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Fifty Years Of Continuous Publication
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Editorial
Yuletide Seasoni
And Th le ,Time ,,
VOL. LI. No. 68 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1940 Z-323
PRICE FIVE CENTS
Advance In Libya
Continues; British
Pound Italian Base
Conducts Today
Capture Of More Frontier
Posts Claimed; Fascist
Communications Periled
Important Position
Seized By Greeks
(By The Associated Press)
CAIRO, Egypt. Dec. 17.-Britain's
army in Africa reported today the
capture of three more Italian fron-
tier forts, and rolled on toward the
important Fascist base of Bardia in
the counter-invasion of Italian
Libya.
(Reuters, British News Agency, re-
ported that British mechanized units
were now attacking Bardia itself,
and tiat about the town heavy fight-
ing was raging.)
Offensive Stronger
The offensive, far from slackening,
as had been expected in some quar-
ters with the ouster of the last in-
vading Italian from Egypt, appeared
actually to be gathering power, the
British command declaring:
"Pressure on the enemy is stead-
ily increasing as new forces arrive."
The latest Italian outposts to fall,
an official communique said, were
the forts of Musaid, Sidi Omar and
Sheffdrzen. Their occupation, along
with the previouslyreported seizure
of 'Fort Capuzzo, put the British in
control of a substantial segment of
the eastern Libyan border area.
The drive upon coastal Bardia-
which had been reported under bom-
bardment by the British Mediterran-
ean fleet and Royal Air Force in an
effort to reduce its defenses-threat-
ened an important Fascist line of
communication, for that town com-
mands the coastal road westward to
Torbruk, the strongest Italian mili-
tary center in Libya.
Lines Believed Cut
British sources said they were un-
certain whether the Italian com-
munication line had been, wholly
cut as yet.
An Associated Press correspondent
with the British in the field report-
ed the Italians were understood to
have large forces in Bardia, includ-
ing many survivors of the retreat
from Egypt, and , apparently were
preparing to make a major fight of
it there.
British armored forces sped over
the desert in a maneuver to encircle
the town, and advanced units report+
ed that considerable numbers of
Italian trucks, tractors and tanks al-
ready had been destroyed by dive
bombers.
British communiques during the
day made no mention of the num-
ber of Italian prisopers of war now
in hand, but the Associated Press
correspondent said a recapitulation
indicated that, of the five Fascist
divisions which- invaded Egypt, only
one got out entire. Two appeared
wholly shattered.
Lose Equipment
Another, he said, withdrew many
of its men, but lost most of its equip-
ment. Italian divisions are under-
stood to run as high as 14,000 men.
The British air command reported
a heavyz and continuing bombing
campaign against Fascist positions,
particularly at Bardia. There, said
a Royal Air Force communique, more
than a dozen tons of bombs struck
the barracks, military buildings gen-
erally and the railways, and a train
of fires were laid.
Important Positions'
Siezed By Greeks
ATHENS, Greece, Dec. 17-W)--A
government spokesman announced
tonight as "one of the major suc-
cesses of recent days" the capture by
the Greeks of a camouflaged forti-
fied position in the northern sector
where the Italians had stood stub-
bornly with permanent artillery and
machine gun installations.
The position was said unofficially
to be near the Yugoslavian border.
In the coastal sector, the spokes-
man added, the Greeks and "pressed
back" the Fascists.
The Port of Palermo, he said, is
under Greek artillery fire, and went
on:
"During the last 24 hours where-
ever the enemy has attempted to do
battle he has been defeated."
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THOR JOHNSON
Musical Society
Gives 'Messiah'
Oratorio Today
Presentation Of 'Messiah'
To Feature Symphony,
Choral Union, Soloists
The University Musical Society
will present its annual Christmas
season performance of Handel's
"Messiah" at 8 p.m. today in Hill
Auditorium.
