Transcribed by Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

From the Desk of Publisher Arthur W. Gluckman

Mother’s Day

In the 28 years since its inception in 1914, Mother’s Day has grown into one of the most pleasant among national holidays of the holiday-loving American people. It has taken on the happy significance of a time for family reunions, for surprise visits to mother from far places, for the delights of letters and telegrams and candy and flowers for sentimental mothers who love such attentions from sons and daughters — especially from sons.

But Mother’s Day on May 10th this year will intensify through poignant memories the heartaches of many California mothers — 200 of them in the Salinas area alone — whose sons are missing somewhere in Bataan. And it will be a sorry day of separation and apprehension for millions of mothers whose sons are on other fronts overseas, on ships, flying planes, or in training at the great home bases and camps.

Always the flag is displayed on Mother’s Day. But this year it is eminently fitting that every flag in this broad land be flown in tribute to the mothers of sons who are fighting and dying to keep that flag flying high and free. To a mother who had lost her sons in the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln wrote: “I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.” Through display of the national emblem, America may bespeak like gratitude to the mothers of this day whose sons must die for freedom and to the mothers whose sons will be spared to return home.

Saving Rubber Saves Lives

Because many California motorists have reduced their driving speeds to conserve rubber, many persons who would otherwise be dead are alive, and several hundred who would otherwise have been injured are sound and hearty. That interpretation is given by state motor vehicle officials to the latest accident statistics.

In March of this year, 104 persons were killed and 1464 injured on California highways. That is a seriously high toll — yet it does represent a substantial drop of 16.1 percent in fatalities and 25.6 percent in injuries in comparison with the figures for March, 1941. The average motorist is probably upon the highway as many hours today as he was a year ago, officials conclude, but he drives more slowly — and to this reduced speed they accredit the safety improvement.

If by driving slowly to save rubber they are saving their own lives, motorists may at last come to common agreement to outlaw the speeder for all time and tone down highway speeds permanently. They might be just as happy, as well as longer-lived. After all, Marco Polo and Columbus and Sir Francis Drake got around and saw a lot — and you could drive a model T flivver in low gear faster than any of them ever moved in his life!

The Ghost of Coventry

Up to last week, the Nazi bombing of ancient Coventry in England stood out as the most merciless and murderous punishment ever dealt the people of a non-military city in world history.

Up to last week, Hitler himself occasionally referred to Coventry’s punishment as a sample of what he would deal to cities of other countries that opposed him.

Last week came the British bombing of Rostock. This bombing became the hushed, frightened talk of Berlin. A munitions-making city of 115,000 so smashed and burned that the population was being evacuated. Thousands killed, and thousands buried in flaming ruins. More and heavier raids daily by British bombers, clouds of bombers. And American bombers also are coming soon — thousands and thousands of them … coming to the skies above German cities.

The Nazis do not boast of Coventry any more. Perhaps they try to forget it. They think of Rostock — and then they know that the ghost of defenseless Coventry lies over Berlin every long fear-ridden night.

Mother … The One Girl You Can’t Forget

Benicia’s sons, daughters and husbands today are preparing to honor that bravest person in the world — their Mother — on Sunday, the day set aside by proclamation as Mother’s Day all over America.

Mothers here and in all sections of the nation will wear their proudest smiles as their children do them honor on that day. They will sit proudly, yet humbly in their churches to hear sermons based upon the sacrifices of Motherhood.

They will sit at home, surrounded by those members of the family still at home, with eyes that may be on the verge of tears from happiness as they read the messages from sons in far off lands doing battle for them and for the cause of freedom.

Empty Chairs

And they will cast only a quick glance at the empty chair at the family dinner table — a brave, hope-filled glance at the chair which should be occupied that day by a son who is away from home doing his best with the armed forces.

Many Mothers will have received messages in the terse phraseology of government officials, written during busy days, perhaps weeks ago, telling them that the empty chair will remain empty forever.

But there will be much genuine happiness in the reunions of many families here. Sons not yet overseas may return for the day. Fathers and daughters still at home, engaged in war production work, will be there — but Mother will hold the center of the stage, receiving all the honors she so richly deserves.

Scores of special dinners are planned for the day, both at home and at cafes here and in other cities, and many family groups have planned trips to the theater in San Francisco or visits with other members of the family out of down for the day.

The churches of the city, with special sermons and programs prepared, invites every Benicia family to attend services on Sunday morning.

5,000 Sign for Sugar Ration Books in City

A total of 4,703 sugar ration books had been issued at Benicia Grammar School up to 9 o’clock Wednesday night, and an estimated 800 persons were expected to sign for their books today.

