To Lead Fire Company Editorially Speaking: of Calling Mussolini's Bluff The British haven’t announced it officially—but, accord- ing to the international grapevine, major British strategy now is to knock Italy out of the war. That explains the ~ recent increase in British naval action in the Mediterranean. It also explains the many observing and reconnoitering trips ~ the Royal Air Force has been making over Italian soil. The ~ British haven’t begun to shoot the works yet. They are in- creasing the severity of their attack on Italy slowly and gradually, and it may be spring before the assault reaches full momentum. It is obvious that this strategy is sound. Italy has def- ‘ initely proven herself the weak point of the Axis, in the opinion of practically every military authority. There seems to be an astonishing lack of morale on the part of the mill run of Italian troops. The large Italian navy has shown a ~ strange disinclination to fight, and Italian detachments have ~ bctually run at full speed for home when confronted. by English squadrons of inferior speed and gun-power. And Hitler has so far hesitated to give Italy a helping hand, and has let Mussolini stew in the bitter Greek juices of his own cooking. It may be that Germany is so far spread out now, due to the various Axis ‘“‘victories” in middle Europe, that Hitler simply cannot spare the troops and equipment that would be necessary to save Italy’s bacon. Tone of recent Italian press comment is significant. When Italy invaded Greece, the papers all took it for grant- ed that the affair would be over in a matter of weeks at the outside. Now Italian editorial writers are talking about a long campaign. The official army communiques have lost their past boastful note. They say little, and attempt to gloss over the staggering Italian reverses. And rumor has it that a considerable proportion of the Italian people—who never “wanted war, and who dislike Germany far more than they dislike England—are getting tired of the way things are ‘going. 177 From the British point of view, Italy is fairly soft pick- ing. Her industrial capacity is largely concentrated in the Milan area, which is similar in terrain to our own Middle ~ Western plains country, enjoys good weather most of the year, and so is easy to bomb. The Italian air force is large in numbers, but apparently, small in skill and courage. Don’t be surprised if you read before long of British air raids of almost unprecedented intensity over the Milan and Turin ~ regions. The Greek-Italian war has been giving England a chance she would not otherwise have had to obtain air, naval and perhaps submarine bases on the Greek islands. These bases provide an almost perfect starting and supply point for ac- ~ tion in the Mediterranean. Reports now say that large British naval detachments are roaming the Mediterranean, their object being to ferret out and destroy Italian naval ‘power. : If, as England hopes, Italy should fall, the blow to Ger- many would be terrific. Hitler would lose more than a part- ‘ner of dubious courage and power. He would take a terrific beating in prestige in the small countries he has forced into ‘his grandiose Axis. It is undoubtedly true that Britain de- pends on opposition within these countries to help her win the war. Germany's policing problem is one of the most b . difficult in history. You can’t shoot all dissenters. And one man in a factory, trained in sabotage, could disrupt produc- tion for months. It has lately been reported that England is ~ starting a secret sabotage system in central Europe. Interesting sidelight on British plans is provided by a ~ report that an English purchasing agent recently came to this country with ordersifor 1,000 monster tanks of the 70- ‘ton variety. Told that such implements of war would destroy British roads, he replied that they weren't designed for use in England. Obvious implication is that Britain is already : laying plans for eventual invasion of the German-dominated “continent. Can We Keep Out Of War? Since 1783, when our iirst wai with Great Britain ended with a victory for the colonies, we have been at war with France, again with the British, with Mexico, with Spain and with Germany, not to mention the little fracas among our- selves in the 1860’s. Leave out our Indian wars, our adven- tures across the Pacific in the Phillipines and China, and in the course of a little more than 150 years we have been en- gaged in six major wars. That’s an average of a war every 25 years or so. It’s 22 years now since the First World War ended with the Armis- tice of Nov. 11, 1918. A new generation of young men has grown up, there's a big war going on, our nation is spending more money in military preparations than at any time since the last war, young Americans eager to fight are joining up with the British and Canadians, we are being told that we are next on the aggressors’ list of intended victims. Add that all up, and it looks as if it were going to call for more diplomatic skill and more self-restraint on the part of the American people than has been displayed so far, to keep us at