannheim and the nearby suburbs of Ludwigshaven last night and also attacked the invasion ports of Flushing, Dunkerque and Calais, the Air Ministry announced today.

It was the second week end attack on Mannheim, important Rhineland rail junction and manufacturing city, which last week was raided heavily on four successive nights.

Last night's attacks capped a series of British raids since Saturday on Germany, Italy and four Nazi- conquered countries. The Air Minis- try said only one plane was lost in the latest forays.

"Industrial targets at Mannheim were the main objectives of the R. A. F„” the ministry said, and there were fires and explosions both there and at Ludwigshafen, on the opposite oank of the Rhine.

The communique said targets elsewhere in the Rhineland and air- fie'ds in Germ an-occupied territory also were bombed.

(Reports from Switzerland that unidentified planes passed over

the Alps last night for the second consecutive night indicated the British also might have struck again into Italy. The Swiss re-

ports said Bern, Basel and Zurich had alarms and 11 persons were

injured by bombs dropped near

Zurich.) Rail Link Believed Target.

Observers believed the renewed attack on Mannheim was intended to sever the main rail link between Germany’s vast Saar Valley coal fields and the war-vital heavy in- dustries of Northern Italy.

One source said such raids were

the R. A. F.’s part in the British land, sea and air effort to knock the Fascists out of the war quickly, thus releasing Britain's Mediter- ranean fleet for Atlantic convoy duty and to guard against the still- present threat of German invasion.

Pilots returning from the far- flung raids told of inflicting heavy damage from Norway to the Adriatic.

The Air Ministry reported fires were started in a petroleum re-

finery and docks and factory build- ings at Porto Marghera, near Venice, in a half-hour attack around mid- night Saturday.

Flyers were quoted as saying they broke through heavy anti-aircraft fire along the Nazi-held coast of France, crossed the Alps flying at 17.400 feet in temperatures 30 de- grees below zero, but could see the dark lines of the Venice canals dis- tinctly as they neared their target.

(The Italian high command said bombs dropped in a lagoon at Venice, causing neither casual- ties nor damage. The Italians also said Fiume was bombed by the British the same night. Fiume is 100 miles east of Venice and just across the frontier from the Yugoslav town of Susak. The Yugoslav government said bombs fell in Susak, injuring several persons and causing considera- ble damage. The government declared it would demand com-

pensation from Britain.) Docks and Bases Bombed.

In the daybreak attacks yesterday, coastal command planes were re-

ported to have bombed important German docks at Wilhelmshaven and the Nazi bases at Lorient and Brest, which are believed used by submarines and light naval units preying on shipping in the Atlantic.

Late the night before, other coast- al command planes dumped ex-

plosives on the railroad line which the Germans were said to be using to carry supplies from Oslo to the Norwegian port of Bergen.

The Air Ministry reported that other raids were directed at oil stores and industries in Western Germany, and docks at Rotterdam and Flushing, in the Netherlands, Antwerp and Ostend, Belgium, and Calais.

The British Admiralty announced last night the apparent loss of the 640-ton overdue submarine Sword- fish.

Two Choices for Germany. Meanwhile, one observer expressed

the opinion that the increasing force of Britain's blows against Germany from the air and against Italy from the air, sea and land seemingly gave Germany only two choices:

1. Invasion of England before Britain’s sinews of war had been strengthened fully by home and empire production and an increasing flow of materials from the United States.

2. Enforcement of a more effec- tive blockade—at least doubling the present average shipping toll of 62,000 tons a week.

This source said Britain has been “somewhat up against it” because “she has only one navy to do three jobs—protect shipping, fight the Italians and guard against inva- sion”—and added:

“If Britain could dispose of the Italians without leaving herself too wide open to invasion and witnout losing too much shipping before the Mediterranean fleet is able to join in convoy work and submarine hunts, we'd feel pretty good.”

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t Yards for Quick Delivery 9.940 lbs. to the ton

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DIAL NA. 5885 or Jackson 200* ORDERS TAKEN DAT OB NIGHT

a*

List of Christmas Donors Gifts Will Bring Cheer at Yuletide To Hundreds in Capital Area

Just how many needy families can be taken care of on Christmas Day depends on the number of names to appear In this column.

