Coral Gables Riviera

Larry Allen, Ace Correspondent, Describes Feelings Under Fire

By MILTON M. CHAPMAN Managing Director, Miami Biltmore Hotel How it feels to be strafed by a thousand dive bombers while you are aboard a battleship was related this week by Larry Allen, ace war correspondent of the Associated Press, who is with us at the Miami Biltmore for a brief furlough. The 33-year-old reporter has been on the European front for four years, was aboard the Illustrious when it was bombed and was in the water 45 minutes after the Galatea was torpedoed from under him. "Every day you see travels with the British fleet, but it took nine weeks of continuous daily begging with Admiralty officials to get permission. He was on hand in breaking tradition, and has seen most of the major engagements in the Mediterranean from the bridge of one of His Majesty's battle wagons. He says of the bombing of the Illustrious that big bombs were dropping like hailstones, "the Nazi dive bombers droning like a chorus of madmen and every gun on the Illustrious was firing everything it had at them." Larry admitted he began to pray after hours of this bombardment as the ship suffered seven direct hits and was afire. He wonders to this day how he survived and was able to limp into port. But the torpedoing of the Galatea was more disastrous for him. When he went down the side of the ship and came up for the first time, he was thankful that he had put some little air into the lifebelt. He said if it had not been for a little English sailor lad who pulled him aboard a rescuing destroyer after he had been in the water 45 minutes, "it would have been curtains." Despite a fever of 103 degrees, the result of pneumonia after he returned to Alexandria, he was able to write his graphic story and kept his ears virtually glued to the radio to hear when the Admiralty would release news of the Galatea's sinking. It came three weeks after the sinking. Harry doubted whether editors would use the news, three weeks old. The next day he received a cable from Kent Cooper, general manager of the Associated Press: "Heartiest congratulations on your thrilling story. Best smashing front pages. Entire staff proud. Affectionately, Cooper." Larry is thankful that the editors of the United States saw the value of the story, and realized it was impossible to get it released immediately. He frankly admits that this gave him sufficient satisfaction for all the death-defying experiences he went through. Isn't that just like a newspaperman? At any rate, Larry is here with us for a short visit before returning to his Mediterranean assignment later this month. Meanwhile he is getting his fill of T-bone steaks and fancy desserts, as he hadn't had any potatoes for weeks. Most of all, he likes black olives and I saw him eat 26 of them the other evening without batting an eyelash. "I've picked olives on Mount Olive, itself," he says, "but, boy, they're not like these. Hand me another."

* SCOUT NEWS *

Troop No. 13 At the meeting last Friday, Troop 13 worked on First Aid and Morse Code. We learned a new song, played a new game, had closing and left. Saturday we had a day camp. Natalie Levine and Betty Foster came from Troop 56. Ruth and Elsie Larsen, Beverly Banis and Lulu Sherman came from Troop 13. We had dinner over the fireplace, which we made. Elsie Larson was our Food Leader. After campfire, we left for home and a nice soft bed. All enjoyed a full day's outing. MARY JANE SHERMAN Scribe.

SCANNING THE SCREEN

Van Heflin and Robert Taylor are shown here in a scene from "Johnny Eager," which also features Lana Turner. The picture opens Saturday for a three-day run at the Gables Theatre.

