Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 162, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 November 1931 — Page 1

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NEW BATTLE LAUNCHED TO OUST VEHLING Prosecutor Starts Action for Grand Jury Quiz of Coroner. PREPARE TO FILE SUITS Violation of Law Charged in Handling Numerous Autopsy Cases. BY DICK MILLER Grand jury investigation and probable court action, seeking impeachment of Coroner Fred W Vehling for alleged irregular activities in the administration of his office, loomed today. Prosecutor Herbert E. Wilson is scanning the state law governing functions of the coroner's office and is in possession of facts which are expected to lead to the jury quiz soon. Two Indianapolis attorneys today said they are preparing writs in which they would attempt to have Vehling impeached. They said the prospective suits were based on alleged law violations growing out of the coroner's handiing of death cases. The lawyers said they did not know when she cases will be filed in county courts. Irregularities Are Indicated Study of records of city hospital autopsies, and files of death returns at city and county health board offices by The limes, in the last few days, has resulted in revelation of numerous instances pointing to alleged irregular functions of Vchling’s office. In a previous investigation The Times uncovered Vehling’s maintenance of a school for autopsy students, hurried embalming of bodies without permission of relatives, and Vehling’s practice of ordering bodies to his undertaking establishment, 702 Virginia avenue, without permission of interested parties. The opening of The Times’ second investigation has brought forward information which reveals some of these practices are continued and supports many additional complaints lodged with county and city officials and The Times.

Violations Are Charged City hospital records reveal no post mortems were conducted between Jan. 1 and Jan. 16. But, county claims show, Vehling filed fee requests for nineteen autopsies during that period. Fee of each is $25. Records do not show where these autopsies were performed. It has been charged to county law enforcement agents that Vehling has overstepped his authority and has conducted post-mortems in cases where no such action should have been taken, according to the statutes. Additional allege ’zons that bodies have been turm over to internes and resident doctors at the city hospital, for autopsies, also have been made. According to the charges, relatives of persons who succumbed 1o natural causes, had refused to sign writs for the post-mortem examinations. Wants More Autopsy Money Verdict records reveal autopsies made on some persons either killed while riding in automobiles or as pedestrians struck by vehicles. In other instances, however, postmortems have not been made in similar cases. Before he held the office three months, Vehling had exhausted his annual autopsy fund and now is seeking an additional $350 for fourteen post-mortems. County officials, controlling the purse strings, have refused to pay these claims and are investigating circumstances surrounding three recent autopsies. Vehling performed post-mortems on bodies of Lieutenant Lewis Stanley, fireman of Engine House 16, killed in an auto accident at Sixteenth street and Central avenue, and Mr. and Mrs. James Jordan of Lawrence, killed when a train struck their car near their home. Both cases brought a shower of criticism on Vehling, whose reply to the attacks was: “I guess I’m still coroner of this county.” Wilson Immediately opened a preliminary investigation and then offered Vehling his advice on the law concerning autopsies. This was turned down by Vehling.

Bars Press From Inquest Behind closed doors today, Fred W. Vehling, Marion county coroner, opened an inquest into the explosion death of William Cox, 21, of 266 Minkner street, Thursday night. Cox was burned fatally when a drum of denatured alcohol exploded, saturating his clothing with the flaming fluid. Cox was an employe of the Guarantee Tire and Rubber Company service station in the rear of 5604 East Washington street. Two employes of the company told their stories of the explosion today. Other witnesses probably will testify this afternoon or Tuesday. Vehllng denied newspaper men entrance into the inquest and refused to permit inspection of records In the case or give the names of witnesses. He said the hearing was private because he was obtaining "testimony from individuals.’’ Fisherman Drowns j; ■ ’ „itrd Pr**s BEDFORD, Tnd., Nov. 16—Ralph Potts, 24, drowned in White river near here after a boat ’n which he was Ashing capsized. Oscar K. Anderson, 42. who was with Potts, pjving to the boat and was rescued.

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The Indianapolis Times Mostly cloudy, probably showers tonight or Tuesday; continued mild temperature.

VOLUME 43—NUMBER 162

Thwarted Even Death Foil? Hope of Despairing Couple, on Trail of Trouble.