William Hain, New York tenor,
will sing one of the solo roles in the
religious classic, as will Thelma von-
Eisenhauer, operatic soprano who
made her debut with the Chicago
Civic Opera Company, Joan Peebles,
contralto, who sang here also last
year, and Richard Hale, baritone.
Thor Johnson will conduct the
University Symphony Orchestra of
80 players and the Choral Union of
300 voices. The organ portion of
the program will be played by Pal-
mer Christian, University organist.
Although the traditional perform-
ance is offered by the Musical So-
ciety free of charge to the campus,
admission will be possible only by
tickets which were available in ad-
vance. According to Dr. Charles
A. Sink, president of the society,
however, the capacity of Hill Audi-
torium has already been reached and
no wore tickets are obtainable. Hold-
ers of these admission slips are re-
quested to be in their seats by 7:50
p.m. today to avoid confusion and
crowding in the capacity audience
expected. Admission after this time
will not be guaranteed.
The "Messiah" performance is the
University Musical Society's annual
"contribution to the music lovers of
Ann Arbor and its environs in the
Yuletide season."
Tickets For J-Hop
Scheduled For Sale
To EligibleStudents
J-Hop tickets will be on sale
Thurs. and Fri., Jan. 9 and 10, at
the Union, available to all students
presenting approved applications,
Richard Arbuckle, J-Hop publicity
chairman, announced yesterday.
The J-Hop committee was able to
approve six out of seven applications
submitted, Arbuckle revealed, when
the drawing was done. Prof. James
K. Pollock, of the political science
department, devised and managed
the method by which the applications
were drawn in the lottery, designed
to elimihate unfairness to anybody.
No identification cards will be nec-
essary at the sale, Paul Sampson,
ticket chairman said, but to obviate
the necessity to carry large sums of
money, only one ticket will be sold
to each person.
Rev. Parr Will Talk
On Christmas Books
Student Held On Refusal
To Fill Out Draft Forms
Declaring that "war and ante-
cedent preparation for war is the ne-
gation of all that is good in life,"
Thaddeus A. Szymanski, '41E, was ar-
rested yesterday on a charge of re-
fusing to fill out his selective service
questionnaire and taken to Detroit
'y a federal marshal.
Szymanski, who described himself
as a conscientious objector, served
for a year and a half in the R.O.T.C.
when he began his studies here in
1935. Explaining this apparent con-
radiction he stated: "At that time
.ny views were in a.state of flux. They
aave solidified during the last two
years, partly as a result of events
abroad."
He registered under the draft act
-n Ot. 16 and drew Order No. 170,
which probably would shave resulted
n his being selected for military ser-
vice by next June.
He said that he registered without
1abjection because he considered the
registration a civil order but he felt
the notice to fill out a questionnaire
was a milita y crter.
Col. A. C. Pack, chairman of the
local draft board stated that when
Szymanski retuirnd a lnk ques-
tionnaire he was told at a conference
Research Group
Will Announce
Russel Winner
Prof. Gustafson Will Give
Paper On 'Hormones';
Dunham Also To Talk
Announcement of the Henry Russel
Lecturer for 1941 will be made at a
meeting of the Research Club at 8
p.m. today in the Rackham Amphi-
theatre.
The Lectureship is awarded annual-
ly to the member of the faculty who
is judged to have attained the highest
distinction in the field of scholarship.
The recipient is given a stipend of
$250 and has the honor of deliver-
ing the Henry Russel Lecture next
spring.
Papers will be read at today's meet-
ing by Prof. Felix Q. Gustafson of
the botany department on "Plant
Hormones" and by Prof. Arthur L.
Dunham of the history department,
who will talk on "The. Origins of a
National Network of Railroads in
France from 1833 to 1852."
Faculty members who have been
honored as Henry Russel Lecturers
in the past 10 years include Prof.
William H. Hobbs of the geology de-
partment; Prof. Jesse S. Reeves of
the political science department, Prof.
Walter B. Pillsbury of the psychology
department, Prof. E. C. Case of the
geology department, Prof. G. Carl
Huber, Prof. John G. Winter of the
Latin department, Prof. Charles W.