* Old Spanish * Legal Titles Are Preserved

Those legal records which the Spanish used to describe and grant ownership to Florida lands will now be preserved for posterity, thanks to the work of the WPA's historical records survey. State WPA Administrator Wilbur E. Harkness announced today that the last of the five-volume sets entitled, "Spanish Land Grants in Florida," has been completed and that the Florida State Library Board, official sponsor for the project, was taking care of the distribution of the volumes. The Spanish land grants contained in the volumes were translated, condensed and alphabetized by a WPA research unit. An explanatory list of officials whose names appear frequently and an accumulative index giving a list of claimants, personal names and places appear in all volumes. Volume five lists confirmed land grants from S to Z and like the others it contains a glossary and an introduction explaining the translating and briefing. The original documents from which the translations were made are a part of the archives received from the Spanish Government at the time the United States acquired Florida. These papers were used by the United States Land Commissioners in determining the legality of claims to land in the territory of Florida. They are now stored in a vault in the State Department of Agriculture at Tallahassee. At the instigation of a group of lawyers and historians, the Florida WPA agreed to make the Spanish land grant documents available in English. After months of tedious research work, which was directed by competent authorities in Spanish and law, the old land grants were translated and condensed into simple, comprehensible English, Mr. Harkness said. Daniel A. Redfearn, prominent Coral Gables attorney and chairman of the State Library Board, official sponsor of the project, said, "This material is rich in historical value. The introduction gives the necessary background for the understanding of the subject matter and for the use of the books; the gist of the laws under which was granted by English and Spanish governments, and the difficulties experienced by commissioners and courts in arriving at decisions. There are also lists of the English and Spanish governors from 1763 to 1821 and a list of the surveyors for the same period," Mr Redfearn continued. Mr. Redfearn further stated that already two Florida lawyers had reported clearing up titles to land through information given in the publication on Spanish land grants. When it is considered that these titles had been in dispute for more than 120 years, this creditable piece of work is quickly appreciated, he said. Libraries of the state and nation have been supplied with copies of the volumes in accordance with a national plan of the WPA's historical records survey. W. T. Cash, state librarian and secretary of the State Library Board, pointed out that additional volumes or sets of the books could be purchased from Everyman's Book Shop at Tallahassee for a nominal sum. Mr. Cash emphasized the fact that months of painstaking research work was necessary in translating the old documents, some of which are in a state of rapid decay. He expressed the hope that all Florida lawyers and historians would purchase copies of the translations. In giving the background of the period which brought about the Spanish land grant documents, Mr. Cash, one of the state's leading historians, related how the United States Land Commissioners had sat in St. Augustine and Pensacola examining land claims, hearing witnesses and passing judgment. Congress passed perhaps a dozen laws on the subject and the superior courts of Florida and the United States Supreme Court finally disposed of all remaining Spanish land claims. Stressing the historical value of the WPA's work in making available "Spanish Land Grants in Florida," Mr. Cash cited the fact that summaries of the findings of the land commissioners and the courts appeared in the "American State Papers" prior to the war between the states,

IN OUR MAIL BAG

Editor, The Riviera: As I was looking through the paper, I came across a column about our good friend and best City Manager, Mr. A. B. Curry, stating that he was going to leave us. Well, all I can say is that I pray to God that he will do his best as Miami's City Manager, with the best of luck in the world. I am from Annadull, Staten Island, New York, and I must take off my hat to Mr. A. B. Curry for the way he has run the City of Coral Gables for the last two years while I've been here. I get all the news about him through the Coral Gables Riviera, which, I must say, is an honest paper and best week-end paper I've ever read. Yours truly, Michael J. Kelly 1300 Avenue Obispo Care of S. H. Angell

The new War Time has written some queer entries in the Pan-American schedule between Miami and Havana. The schedule calls for Miami departure at 9 o'clock with arrival in Havana 30 minutes and 226 miles later. The return trip leaves Havana at 10 o'clock and arrives in Miami at 12:30, a 21⁄2-hour trip. Actually, the trip takes 11⁄2 hours each way.

Do You Know That We Have Our PINEAPPLE CRUNCH CAKE This Week-End

BOSTON BAKED BEANS and BOSTON BROWN BREAD Every Week-End | WHIPPED CREAM SPECIALTIES | WHIPPED CREAM PIES | ICEBOX CAKES Every Day! | LEON'S BAKERY Baked Goods of Distinction 2416 PONCE DE LEON

Roth Quartet Plays March 9

The world - renowned Roth Quartet will appear in the third concert of the Miami Beach season on March 9, presented by the University of Miami, for the benefit of the Arnold Volpe Memorial Fund. Playing at the University of Miami last month, the ensemble had such supreme success at the Ann Arbor Music Festival that they were immediately re-engaged for three concerts next season. Appearing on the same program will be Nora Conklin, young Canadian born contralto. Miss Conklin, who received her early vocal training at the Toronto Conservatory of Music before coming to New York, made her debut in New York City, in December of last year and has gained since then an enviable reputation. The quartet featuring the Schumann String Quartet on their program will bring to Miami music lovers too the Andante Cantabile from the String Quartet in G major by the late Dr. Arnold Volpe.

