London Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1942, London, Middlesex                                Page 4the stars and stripes thursday dec. 24, 1942 a Iowa Colorado is desert fortress in the Shade of a general Sherman tank nicknamed a a Iowa Colorado a somewhere on the libyan desert a British tank Crew Waits for further orders and the mommies take a Nap on the Sand. A a a a 6 a  a Chi sport and general photo sergeant peeps out of Turret sees Jerry tank 2 feet away yanks finding Xmas Welcome in British Isles parties for youngsters High Point of holidays continued from Page 1 and Dixon line it s unusual in that it is a Christmas without Snow. However there will he the familiar sound of Church Hells on Christmas morning something britons Haven t heard Lor three years. The British government which except for one sunday this autumn has harred the ringing of Church Hells since the invasion threat in 1940 Church Hells will he used As an alarm in the Case of invasion relaxed the restrictions for three hours after 9 am tomorrow. High Point of the Christmas week festivities of course is the program of i parties for children scheduled by virtually every unit in the British Isles thousands of youngsters in England Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland suddenly found out that there really was a Santa Claus and he looked suspiciously like their Uncle Sam. Red Cross parties the red Cross rolled into the Christmas spirit with a Long and detailed series of parties at clubs throughout the Eto designed to make i Joe As Happy As possible under strange conditions. Basically this still remains a week of work for the forces Here. Eto Headquarters announced that soldiers would be Given time Ott to attend parties and for Short leaves to the maximum extent feasible but that otherwise there was to be no break in the regimen of training and work. To those men who could get away on furlough or Short leave and were to be guests at British Homes the army issued special rations so that their hosts might not be deprived of already Short food stocks. Perhaps the finest gesture of Good will was entirely an affair within the army s own ranks. Soldiers of jewish Faith in the largest single unit in the Eto volunteered to do extra duty Over the Holiday so that christians might be free to observe the anniversary of the birth of their Christ. Special broadcast bbl scheduled a dozen special broadcasts for americans in the Eto while the English bureaus of the american broadcasting companies also planned special broadcasts for the folks Back Home largely comprising Christmas greetings from the boys in the service to the states but also including shows and entertainment. Admiral Stark will extend Christmas greetings to american forces Here in a special broadcast Over bbl tonight at 7 o clock. Tomorrow on both the forces and Home wavelengths a a the fourth Christmas quot a a description of Christmas in the Isles and in the Middle East will be broadcast at 4 pm. Sometime during the Day there will be messages from the leaders of the allies. All sorts of parties Are scheduled for today and tomorrow and there will be a few More Between Christmas and new year s Day. The bulk of the soldiers parties for children of villages and cities near their Camps already has been held with authorities reporting that More than half of the Christmas boxes of delicacies and sweets sent by the folks Back Home to the servicemen Here have been passed on to those who had even less the underprivileged children of blitzed areas the length and breadth of England. It was impossible to catalogue All the parties today and tomorrow. A few of the highlights in addition to the red Cross affairs included sailors marines entertain sailors and marines Are entertaining 200 children from near the Navy s Londonderry base tomorrow at dinner games and motion pictures. In ballast 4,000 youngsters Are to be guests tonight of american soldiers the red Cross and american aircraft technicians who have made toys from scrap aircraft materials on an Assembly line basis and will distribute them to the youngsters along with Candy bars soft drinks and other gifts. Other Belfast children will be american soldiers guests at Myca parties. In the North of Britain . Marines have invited scores of Little scots to a Christmas party tomorrow with a program that includes Mickey mouse movies a tree and presents of toys and Candy. An Engineer unit which subscribed �100 for a War orphan in 20 minutes went on to a Christmas party for All the children in their area. At an american Camp in Southern England 1,200 Are to attend a Christmas party and variety revue Friday afternoon. Two Hundred waifs and ats will be soldiers guests at an open House and Tea Ance sponsored by the red Cross club. At Hampton court Palace 200 enlisted men of the eighth air Force in the London area Are Christmas guests of the residents of the District. For the most part the eighth air Force a As the Arm chiefly in action in this theater is pretty much a a standing to its guns a today and tomorrow but they will still manage a few parties among them one for the youngsters of one of London s most severely blitzed areas. Sos Headquarters scheduled a party for 1,000 youngsters with the first special service unit playing the leading role in organizing the entertainment. War orphans fund nears �10,000 Mark the stars and stripes War orphans fund the american soldiers Best gift to the blitzed children of the United nations came within striking distance of �10,000 yesterday. A total of �9,538 19s. 6d. Has been raised since the fund came into being and indications were that an end of the year drive would bring it Over the �10,000 540,000 Mark by Jan. 1. In addition to the total fund �57 10s. Has been contributed by american servicemen s units to see that a a their youngsters a have a few extras. The american red Cross which is administering the fund and bearing All expenses reported that 48 orphans thus far have been selected by units which raised the necessary �100, and six others Are being cared for out