Here are the dollars that will enable the mothers of needy children to buy the things that make a Christmas. And here are the people who today put those mothers and children on their own Christmas lists by contributing to The Star Christmas funds: Previously acknowledged_$9,111.51 James T. McCarthy. 10.00 Anonymous. 5.00 A friend l.oo Robert Story Johnston_ 5.00 Anonymous.. l.oo Anonymous._. 15.00 T. R.. 1.00 Anonymous.. 5.00 Sally Martin_ .25 Anonymous. 55 Anonymous_ 4.00 Edward A. Vogts__ 3.00 Anonymous__ 2.00 Dr. Russell Jon Jansen_ 10.00 In memory of B. C. B._ 5.00 Amy D. Crippen_ 10.00 E. M. Kupersmidt_ 5.00 Anne Wise Kupersmidt_ 5.00 S. E. Printz _ 2.00 W. W. M. Bailey_ 10.00 Anonymous _ 5.00 A friend_ 1.00 Elaine and Jimmie_

*

1.00 Anonymous_...._ 5.00 Helen B. Mitchell_ 5.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 G. P. Snyder_ 10.00 C. A. Lindquist_ 5.00 I Rosalie E. Briscoe_ 2.00 J. M. Fluke_ 5.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 Patricia Valline. —.1.00 Mary Lynn Thomen_ 5.00 An 88-year-old_ .50 Girl Scout Troop No. 7_ 5.00 L. S- 3.00 E. E. S... 2.00 The Crane children_ 5.00 H. M. W...._. 1.00 A friend-__ 1.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 Lucy H. Rawlings_ 10.00 Bessie K. Hibbs _ 10.00 L. F. G. 5.00 Rosemary Greathouse. 2 00 Helen S. Taylor _ 3 00 Robert Lincoln Beckwith __ 25.00 Mr. and Mrs. Clark M. Rich-

ards _ 1.00 Mary Hahn_ 10.00 Ahonvmous_ 5.00 Anonymous.. 1.00 N. F. H. 1.00 In memory of Mary T. Her-

beck _ 1.00 Anonymous_ 2.00 Anonymous.. 25.00 A friend 1.00 Anonymous. .25 Louis Mvers_ 1.00 C.L. Melton ..— 1.00 M. S. H. and G. E. H. .. 3.00 Norma Jean Crown_ 1.00 Ronald Lee Crown _ 1.00

George M. Rowzee, 3d.. 1.00 M. K. S_ 1.00

Manchester (Continued From First Page.)

many other parts of England and London had two alarms last night. A famous old naval inn was smashed in a south coast town and one of the town's oldest mansions and a big motion picture theater were set on

fire. Britons had a rest from bombing

during the daylight hours yesterday after the Germans had delivered two smashing blows at the great port of Liverpool on successive nights.

Nazi flyers described their on-

slaughts on Liverpool' Saturday night as “worse than Coventry.” The German high command said Italian flyers had attacked Harwich harbor facilities that night “with good effect.”

Factories and Storehouses Fired ia Raid, Nazis Say

BERLIN, Dec. 23 (fP).—German raiders started "gigantic conflagra- tions in factories and storehouses at Manchester, in the industrial heart of England, last night and attacked additional military targets in Lon- don, Bristol, Liverpool. Southamp- ton, Portsmouth and other English cities, the high command announced today.

The attacks followed a daylight assault yesterday on Fort William in Northern Scotland by a lone Nazi dive-bomber which was declared to have started explosions in a big aluminum plant.

Today’s communique said British planes dropped “a small number of explosives and incendiaries" at a few places in the western border re-

gion of Germany last night. It said there was only ‘‘slight damage to the populace and unimportant dam- age to apartment houses.”

The high command reported that strong -formations of heavy combat planes carried out the Manchester raid.