peace. U.S. Bombers Scatter Italians Newman Is Nominated Arthur Newman was nominated president; Harry Ohlman, vice-pres- ident and William Hablett, trustee, at the meeting of Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company on Friday night. Renominated were James Besecker, secretary, Herbert Smith, treasurer and Leslie Warhola, chief. Election of officers will be held at 5 the meeting scheduled for Friday, December 27. In addition to the nominations, Dr. F. B. Schooley reported on the group meetings being held in the in- terest of a new Community build- ing. The business session was fol- lowed by a social program and re- freshments. Fifteen members at- tended. Solicitor Will Attend Pennsylvania Dinner Attorney John H. Thain, solicitor Dallas Township School District will attend the 42nd Annual Dinner of the Pennsylvania Society to be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Wal- dorf-Astoria, New York City, on Sat- urday, December 21st. The guest of honor and gold medalist will be . Honorable Herbert C. Hoover, form- er President of %the United States. Honorable George Wharton Pepper, former U. S. Senator, will make the presentation. Martin Bomber Employe Tells About New Plane American made bombers have played a vital part in the British successes in Africa and Albania, | according to Tom Kinney, formerly | of Dallas but now with the Glen L. Martin Company of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Kinney has recently written to friends in Dallas, The British Government has com- plimented the Glen L. Martin Air- plane Company of Baltimore, for producing the great Italian Demor- alizers—twin-engined Martin Pur- suit Bombers. The British have al- so submitted films showing the ter- rible bombing of the Italian Toranto Naval Base and the wrecking and destruction of Italian warships. Other pictures show Italian soldiers in Egypt and Albania fleeing before Martin Bombers. The new Baltimore Medium Bomber, No. 26, is the fastest ship in the world. It is rocket ship prin- 1, markings and numerals on all homes in Dallas, Shavertown and Trucksville. . which will train men and women in national defense measures. Tue Darras Post: MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER, A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION Dallas Borough. er highway between Dallas and Har- vey’s Lake before 1942. 5. Vol. 50 ‘FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1940 No. 51 | Yon in the Dallas area. THE POST WANTS: Permanent and legible street Emphasis locally on activities The installation of fire plugs in The construction of a new, short- Centralization of police protec- More sidewalks. Jim Thorpe, considered by many the greatest athlete of all time, paid an unexpected visit to Dallas when the ignition on his Buick fail- ed late Friday night near Kitchen Creek. A Dallas boy, Bob Girvan and a friend Clarence Blackwell, on their way home from Washington, D. C., stopped to help the stranded motorist when he waved a flashlight across the deserted road. The boys were unable to make the needed re- pairs and invited the stranger to come along with them and spend the night. On the ride home the famous In- dian revealed his identity, explain- ed that he was on his way to keep a lecture engagement in New York State. When the trio reached Dal- las about 2:30 Saturday morning, Bob’s mother, Mrs. John Girvan, responding to the knock at the door, met them. She was impressed by Thorpe’s massive figure and thought at first he might be Wallace Beery. Greetings over, Thorpe modestly protested to Mrs. Girvan that he did not want to impose on the family’s hospitality—he shivered from cold— but there was nothing much he could do at so late an hour. Mrs. Girvan assured him that it would be no imposition—Ilike most moth- ers she is sometimes surprised by Bob’s unexpected friends—but al- ways has room for them. Next morning over a big break- fast prepared for the boys by Mrs. Girvan, Thorpe for an hour recount- ed the story of his life, and the days when he was the star of the re- nowned Carlisle Indian football team. There was nothing boastful in his manner. It was a-matter-of- fact, straight forward story by the man whose name and exploits once thrilled America. He spoke in per- fect English of the Indian lad whose athletic prowess carried him to sweeping victory in: all phases of sport at the Olympics. He explain- ed the famous hidden ball play against Harvard—talked of the prowess of the Carlisle Indians, of his contemporary, Mount Pleasant, and other great Indian athletes, es- pecially one he coached who won the first Berwick Marathon in 1912. “You saw him run, mother?” he nodded to Mrs. Girvan who had witnessed that race. Thorpe told of his twelve years residence in Hollywood where he appeared in pictures, and of the later lean years when his only em- ployment was on WPA. “Indians are not actors and never will be,” he said. Then he spoke of his Scotch- Irish wife and four sons aged 3 to 14. “Some folks think my boys should be great athletes, but I don’t think they ever will be,” was his comment. “We aren’t all built the same.” Thorpe’s