Edmunds of the Medical School,
Prof. Heber D. Curtis of the astron-
omy department, Prof. Campbell
Bonner of the Greek department and
Dr. Frank N. Wilson of the Medical
School.
Wilikie Wants Liberal
Chairman For GOP
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-(P)-
Close associates said today that Wen-
dell L. Willkie wants the Republican
National Committee to choose a new
chairman who will represent "the
back-home element" in the party and
who will favor the "social gains" of
New Deal.
Friends declared that the 1940
standard bearer believes that a "lib-
eral" new leadership is vital to the
effective functioning of the party.
Roosevelt Reveals Plans
To Lend England Arms;
Minister Asks For Planes
with Harold Golds, secretary of the
board and later at a hearing before
the board on Dec. 7 that he could
fill out the form and designate him-
self as a conscientious objector.
On his refusal to do this, the board
notified the federal district attorney
at Detroit that he was delinquent.
This is the first case of an alleged
draft evasion in Ann Arbor.
Syzmanski majored in chemical en-
gineering. His studies had been inter-
rupted by work in local factories. At
one time he received NYA assistance.
The student, who is a native of
Scranton, Pa., asserted that he would
persist in his stand even if it meant
a prison sentence.
relief Society
.Asks Clothing
For Refu ees
Student Assistance Urged
In Collecting Garments
For Homeless People
University of Michigan students
will be given the opportunity this
week to do their bit for the more than
300,000 poverty-stricken war refugees4
who are to be provided for this winter.
The Ann Arbor branches of the
war relief societies are sponsoring a
drive among students to secure serv-
iceable clothing for English refugees
from their own homes, and foreign
refugees, of whom there are 100,000
French alone, in England.
Letters have been sent out by Dean
Alice C. Lloyd, Dean Walter Rea, and
Prof. Karl Litzenberg, director of
residence halls, urging students to
turn over to their landladies or house
mothers all unwanted, serviceable
clothing or shoes, before they leave
campus for the Christmas holidays.
University trucks will collect the
clothing and deliver it to the British
War Relief Society's offices here, the
offices of the French Committee for
Relief in France, or the Quaker's local
group working at Lane Hall. Where
no designation is made, contributions
will be divided as seems best among
these groups.
Students are urged to submit only
useful articles of apparel. Nothing
fancy or merely decorative is accept-
able under the circumstances.
Engine Society
Hears Davidson
Lord leaverbrook Warns
Of Hitler's Preparations
For Invading England
German Air Activity
Reported By British
LONDON, Dec. 17-()-Lord
Beaverbrook, boss of Britain's Air-
craft production, officially warned
the British tonight that Adolf Hit-
ler is making "immense" preparations
to invade England before next spring
and called upon his plane builders
to "roll out the bombers" to help
meet the threat.
Britain has won day-time com-
mand over the United Kingdom, Lord
Beaverbrook said.
In his broadcast speech, he dis-
closed that a "Whirlwind" fighter
plane had been added to the Spit-
fires, Hurricanes, and Defiants which
have met the German Luftwaffe.
Nothing was divulged about the new
plane beyond mere mention of its
name and type.
Up to late tonight, London had not
been disturbed by night raiders and
the provinces appeared similarly free.
Ltrd Beaverbrook told the British
they were "much too confident" and
that "overconfidence" is not justified
now.
Germany is " aking preparations
for invasion of England before
springtime-by land and sea, but
principally by air," Lord Beaverbrook
declared. There are "sure and cer-
tain signs" of a feverish development
in aircraft production in the Reich,
he added.
"So we are warned. We know that
some measure of preparation was
called out in Germany last winter.
Tanks and dive-bombers to destroy
the French; the same thoroughness
will be employed against us when the
time comes."
Shortly before me spoke the Air and
Home Security Ministries reported
"very slight" German daytjme air ac-
tivity over England. They said no
bombings were reported from any
section of the country during the day
but that one German bomber was
shot down by British fighters. Simul-
taneously, the government released its
latest air raid casualty figures, show-
ing Britain has suffered more than
46,000 casualties since June.
November's civilian casualties, the
announcement said, were 4,588 dead
and 6,202 wounded. This was a de-
cided drop from the October total of
6,334 dead and 8,695 wounded and
the 6,954 dead and 10,615 wounded
in September, when "all out" raid-
ing began.
The November figures thus put air
raid casualties reported in the United
Kingdom up to Dec. 1 at 19,288 dead
and 27,252 wounded.
Duke Will Accept U.S.
Envoy Post, 'If Asked'
MIAMI, Fla., Dec. 17-R')-While
thousands waited to wave him a fare-
well, the Duke of Windsor said today
he would accept the post of Am-
bassador to the United States should
it be offered and "if I thought it
was in the interest of our two coun-
tries."
He made the statement at a press
conference aboard Axel Wennergren's
Yacht Southern Cross, shortly before
sailing on the return voyage to Nas-
sau. The yacht brought the Duke and
Duchess here just a week ago.
M
AIEE
Talk
4'
Envoy To Vichy
Meeting Includes
On Submarines
OTTO ABETZ-
Hitler's Envoy,
Petain Discuss
Laval's Ouster
Chief Of State Summons
Deposed Vice-Premier
To MeetingWith Abetz
VICHY, France Dec. 17. -P)-
Marshal Philippe Petain, the Chief
of State of France, summoned his
deposed Vice-Premier, Pierre Laval.
back from the mysteries of his ex-
pulsion today for long conferences
with himself and Otto Abetz, Adolf
Hitler's high envoy.
An official cmmunique, follow-
ing a hectic and secretive day, said
Petain and Laval discussed "the gen-
eral situation." At least, however, it
was clear that Laval's own situation
since his ouster from the govern-
ment four nights ago was a part of
the discussion.
Abetz saw Laal this morning at
a conference at Petain's home, and
still later in a visit to Laval's chateau
at Chateldon, 20 miles from Vichy.
Then Abetz conferred at dinner
with Petain before leaving tonight
for Paris. During the evening, Laval
was at the Hotel Majestic, where
Abetz has been staying since last
night. The former Premier was with
members of Abetz' suite, but there
was no confirmation of a rumor that
Laval, too, had gone to Paris.
Informants at Bern, Switzerland
said they had learned that Abetz per-
suaded the old marshal to bring
Laval out of surveillance at his home
so Abetz could get Laval's own story
of his ouster as "crown prince" to
Petain, in order that Germany can
decide what position to take on the
change.
There were some rumors, even, that
Germany might demand Laval's re-
instatement. This was supported by
informants in Berlin, who said Ger-
many was interested not in Laval's
successor but "whether any change
in French policy has taken place."
Post-Holiday Dance
Will Be First Social
Event Of New Year
University students who are wont
to cut a social caper will have an
opportunity to "dance for profit" at
a "Jackpot Hop," post-holiday dance
to be given in the Union ballroom
Friday, Jan. 10, it was learned to-
day.
Plans for the affair tentatively in-
clude the giving away of tickets to
athletic events, formal parties, sub-
scriptions to campus publications
and many other prizes.
The only qualification for receiv-
ing these prizes is an admission tick-
et to the Union ($1.00 is the price).
Tickets for the "Jackpot Hop" will
go on sale today, and may be ob-
tained from the Union, Daily, Inter-
fraternity Council, Engineering
Council, M Club, and other campus
organizations.
Proposal Would Not Take
Country Nearer To War
According To President
Knox Announces
Contract Awards
WASHINGTON, Dec, 17. --(--
President Roosevelt announced a
sweeping new plan for helping Great
Britain tonight under which the
United States Government would
take over future British war orders
and release the materials for use
abroad on a lease or mortgage basis
to be repaid in kind after the war.