Informed quarters reported the German raider badly damaged Fort William.

nie plane was said to have

Mrs. C. Williams__ 2.00 Clara Roche Davis. 5.00 Anonymous_ 1.00 A friend_ 1.00 Anonymous__ 1.00 A friend__..... 1.00 Anonymgus__ l.oo Potomac Stamp Co,.. 5.00 Anonymous... 5.00 G. D. C.. 1.00 P. H. Eastman .. 5.00 Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Eells.... 2.00 Mr. and Mrs. W. C. H... 10.00 L. B. L. 1.00 Anonymous_ 1.00 A friend_.... 1.00 J. H. Geisse_...... 5.00 Thelma P. Carter_ 3.00 Anonymous. 5.00 Florence P. Oliver__ 2 00 Florence Bliss Murray_ 2.00 Anonymous. 1.00 Mrs. Anne Shanklin White.. 1.60 George and Myron Stocking 1.00 Anonymous__ 1.00 Inez M. Demonet _ 10.00 Louis W. Labofish and family 5.00 N. J. Boland__ 1.00 Anonymous .1_ 1.00 Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nelson. 2.00 Mel Bee_ 5.00 Mary E. Kellner__ 5.00 Anonymous ._. 5.00 Allen E. DeHaven .. 5.00 Shirley _ 100 H. T. Kovnu .. 5.00 R. C. Kidd_ 2.00 Baby Bobby Fioramonti_ 1.50 Anonymous _ .2.00 Navy Yard Bowling League,

Queen Pin Alley.. 7.45 Capt. A. C. Raguet, U. S. N._ 5.00 Anonymous .. .50 Anonymous .25 Peter Bitzer_ 1.00 Jacquad 5.00 Sherman Suiles__ 5.00 Anonymous 10.00 F. Harper Craddock_ 3.00 John R. Respess_ 5.00 Lillie P. Leigh .. 3.00 Anonymous 25.00 H. R. C... 2.00 Anonymous 2.00 Anonymous .._. 3.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 C. L. W... 2.00 Pattie Stone _ 4.75 L. S. C._ 10.00 Mrs. Charles H. Duell_ 5.00 Santa Claus_ 5.00 Anonymous 2.00 Patsv Ann 3.00 M. Hadaway. 2.00 Anonymous .. 1.00 Anonymous _ 1.00 Chester W. Callbeck. jr. _. 1.00 Vanity Fair dept., Frank R.

JellefTs _ 2.00 Anonymous.. 1.00 J. M. W.'_ 3.00 Anna C. Hilleny_ 5.00 Mrs. Birdie Samuel .. 5.00 Mrs. Isabel T. Baldwin_ 2.00 R. Harvey Sargent 3.00 Barbara and John Friedman 3.00

_

Total .$9,642.81

reached its objective at the western end of Loch Ness Canal in West- ern Scotland despite unfavorable weather and then to have put a

large factory power plant out of operation with a single heavy bomb dropped in a low dive,

j Other hits were reported on the ! factory itself, where sections of the building were said to have collapsed.

German submarines sank two merchantmen, one of 18.000 tons and one of 9,000 tons, these sources said.

All Types of Arms Arrive in Malaya, British Chief Says

Warplanes, Artillery And Personnel Added To Far East Command

By the Associated Press.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 23.—Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, British commander in chief in the Far East, announced today that “substantial reinforcements of all arms have recently arrived in Ma- laya."

“The reinforcements include air- craft, air force personnel, members of Indian infantry, artillery, engi- neers and auxiliaries,’’ the official announcement said.

“The reinforcements not only strengthened already formidable de- fenses at Singapore, but also in- creased defense forces in other areas of the Far East command.”

The Far East command includes Malaya, Burma and Hong Kong. Informed quarters said the rein- forcements included additional units of Australian %nd New Zealand air forces.

Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of the Straits Settlements, announced in a broadcast yesterday that the mainland of Malaya as well as Singapore and Penang were being placed in a state of defense.

The great naval base of Singapore guards Britain's communications with the Far East, Australia and New Zealand and stands as a power behind Netherlands forces in the Netherlands Indies, important pro-

1 ducer of oil, tin and rubber. A thousand miles to the north of

Singapore. Thailand <Siam> is em- broiled with French Indo-China in border trouble which has flared

! sporadically into bombings, artillery exchanges and other incidents.

Another 500 miles to the north the Chinese are feeding supplies to the armies of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek along the Burma road.

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