greatest regret in life was that neither of his parents ever shared in his success. His mother died when he was 7 . . . she was not full Indian. His father, a full- blooded Indian died when he was 10. Later he was packed off to the government Indian school at Car- lisle where he made his great rec- ords. Thorpe is keenly interested in Indian culture. He loves the woods and streams and was especially im- pressed with the rugged Kitchen Creek country, looking forward to the trip over Red Rock where he might see a coon or deer. After his visit at Girvan’s, Jim went to Oliver's Garage where he met everybody and accompanied Ernie Whipp to Kitchen Creek to repair his car. Once it was started, the aging Thorpe, America’s great- est all around athlete said “good bye” to his Dallas friends and drove on over the mountains his fore- fathers had once trod in moccasined single file—to fill a Rotary Club lecture appointment. Township Seniors Select Ball Date Will Hold Affair On Evening Of January 22 The Senior Class of Dallas Town- ship High School have announced Wednesday” evening, January 22nd, as the date for their Senior Ball. Ralph Paul’s orchestra will furnish cipal. The United States has ord- ered about 1,100, This is a 400- mile an hour ship and outclasses the famous German Messersmith and Stuka Dive Bombers, else Germany has. feats were led by or anything | Christmas presents from the United | States that don’t mean Merry | Christmas, music. Florence Rolison has been named General Chairman, and will be assisted by George Moore, Mar- jorie Dendler, Doris Hess and Wal- ter Weiss; decorations; Roberta The Italian de- | Quaill and Agatha Kamor, tickets; | y United States Beverly Daubert and Isabelle Hudak, ! Bombers so the Axis is getting some | refreshments; Thomas Gibbons and’ Walter Gerlach, publicity. Jane Echart will have charge 6f the check | room. Jim Thorpe, Greatest Athlete, Breaks Car And Visits Dallas Bob Girvan Is Host To Famous Indian When Car Stalls At Kitchen Creek ‘road in West Dallas. Lot ~ = POSTMASTER ASKS POLICE TO PROTECT OFFICE FROM ROUGH HOLIDAY CROWDS Postmaster Joseph Polacky asked for police protection this week and got it. Not from mail robbers, but from enthusiastic holiday crowds who have en- dangered his racks of mail boxes and windows by im- promptu wrestling matches, scuffling, and maliciousness. Since the postmaster’s appeal, Chief Walter Covert has been stationed twice daily at the office to keep order, and pre- vent any further disturbance. S| Injured Couple Are Improving Mrs. Washburn Suffers From Broken Pelvis Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Washburn of West Dallas, who were painfully injured Sunday when their auto- mobile skidded on an icy stretch of road near their home, are consider- ably improved, although still con- fined to Wilkes-Barre General Hos- pital. Mrs. Washburn has a broken pelvis and suffered considerably from shock, back and chest injuries. Mr. Washburn has a fractured knee cap and lacerated scalp. As is their custom, the couple at- tended services at Dallas Methodist Church and were returning to their home when their car skidded and hit a tree broadside on the wooded stretch of highway beyond Merle Shaver’s hone .afifianot far from the intersection With the Kunkle Mr, Wash- burn was driving and Mrs. Wash- burn sitting on the right side which struck the tree was the more pain- fully injured. Neighbors helped the couple to their home where they were attend- ed by Dr. G. K. Swartz who urged their removal to the hospital. It was at first thought that Mrs. Washburn suffered from internal injuries but x-ray investigation was encourag- i More Boys Made Future Farmers Local Groups Attend Fleetville Ceremonies Four boys from Anthracite Chap- ter,” Future Farmers of America of Dallas Township High School and eight from Lehman High School were initiated into the Future Farm- er degree at Fleetville, Lackawanna County, Saturday night. A total of thirty-five boys from the following schools received de- grees at the same time; Dallas, Leh- man, Benton, Newton, Scott, Wav- erly, and Dalton. After the ceremonies the Future Farmers were shown several reels of motion pictures by H. E. New- comber, area supervisor of agricul- ture in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, who had charge of the meeting. Each boy brought his own lunch and they were eaten together ! after the motion pictures were shown. Boys from Dallas Township pres- ent were: George Moore, president; Robert Patrick, secretary; Dymond Warmouth and Dale Warmouth. New Green Hands Anthracite Chapter of Future Farmers has thirty-five members. Eight boys were initiated into the Green Hand degree at the club meeting on Tuesday in the high school by the Dallas Township de- gree team. They were: William Phillips, Robert Lauderbaugh, Har- old Elston, Roger Colvin, Ralph Schrader, Paul Carlin, Michael Ko- zich and Thomas Dickinson. Lee's Battery To Receive Citation At Ceremony A farewell ceremony and dance honoring Battery B, 109th Field Artillery, Capt. Henry Lee, com- manding, will be held Friday even- ing, December 27 at