of fractional contributions to the general fund. Red Cross has Yule program clubs hold open House for servicemen in British Isles the american red Cross is seeing to it that no american Soldier in the British Isles goes without a Little of that old Christmas feeling. With special parties Christmas dinners dancing entertainment and assistance to Soldier groups staging their own Yule festivities for neighbouring English children the red Cross is rounding out a yuletide program of giving that has brought an american atmosphere to much of the British Isles. Some red Cross clubs throughout the Eto already have started their Christmas festivities but for most of them tonight a Christmas even is the beginning of the real Celebration. Some of the programs the Mostyn club Portman St., off Oxford St., gets its activities under Way this afternoon with a party for its Volunteer and paid workers entertainment to be supplied by the staff and soldiers. Carol singing and Brief Christmas eve services take place at Midnight. Al St. Nurses club the Charles St. Nurses club will have All of its festivities on Christmas eve with dinner and a dance. There will not be anything special on Christmas Day. The Washington club Curzon St., offers an informal a a Homelike quot program starting tonight with carols and refreshments. A party for children who will Dine with servicemen is planned for Christmas Day. The Hans Crescent Hostel near knights Ridge station will trim the tree tonight and present a variety show that includes Carol singing. Christmas dinner will be followed by a dance at night music by a 33-piece orchestra and entertainment by Forsythe Seamon and Farrell. Eale club festivities festivities at the Eagle club off Leicester Square Start with Christmas dinner in the lounge. Later in the afternoon those who wish May accompany fliers from the old Eagle squadrons to a party for kids at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for children. A 15-minute broadcast of the party will be carried Over lbs. The Milestone club Kensington Road will sponsor a party for children of Finsbury on Christmas afternoon. At the Rainbow Corner Shaftesbury ave., off Piccadilly 36 Christmas Trees will be decorated tonight by soldiers following the theatrical show at King Sway Hall. On Christmas morning 50 kids will be entertained at a party have their dinner served by soldiers receive gifts and have Tea in the afternoon. 6 open House a for the soldiers there will be dinner at noon followed by a a open House a and dancing at 4 pm. Musicians have been engaged to play in five rooms throughout the Day. Dancing partners will be available but if men wish to bring their own dates they can make arrangements at the club. Glasgow Volunteer workers plan a Christmas eve party at which servicemen will receive gifts from the volunteers. Singing of carols at 7 am Turkey dinner at noon and Tea dance Are scheduled for Christmas Day. In Edinburgh a similar program is planned for tonight but on the 25th dinner will not be served until 6.30 pm. There will be a party for orphans in the afternoon and movies at night. With . Armoured Force. Tunisia dec. 22 up a for years after the War sgt. Rolva Cantrell will Tell folks in Hodgins Ville ky., about the night he stuck his head from the Turret of his tank discovered a German tank two feet away and heard an enemy officer shouting at him in German. Cantrell is a bit jittery now when telling the Story but at the time of the incident he thought fast hurled two hand grenades at the German tank and ducked Down in his own Turret. The German officer also ducked backed his tank off 10 feet and fired at Cantrell a tank which was holding a Bridgehead. One German Shell knocked the barrel off the american tank s Center gun. Four other shots penetrated the Armor injuring one Man. Jerry escapes an american tank parked behind Cantrell s fired four shots at the German tank but the enemy tank escaped in the darkness. Telling How the incident occurred Cantrell said a a we were parked by the Roadside when a German Soldier walking along the Road stopped beside us and Jabb ered in German which we could t Soldier actors top show Bill Soldier Talent and actors from the professional stage and screen will top the Bill at an a a old fashioned a Christmas party for american troops and their guests tonight at King Sway Hall in Holborn London. The party gets under Way at 8pm and will run through Midnight ending with a Short non sectarian devotional service led by chaplain c. R. Mcclelland Dallas Tex. British families who have invited american soldiers to their Homes for Christmas and 50 mommies of the British to in London will be the special guests of the americans at the party. More than 2.000 persons Are expected to attend. Leslie Howard and Robert Donat top the list of stage and screen stars on the entertainment program part of which will be broadcast to the United states. I entertainers with a professional background include a Cowboy Singer pvt. Homer Harris Denver col., who used to warble rang hand ballads on american radios and 1st it. Max k. Gilstrap Ardmore okla., who is an sex govern ment Ranger naturalist from the grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. War. Off. Frank Rosato and his Dixieland swing outfit from new Orleans will furnish the music while two american non coms will be at the organs sgt. Richard Griffiths Norfolk va., and Cpl. Heinz Arnold Patchogue l.i., . Free tickets for the party can be obtained at red Cross clubs and at special j services. Understand. I sent him Back to my company commander. A a a few minutes later we heard a vehicle approaching and thought it was an american Hal track. I stuck my head Cut to speak to them and saw it was a German tank. I really ducked  Soldier a deserter Cantrell screw later Learned that the German Soldier was a tank Crew deserter trying to surrender. He had tried to Tell them and later succeeded in telling the company commander that German tanks had been knocked out of action on the Hillside but that a third was approaching and that there were German 