Current Events December 16, 1943;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY DECEMBER 16, 1943:

 Seventeen United Nations merchant ships, including five American vessels, were sunk by German bombers hi the Allied port at Bari, Italy, Dec. 2. Approximately 1000 persons, among them 37 American naval men, were killed or injured.

 Prime Minister Churchill, who marked his 69th birthday while attending the three-power Teheran conference, is suffering a "patch of pneumonia in the left lung," Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee told
the hushed House of Commons today. Attlee indicated that Churchill is now somewhere in the in Middle East.

 -Two streamlined passenger trains on the New York-Florida run were wrecked near here early today and estimates of the dead ranged from at least 50 to 76. Many scores were taken to hospitals with injuries

 An American invasion of New Britain island, key to Japan's hold on the entire south Pacific area, appeared imminent today following- a devastating raid by Allied bombers that damped 356 tons of explosives on Arawe, one of the two good harbors on the southern coast of the island.

 


                     FITCHBURG, MASS., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1943

Stimson Tells
Of Air Assault
On Bari Dec. 2
37 Yanks Among 1000
Casualties Suffered In
Attack On Italian Port
By JOHN M. HIGHTOWER
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (AP)—
Seventeen United Nations merchant ships, including five American vessels, were sunk by German bombers hi the Allied port at Bari, Italy, Dec. 2. Approximately 1000 persons, among them 37 American naval men, were killed or injured.
Secretary of War Stimson disclosed casualty details and the loss of American ships at a press conference today after other sources of unquestionable authority had put the total number of vessels lost at 17, approximately 50- per cent of the total amount of shipping in Bari harbor at the time.

Suffers Attack
Of Pneumonia
In Middle EastRegard Issuance Of Daily
Bulletins As Indication
Premier Very Sick Man
LONDON, Dec. I6 (AP) —
Prime Minister Churchill, who marked his 69th birthday while attending the three-power Teheran conference, is suffering a "patch of pneumonia in the left lung," Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee told
the hushed House of Commons today. Attlee indicated that Churchill is now somewhere in the in Middle East.
A bulletin issued at No. 10 Downing Street, Churchill's official residence, which gave the first intimation of the prime minister's illness said: ''His general condition is as satisfactory as can be expected.

 Seores Injured
As ACL Flyers
Pile Up In N. C.
 75 Pre-Holiday Travelers
 In One Tamiami Train
Are Believed Fatalities
 LUMBERTON, N. C., Dec 16
-Two streamlined passenger trains on the New York-Florida run were wrecked near here early today and estimates of the dead ranged from at least 50 to 76. Many scores were taken to hospitals with injuries
The two fast Atlantic Coast Line trams, loaded with pre-holiday travelers, many of them home-bound servicemen." piled up in a double wreck, at Buie, a village in south-eastern
North Carolina shortly after 1 a m. (EWT).
The Coast Line office at Rocky Mount said it was informed 75 passengers aboard one train were killed and one person aboard the other fatally injured.

 Yanks Achieve
Record Assault
On Arawe Base
Over 100 U. S. Bombers
Blast At Key Japanese
Point For Seven Hours
 SOUTHWEST PACIFIC ALLIED
HEADQUARTERS, Dec. 16 (AP) — 
An American invasion of New Britain island, key to Japan's hold on the entire south Pacific area, appeared imminent today following- a devastating1 raid by Allied bombers that damped 356 tons of explosives on Arawe, one of the two good harbors on the southern coast of the island.
This record raid, announced by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, followed crushing attacks Sunday that plastered New Britain on all sides in a pre-invasion softening-np pattern. Effectiveness of these raids was pronounced.
MacArthur said the damage was heavy. All indications in headquarters communiques the last two dayshave pointed to a quickening tempo in these air attacks. They have packed a terrific wallop,
coordinated in a pincers air onslaught on New Britain that made full use of the new American airfield on Bougainville, in the northern Solomons.