This was the report given out by Joseph H. Henderson, principal of the school late this afternoon.

The report showed that 4,848 persons applied for ration books of which number 145 were rejected after declaring stocks of sugar beyond the maximum allowed by the rationing order.

Led by a group of American Woman Voluntary Service members, women of the community and teachers in the grammar school have been working since last Monday morning taking applications for the books.

Rejections Light

Their activities during the several periods for registration reveal that during the hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14, 1296 persons applied for the books, and books issued totaled 1275. From 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. that evening 350 persons applied and 335 were issued ration books.

Tuesday, May 5, 1185 applications were filed and 1147 books were issued.

Wednesday, May 5, 1156 applications, 1122 books issued. In the evening on Wednesday 455 applications and 423 books issued.

Mr. Henderson estimated that 800 persons would file applications today and this evening, with approximately 750 books to be issued, making a total of 5,453 ration books issued in the four day registration period.

New Police, Firemen Added to Force Here

Under an authorization by the city Board of Trustees a new full time police officer has been added to the force here, and a second full time fireman is on duty at the fire house. Both men will receive salaries of $150 a month.

The new police officer is Vincent Warren, and the new fireman is Lee Allenwood, who for some time has been on the volunteer list of the fire department.

Famed Gorilla to be Exhibited in Benicia

“Kongo,” a 263-pound gorilla brought to America by the late John L. Ludwig, will be exhibited here at First and H streets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Friday showing will be from 7 o’clock to 9:30 in the evening, and the Saturday and Sunday showings will be from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The gorilla is one of the six alive in captivity in the United States and is believed to be the only gorilla every shown in Benicia, or any other part of Solano County.

J.K. Lewis, general manager, came to Benicia Tuesday this week to make preparations for the exhibition.

“Kongo” was born in Sierra Leone, Africa. He is as large as a full grown man and helped make the Tarzan pictures in Hollywood. He eats 30 pounds of fruits and vegetables daily.

Air Raid ‘Gadget’ Attracts Attention in Herald Window

A new air raid precaution ‘gadget,’ the invention of a Benicia woman, is on display this week in the window of the Benicia Herald-New Era.

It is a sand-bucket scooter to be used in battling fire bombs, and is the idea of Mrs. Ola Hettinger, who lives on West K Street.

Realizing that a bucket of sand in which a burning bomb would be sputtering would be too heavy for the average woman to tote around on the end of a shovel, Mrs. Hettinger devised the scooter.

After a fire bomb has been subdued by a liberal sprinkling of sand it should be picked up on a shovel and placed in the bucket, then covered with the dry sand again, according to air raid warden leaders.

With the sand-bucket scooter the operation is a simple one, and the whole business may be wheeled away by the use of a long iron rod with which it is equipped.

Assault With Deadly Weapon Charged to Pair

A warrant was issued today for the arrest of Joseph Reddick, 36, and Luches Reddick, 33, both of Napa, accusing them of assault with a deadly weapon.

The complaint was signed by James R. Norman, 521 East H St.

The Reddick brothers are alleged to have beaten Norman with the butt of a revolver in an altercation in front of Norman’s home Wednesday night. Norman charges, according to a report to Chief of Police J.E. Ackerman, that the Reddicks attacked him after an argument over a small sum of money which he is reported to owe the brothers.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for 10 o’clock Friday morning in the court of Justice of the Peace W.L. Crooks.

Heights Homes Office Gets New Flag

A new 30-foot wooden flagstaff was installed in front of the management office in the Government Housing project last week on M street, it was announced by Mrs. Olga Hilliker, assistant manager.

Mrs. Hilliker also reported that the landscaping and tree planting program around the homes on Jefferson Davis Heights is continuing with all possible speed and should be completed soon.

Prowling Panthers
Personal, Social, Sports
Benicia High School

Panther Editorial

On Wednesday, April 29, many happy faces were seen at Benicia High. The REASON? Why the doors around the quad were opened, letting in, once more, the more than welcome sunshine.

This might not seem important to many people, but to students at school who spend most of the day in the darkened halls, it means a great deal. It means that once again spring has actually come, and that summer is just around the corner.

In speaking of spring, we think of the end of school, crammed with exams and last minute activities. Now many of the school activities are past, what with the Prom, Senior Play and all school dances over, but still there are a few activities left — the picnic, which everyone dreams about all through the year. Let’s hope we have it this year; the Senior-Junior Party; and last and most important the farewell to the seniors on graduation day.

Four weeks of school remain for the seniors. Four weeks in which they must fill their time with activities which will live in their memories forever. So let’s have lots of those activites and make the seniors’ parting a happy one.