Tunkhannock Armory. Music will be furnished by the 109th Band and by a dance or- chestra. Citations won by the Bat- tery at the annual encampment at Plattsburg, will be awarded the colonel. TO BE UNCLE —— SAM'S GUESTS This is the latest portrait of Her Royal Highness, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, and her two daughters, Princess Beatrix (left) and Princess Irene. Princess Juliana will be the guest of the President and Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House. DON'T COUNT YOUR PENNIES, LET FIRST NATIONAL DO IT No longer will First National Bank count its many pennies one by one, for this week that institution in- stalled an automatic Abbott Coin Counter and Packager. The ma- chine will facilitate the handling of coins which have created a prob- lem in many banks since the ad- vent of the popular pin ball ma- chines which require large amounts of nickels. The burden of ‘counting and packaging coins is also increas- ed in Dallas by the proximity of Harvey’s Lake and Fernbrook amusement parks whose Penny Ar- cades and 5c and 10c amusements require vast quantities of change during the season. Cigarcite taxes with. penny change, have also in- creased the circulation of coins. The Abbott Counter accurately and rapidly counts all denomina- tions of coin and stacks them in any fixed quantities for packing. Fre- quently during the summer months First National Bank releases from $600 to $1,000 in coins over a pe- riod from Friday morning until Sat- urday closing only to have the bulk of the coin returned again on Mon- day and Tuesday for counting and deposit. In the past this has meant hours of tedious counting and wrap- ping. Not all depositors count their coins before presenting them at the bank. For example one concession- aire at Fernbrook keeps his coins all summer, packs them in bags, weighs them and brings them to the bank. He hasn't the patience to count them one by one. $600 in pennies means 60,000 individual coins and that is the number he frequently has at the close of the season. Another concessionaire has more time and counts his pennies cavefully and slowly. With its new machine; First Na- tional Bank will be able to do its coin-counting with a minimum of effort and maximum accuracy. The weighing method has never been ac- curate because coins vary in weight with the result of wear. Along with the coin counter, the Bank has also installed a Broadt Automatic Cashier. This complex little machine, by the simple press of a button delivers any amount of change from 1c to 99c. Its operation is uncanny It delivers the proper number of coins in several different denominations at each press of the button. Children To Give Christmas Drama Mrs. Lewis Stritzinger Directs Church Play “Christmas In The Cobbler Shop”, a Christmas drama, will be present- ed by the children of the Glenview Primitiv€ Methodist Sunday School in the church auditorium on Tues- day Evening at 7 o'clock. Mrs. Lewis Stritzinger is directing it and the leading parts are played by George Shaver, Betty Jane Trimble, Mel- vyn Compton, Arline Handley, Mar- garet Roberts, Richard Case, King Cragle, Ardis Lloyd, Leona Rob- erts, Nellie Stritzinger, Fred Mott, Lucille Lloyd, and Rich- ard Handley. Recitations will be given by the children of the Primary department; Robert Achuff, Lois Trimble, Annjane Layaou, | David Handley, Patsy Mott, Ludwig Kuhl, Joan Hazelton, Emma Stritz- inger, Evelyn Roberts, Robert Mott, Marcia Trimble, Dorothy Stritzinger, Myrtle Kinney, Arline Kuhl, and Malcolm Wilson. > IN TRUMPETERS WILL SOUND CAROLS FROM METHODIST BELFRY ON THREE DAYS The first three days of next week trumpeters will be sta- tioned in the belfry of Dallas Methodist Church to herald the approach of Christmas. The first carols will be played on Sunday at 12:15 as the con- gregation leaves the church. On Monday and Tuesday, carols will be given zt the same time from’ the belfry. Plan To Double Scout Members Scoutmasters As Well Bs New Troops Needed A campaign to increase the num- ber of youths in Boy Scout troops, organize new troops, and stimulate adult interest in those already form- ed, is being conducted throughout this area by a group of citizens who believe that the Boy Scout move- ment is the best means of invigo- rating and strengthening Democ- racy. Hugh Ridall, chairman, William Roberts, district commissioner, and Harold Flack, chairman of the Back Mountain area are among the lead- ers in the move. Subchairmen to conduct the campaign have been appointed as follows: Austin Snyder, Lehman; Gerald Frantz and Lang- ford Norris, Jackson; Lewis Le- Grand, Dallas; Michael Kuchta, Lee Winemeyer, Harvey’s Lake; George Perry, Glenn Sickler, Robert Snyder, J. J. Derrance and Duellio Fonti, Franklin Township. The local effort is part of a na- tional program to double Boy Scout membership in the United States. There are already one million four hundred thousand boys in the or- ganization. National leaders feel that this great organization is a bul- wark against the dictator-led youth movements of foreign countries and have set out to promote scouting ernment leadership