Under the plan, planes and guns,
for example, would be leased to the
British. After the war, if they were
still in good condition, the British
would be expected to give them
back. If they had been destroyed,
the British would be oligated to
furnish this country with equivalent
weapons. The President likened it
to a man lending a neighbor a hose,
to put out a fire in his house.
In a long discussion of the proposal
at his first press conference since he
returned from a Caribbean cruise, he
said it was still in the exploratory
stage and would require time to work
Dut both here and in London.
Cost Not Detailed
He did not go into details about
the cost of the plan to the United
States, except to say that this coun-
ry had sufficient money to do it.
Stressing that the best defense of
the United States is to aid Great Bri-
tain, he declared emphatically that
his proposal would not take this
-ountry nearer to actual participa-
tion in the war.
The plan, or something like it, he
aid, would be presented to the new
Congress. But he said it involved
no changes in the Neutrality Act or
,he Johnson Law which forbids loans
o debt defaulting nations.
The President described his objec-
tive broadly as the elimination of the
lollar sign in connection with help
for Britain and substitution of a
;entleman's obligation.
Refusing to be drawn into a dis-
:ussion on where the title to the goods
would be, he asserted that that was
something for the lawyers to work
aut. The United States, he said, was
aot likely to get into war for legalis-
lic reasons.
More Contracts
Meanwhile, as the intensive new
drive for greater armament efforts
got into full swing, Secretary of the
Navy Knox announced the award of
.ontracts for 40 additional destroy-
ers costing approximately $253,384,-
875 and for an expansion of ship-
building facilities at an estimated
:ost of $8,300,000.
As a move to expedite construction
in certain cases and achieve similar-
.ty of design, the Navy also an
aounced that contracts for seven de-
stroyers and two cruisers previously
announced had been cancelled and
transferred to other yards.
As to whether it was possible to
speed up present war production,
President Roosevelt said it depended
entirely on the particular item in-
volved and that the task was one of
keeping everlastingly at it.
Hull Counsels
Earlier, Secretary of State Hull dis-
closed that he was counseling de-
fense commissioners and other offi-
cials to greater effort in speeding up
production and it was learned that
his advice was based on predictions
of high American and British offi-
cials that a crucial phase of the war
would come in the next three or four
months.
SANTA
IS ON HIS WAY-
Speaking on "Submarines,', Capt.
A. L. Davidson of the naval science
and tactics -department addressedl
members of the student chapter of
the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers at their last meeting of
the year held last night.
Illustrateddby motion pictures, the
talk included descriptions of under-
sea rescue work, the Squalus disas-
ter, the New London Training Sta-
tion work, the function of sub-
marines as minelayersand battle
units, and as raiders on enemy com-
merce.
Captains Davidson observed that
American submarines have never
seen actual battle duty during war-
time. In the last war there was so
little enemy shipping on the ocean
that they were unnecessary.
Business at the meeting was con-
fined to discussion of a field trip
to be made to some large manu-
facturing concern in Detroit shortly
after the holidays.
License -Freedom -Suppression' Will Be Topic
Of Student Senate's Parley, Leaders Announce
"License-Freedom-Suppression"
will be the subject of the Saturday
evening session of the Student Sen-
ate's annual winter parley to be held
Jan. 10-12, according to the revised
plans announced yesterday by Sen-
ate leaders.
The Saturday evening session will
be divided into three forums. One will
will be dealt with at the third panel.
The opening session on Friday af-
ternoon will be devoted to a discus-
sion of the draft. Some prominent
state draft official is expected to dis-
cuss the subject in a general day.
Prof. Edwin C. Goddard, of the local
draft board will speak on how the
draft affects University students.
Col. Henry W. Miller will discuss
the probable outcome of the war.
What part the United States should
play in the international scene after
the war is over will be taken up in
the third panel.
The Saturday afternoon session
will focus attention on student activi-
ties. Four panels will weigh the place
of extra-curricular activities in col-