88s nearby. As a Rebuff of the deserter s information the americans captured the gun positions easily. Cantrell said a a i sure wish some of us could have understood that Jerry. We really would have been waiting for that  members of Cantrell screw were Cpl. Robert Etier Marlow okla. Pvt. Eno Widberg Clay Center Kan. Pfc Shirley Swan Hamburg Ark. Pvt. M. Ridgeway Mosine Tenn. And pvt. Frank Bunner Fairmount w. A. Hartle pledges fight to Victory continued from Page 1 in the United kingdom has made a contribution and a personal Effort to brighten some youngsters Christmas Day. Many find that in this Way they capture for a few hours the Holiday spirit of their american Homes in which their own children Are celebrating the occasion. A a our soldiers cherish Christmas and All it stands for peace on Earth Good w ill toward men. In foreign lands All Over the Globe american men Are fighting for the Freedom which will once again make it possible for the Peoples of the world to celebrate the great common festivals in peace and Good will. They will not give up until this Freedom is established. Second War Christmas a a for America this is the second wartime Christmas. We together with the other United nations have the strength to win this War. At Home the american people Are behind us in offices factories and on farms. Our fighting services Are trained and ready. Many Are already in the battled the enemy has Felt our might on All fronts. The future is full of hardship and weariness but this Christmas we Are beginning to see our Hope fulfilled. We Are on the Road to Victory and nothing will Stop us. A a i join with my officers and men in wishing the personnel of the forces with which we Are associated and the civilians behind those forces a genuine merry Christmas and a Happy new  japanese again try Bombino planes in Flig zeros flank forts while others drop missiles from above somewhere in Austria u dec. 23 a it a Allied air Force he quarters disclosed yesterday the Japan were using a a Aerial bombs a in an a tempt to increase their margin of Sucre in air Battles in new Guinea and thl Solomons. At Headquarters it. Col. George c Kenney commander of the Allied air forces in the Southwest Pacific reported two such attacks recently. Both were unsuccessful and three enemy fighters were shot Down and a fourth damaged5 the japs first used a a Aerial bombs against a single flying fortress on recon Naissance around Buin Fasi in the Solo Mons. Seven Jap fighters attacked in two a a v a formations. While three Jap fighters flew parallel with the fortress the others climbed 1.000 feet above then dropped bombs which burst and fell a a in a Streamer effect with Small red fires at the ends a according to the report of the fortress s Crew. With the last explosion the three fighters flying alongside closed in and opened fire. Then they climbed above while the other four flew parallel with the fortress and repeated the performance. The fight lasted 40 minutes. One Jap fighter was destroyed and one possibly destroyed. One was damaged. The fortress fired 1,000 rounds of ammunition and escaped undamaged. The zeros used a a Aerial bombs a for the second time against liberators along the coast of Papua. One Zero was shot into the sea. The australian communique today said that the Allied troops in the Buna area of new Guinea Are pushing a slow Advance through a a intricate and thoroughly prepared  russian drive enters Ukraine continued from Page 1 Craft were keeping up their attacks on the retreating enemy strafing them and combing their lines causing great disorder. This was having a marked effect because with such Snow and wind storms As were prevailing on the front it became necessary to Fly very Low enabling the soviet fliers to pour a Hail of bullets upon the already so rely battered germans. The tanks plunged on ahead of a he infantry capturing More and More storehouses. One group wire Essed pack a a we Are distributing dutch chocolate and Rhine wines to our  from the Frozen Northern front to the Snow swept southwestern front the German communications took a worse turn As the invaders lost a total of 905 railway Miles to the advancing soviet forces. Upwards of 430 Miles was rendered inoperative on the southwestern front by Gen. Vatu in a drives. One Hundred and forty Miles of the Stalingrad to in Hort Skaya line is in the Possession of the red army and nearly 200 Miles of line Between Voronezh and Millerov. Free tickets handed out for troop show sunday distribution of approximate 2.500 free tickets for the Holiday show tor troops sunday at 2.15 pm at toe palladium theater was begun yesterday by representatives of the special service Section red Cross clubs and the special service officers of units in the London base command. The show produced by Uso tamp shows and american Oversea it artists will be a a for american soldiers and Tancif Allied guests a a special service on Wal said. Originally scheduled to be held at inc hippodrome the show has been Tran feared to the palladium. Stars w ill incl Kay Francis Martha Raye Carole lanais and Mitzi Mayfair of the Uso Gre us and Ben Jon Bebe Daniels \ k �1v�?~ and Teddy Brown of the America overseas artists. Africa quot continued from Page 1 when Large scale fighting would he e sued. Meanwhile . Fighter pilots r0ufve the total score of Axis air crab the destroyed in six weeks in he african Campaign to 96 when they 5 j Down two or three ju88s Witik i at the Allied Forward positions and damaged a third junkers. In me period the . Forces lost 55 Plaj a Headquarters spokesman Saia final score for the week ending d was 24 enemy planes destroyed to it planes alone with 12 Amer an lost. J american fighters also with it enemy tank and 12 other Beotis ammunition trailers yesterday Ana a hits resulting in explosions in or other trailers in another sector. Blondie by Courtesy of King features Syndicate and the London daily sketch by Chic Young printed in England by the times publishing company limited printing House Square London , and published by the United states armed forces�?24-12-42