in the United States. Troops now organized are as fol- lows: Orange, Carverton, Kunkle, Centermoreland, Noxen, Beaumont, Alderson, Sweet Valley, Muhlenberg, Five Forks, Hunlocks, West Nanti- coke, Dallas, Shavertown M. E., Trucksville, M. E. Lehman, St. Ther- esa’s, Trucksville and Chase. Local leaders will strive to organize troops in this area in every church where no troop is now functioning. To expand the number of troops requires trained leadership and ad- ditional manpower as members of the committee have pointed out. No troop is more successful than its leaders and trained guidance ‘is not obtained overnight. Efforts will be made to secure enough money from solicitation throughout this area to establish leadership training classes and defray expenses of troop organ- ization. It is believed by the men in charge of the campaign, that in the Scout movement lies the op- portunity for men who are eager to help during this time of emergency to find tangible outlet for their pa- triotic inclinations. a under independent rather than gov- Edwards Shoots Canadian Lynx Rare Animal Bagged | Near Gus Dinstel's ( p Frank Edwards, standing watch Saturday noon on a deer run seven | miles above Dinstel’s, heard a crash below him. Peering over a ledge of rocks he saw a Canadian Lynx stalking snow birds. Frank raised his gun, fired three shots—two of them took effect—and yelled to his friends to come and see the strange creature. In the party” were Ted Wilson, Clark Fowler, Ernest Wilson and Ira Ross. All were of the opinion thats the animal was a bob cat—familiar 2 throughout the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. So keen was their interest in the 31-pound Lynx that they gave little further heed to the 154-pound buck without horns that ‘one of the party had shot, and spent most of the rest of the day discuss- ing what kind of “critter” Frank had shot. i Frank took the Lynx to one of the Koval boys to be mounted. When he said he had a Lynx in the car the taxidermist laughed at him saying, “It might be a bob cat, but no lynx was ever shot around these parts.” But when he saw the ani- mal he confirmed Frank's opinion that it really was a Canadian Lynx. Lynxes are short tailed, tree climbing wildcats. The Canadian Lynx and the bob cat are very nearly equal in size. The Lynx is found principally in southern and western Canada and as far north as the sixtieth parallel. The body is about 32 inches long, the tail 4 to 5 inches and the height at the shoulder about 18 inches. It can be distinguished from the bob cat by its lighter gray color, huge hairy paws, and by a slender tuft of stiff hairs on the tip of each ear. It is hunted and trapped in Canada for its fur—highly valued for robes, coats and collars. The animal feeds on small mammals and birds which it catches after the manner of Jther members of the cat family. Although reputedly a dangerous animal, the Lynx lacks courage and seldom, if ever, voluntarily attacks man .even when he is unarmed and alone. ; As soon as Frank gets his Lynx back from the taxidermist, he will place it on display in Charlie Greg- ory’s Men’s Shop. Christmas Disnlay Wins Comment ~ Main Street Was Never More Colorful Christmas street decorations and store displays in Dallas are attract- ing considerable comment this year, {The Christmas lighting was erected early and those in charge of selec- tion of a tree for the “Y” on Main Street did a thorough job in choos- ing a well-filled symmetrical speci- men. In all Main Street presents a holiday atmosphere comparable with the best decorated towns in the Valley—and far more colorful than most. The committee in charge Christmas Eve festivities has an- nounced that there will be carol singing at the community tree and music by the Dallas High School Band. Other early attractive Christmas displays in the community include outdoor lighting. These displays have excited the comment and ad- miration of out-of-town visitors and strangers in the community. Irem Temple Country Club has a beautiful 50-foot Christmas tree erected on the first tee of the golf course. It is lighted with 60 and 100-watt electric lamps and can be seen glowing warmly for several miles. Manager Carl Schlingmann had the tree cut from the Irem wood plot and transplanted to the green for the holiday season. : Kingston Township High' School has taken on a festive appearance with a colorful electric Star of David erected high over the school en- trance. © Howard Woolbert, Shavertown funeral director, has an unusual out- door Christmas display on his lawn depicting the birth of the infant Jesus. The life size figures of Mary and Joseph and of the three Wise Men look down on the manger of straw in which the child lies. At night the scene is lighted, giving a beautiful realistic effect. Bridge Is Open Tunkhannock river bridge is now opened to two-way traffic. During the late summer and early winter workmen have been re-enforcing the bridge with heavy steel girders and new concrete flooring to ac- commodate, if necessary, heavy military traffic. Pompe of 6:
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers