The Pittsburgh Press (December 23, 1942)
Labor’s on the spot –
40-hour week fight looms
New Congress may change other union gains
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Labor’s on the spot –
Ground activity grows –
Allies smash ten Axis ships
Subs, planes attack supply line to Tunisia
By Edward W. Beattie, United Press staff writer
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Pope to broadcast Christmas message
New York (UP) –
Pope Pius will broadcast a Christmas message from Vatican City Thursday, and midnight mass at St. Peter’s will be broadcast for the first time, but no rebroadcast is scheduled for the United States.
The Pope will speak at noon Thursday, Vatican Time (7:00 a.m. ET). He will speak in Italian and later translations in other languages will be shortwaved by the Vatican radio throughout the world.
These broadcasts are to be made in French, German, Spanish, English, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch and Hungarian.
The midnight mass in St. Peter’s will be broadcast by the Vatican shortwave at 8:30 p.m. ET, but will not be rebroadcast in the United States because transatlantic reception at night at this season is technically very difficult, network officials said.
660 miles from Singapore –
British Navy planes bomb Jap base in Dutch Indies
Island near Sumatra raided in new offensive operation in Far East
By Sidney J. Williams, United Press staff writer
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Ford gives $9 million as vacation bonuses
Detroit, Michigan (UP) –
The Ford Motor Company will begin distributing approximately $9 million in vacation bonuses the day before Christmas and expects to complete the job by Dec. 31.
The payment, one of the largest in the Detroit area, will be divided among about 140,000 workers who decided to stay on their war jobs rather than take a vacation during 1942.
1,200-plane contract awarded to Higgins
Washington –
The War Department today announced award of a contract to Andrew J. Higgins, New Orleans shipbuilder, for construction of “a large number” of cargo airplanes.
It was learned several weeks ago that an agreement had been reached for Mr. Higgins to build 1,200 giant cargo aircraft, but today’s announcement was the first official confirmation.
The War Department’s brief statement did not reveal the exact number of craft involved in the contract. It said the project would cost “more than $5 million” – a nominal figure, inasmuch as $100,000 each is regarded as a conservative estimate for the cost of large cargo planes.
The department gave no details of size or planned performance of the planes, but said they will be built “largely of non-strategic materials.”
Enlistment of doctors prohibited in Michigan
Bay City, Michigan (UP) –
Further enlistment of Michigan doctors in the armed services was prohibited today under a sweeping plan to relocate specialists and general practitioners in areas where they are most needed.
Dr. Paul R. Urmston, Michigan consultant for the War Manpower Procurement and Assistant Service, said the state had already oversubscribed its service quotas for medical men by 36 percent and that no further doctors would be permitted to enter service until quotas for other states “draw even.”
Women to guard customs
Balboa, Panama Canal Zone (UP) –
The Division of Civil Affairs has authorized the employment of a small number of women with a knowledge of Spanish to serve as customs guards, according to an announcement made at Balboa Heights, seat of government of the Panama Canal.
It is planned to use women customs guards mainly at the airport, thus freeing men for more arduous duties, such as boarding incoming and outgoing ships.
Japs beaten back slowly on Guinea
MacArthur’s pincers only a mile from closing on strong enemy positions in Buna area – intricate defense system makes advance difficult
By Brydon Taves, United Press staff writer
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Bomber group wins 1,000 medals and Christmas trip from Pacific
But they’d forget it all if Sgt. Choppy were back again
By James Cullinane, special to the Pittsburgh Press
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Fortress crews astonished at way bombers can take it
106 dogged Nazi fighters fail to beat off American raiders; ‘old eight ball’ crashes home with wings fluttering and engine shot out; men bail safely
By Nat A. Barrows
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