Alexandre Dumas' immortal classic "The Corsican Brothers" comes to the Grove Theatre starting Sunday and playing through Tuesday. Starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Ruth Warrick and Akim Tamiroff, "The Corsican Brothers" is Dumas' strange story of two brothers who had separate bodies but a single soul.

War Ban on Manufacture of COSTUME JEWELRY Is Now in Effect! OUR STOCK IS VERY COMPLETE DIANNE

246 Coral Way Coral Gables

Piano Team At El Bolero

With the announcement that Bee Lyons has opened at El Bolero, host Charlie Bolero now has another two piano team to present for entertainment of his guests. Last fall the great team of Earle Whittemore and Warner Hardman played a six weeks engagement at this spot. Now Charlie believes he has an equally great team in Bee Lyons and Buddy Satan, the pianist who has been displaying his talents at El Bloreo since the genial host returned to his favorite spot last month.

John A. Parkinson, Daytona Beach attorney, announced last week that he will be a candidate for representative in Congress from the Fifth District. Joe Hendricks of DeLand, present congressman from that district, has indicated he will seek re-election. The Second Annual Southeastern Fat Stock Show will be held at Ocala Feb. 18-20. More than 300 entries have been assured for exhibition in the new sales ring. The annual banquet this year will be a steak dinner.

Kathryn Partin, 15-year-old Kissimmee girl, has been chosen as Queen for the Third Annual International Rodeo which opens at Kissimmee Feb. 19 and closes Feb. 23.

Clearance Sale All Hand-Made LINGERIE (From a Famous Maker) 25% Off

106 SLIPS Regular Value 5.00 to 8.50 NOW 3.75 to 6.38 57 GOWNS Regular Value 5.00 to 10.95 NOW 3.75 to 8.20 Our entire stock is included in this sale. All of the better garments are entirely hand made and pure dye silk. DANIELS Opposite Gables Theatre Our Store Is Air-Conditioned

$10,000 McLENNAN HANDICAP

Recalling stirring scenes in track history, Saturday's big race, the $10,000 McLennan for three-year-olds and upward is again the center attraction at Hialeah Park. Hialeah track record, 1:48-1/5 for one mile and a furlong was set in 1936 by Jos. E. Widener's "Brevity" and equalled in the 1939 McLennan by "Stagehand", another Widener-bred horse carrying Maxwell Howard's colors. See America's foremost thoroughbreds in this and seven other very exciting races. Come early - daily double windows close at 1:45 p. m. - and see racing history being made. Reduced ADMISSION CHARGES (Including Taxes) Grandstand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.10 | Clubhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.35 | Bleachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .60 POST TIME 2 P. M. Hialeah Park

JUST ARRIVED . . . FANCY DECORATIVE TUMBLERS 5c 2 for 15c 10c WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY Decorations and Favors 3 for 5c to 10c F. N. HOLLEY'S 5 & 10c STORES

217 CORAL WAY 2136 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. Home Owned and Operated

Will Rogers Film Tonight at Grove

Will Rogers, the late humorist, will be seen tonight and Saturday in his role of Judge Priest. The film will be shown at the Grove starting tonight, for a two day engagement, answering many requests for the return of the Will Rogers picture. Manager Charles Ozburn of the Grove Theatre, expects to book one or two of his screen successes if the public shows an interest.

HAVE FUN WITH Charlie Bolero

AND BUDDY SATAN AND BEE LYONS AND MANUEL SAN MIGUEL AND BOB MERRILL In the most beautiful Cocktail Lounge in America DRINKS NOW 25c - - 35c OPEN 2 P. M. MEXICAN LOUNGE BAR BOLERO 3181 CORAL WAY-MIAMI

ANY FOOT LOOKS Tiny IN Air Step FOR RESORT WEAR

SPECTATORS Feather light, shock-proof, smartly tailored. Pump or tie styles in all popular color combinations. $6.50 MOST STYLES THE BOOTERY 248 CORAL WAY Shoes for the Entire Family