THE trail of hardship Loran Jackson, 35, of 3517 North Butler avenue, and his wife have walked these last months has been long and without turning. Death seemed to them the easist way to solve the problems of food and clothing for themselves and four children, and to avoid the penalty of the law Jackson expected to face for issuing false checks. Sunday morning they were found in a blood-soaked hed, Jackson suffering from razor slashes on his neck and wrists and Mrs. Jackson unconscious from a blow on the left side of her head. At the city hospital detention ward, where he is held on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, Jackson told deputy sheriffs the story behind the attempted murder of his wife and his unsuccessful try at his own life nan “| WAS despondent over hard 1 times,” he related. ‘‘Goldie and I had talked it over several times and decided to kill ourselves to end everything. “We didn’t have any money, because I’d been out of work since April. We had decided to do it once before, but we had some good luck for a while. “Saturday we went to bed and I lay awake thinking about everything. It was then I decided to carry out the plan of killing my wife and then myself.” He told deputies he went to the garage and obtained a heavy wrench. When he believed his wife asleep, Jackson said he struck her on 4he head with the wrench. tt tt tt 1 THOUGHT I had hit her hard enough to kill her,” he said. “I got in bed and cut my throat with a razor. I cut it twice. When I found I hadn’t cut my neck deep enough, I cut my wrists. Then I got out of bed and threw the wrench under the porch.” Jackson and his wife were found by Thomas 11, Jackson’s son by his first marriage. At city hospital today Mrs. Jackson's condition is critical. The boy notified neighbors of the tragedy and they called deputy sheriffs. Jackson’s first story to deputies was that he had awakened from a stupor to find his throat had been cut and his wife injured. He first said he did not know the perpetrator of the crime.

SET JACKSON TRIAL Witt, Hamilton Face Murder Charge Jan. 11. Charles Vernon Witt and Louis E. Hamilton will be placed on trial Jan. 11 at Lebanon, Ind., for the alleged murder several months ago of Lafayette A. Jackson, Indianapolis chain store owner, daring a noldup. The trial date was fixed following conference today between Prosecutor Herbert Wilson and Ira M. Holmes, attorney for the alleged slayers. Witt and Hamilton were indicted for first degree murder, and the case was taken from Marion county on a change of venue. Witt and Hamilton are alleged to have entered Jackson’s headquarters in a store near Washington and Alabama streets, shooting Jackson as he reached for a weapon. OGDEN WON’T GIVE UP Insists He “Is Not Through With Marion’’ Situation. Asserting he “is not through with Marion.” Attorney-General James M. Ogden today conferred with aids relative to future moves to support his verbal charges that the Grant county city is vice-ridden. Ogden's charges of lawlessness were ignored by the. grand jury Saturday when no mention of the investigation was made in a report to the court. George Hufsmith, deputy at-torney-general, and Arthur Bruner, investigator, who worked on the Marion investigation, conferred with Ogden today. RE-ELECT GRANGE HEAD Louis J. Taber Will Serve Fifth Term as President. H'j United Press MADISON, Wis., Nov. 16—Louis J. Taber, Columbus, 0., was reelected today as grand master of the National Grange. He is the first grand master ever chosen to serve a fifth two-year term.

Woodrow wilson, whose name will be remembered forever in history, again will play his role of leading character on the stage of the world, in Keith’s theater, Saturday, Nov. 28, under auspices of The Indianapolis Times. The Woodrow Wilson Film-Memorial will be presented at four shows, at 2,4, 6 and 8 p. m., for the benefit of charity, proceeds to go to the made work committee, which is endeavoring to relieve distress among the city's unemployed. Admittance fees will be 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. Hailed as a film masterpiece, the memorial pictures have been shown in all principal cities of the country, and have won universal acclaim. In every city

GRANDI LANDS IN U. $.; AIR ™ p ls OFF Flight to Capital With Lindy Made Impossible by Dense Fog. BOARDS SPECIAL TRAIN Heavy Guard Is Placed Around Italy’s Famed Foreign Minister. BY H. ALLEN SMITH United Press Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, Nov. 16.—One of the world’s youngest diplomats, Dino Grandi, foreign minister for Italy, arrived in the United States today to discuss international problems with President Hoover. Through a thick fog, which obscured Manhattan’s famous skyline, Grandi arrived on the liner Conti Grande prepared to hurry, with elaborate police escort, through the metropolitan area to Washington., The thick fog prevented Grandi, his beautiful wife, and members of the official party from flying to Washington with Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh in the 48-passenger Caribbean Clipper. Flight Made Impossible Arrangements had been made for the flight and Lindbergh was called back from the south to whisk the Italian diplomat to Washington. But the fog that held over the metropolitan area made the flight impossible. Instead, it was arranged for Grandi to go to Washington by train, arriving in the capital between 5 and 5:30 p. m. A four-car special train was waiting at the Pennsylvania Railroad pier at Jersey City and a large police escort was on hand there to guard Grandi. There had been fear of antiFascist demonstrations should jie debark in New York and travel through the city. Anti-Fascisti and Communists clashed here Sunday night in the course of a meeting where Grandi had been called a “distinguished assassin.”

Brings Youthful Viewpoint Two city tugs went to greet the Conte Grande. On the Manhattan were members of the mayor’s reception committee, while the Lancastria was sent to expedite movement of the visitors’ baggage. The Manhattan tied up alongside the Conte Grande at 12:30 p. m. Grandi brings a youthful viewpoint from the young Fascisti government of Italy. Still in his thirties, he has become a world figure. His personality has been felt in all the major capitals of the old world. His features, set off by a well-groomed Vandyke and sparkling dark eyes, are well known to thousands in Europe. He became active in state affairs at 27. He startled a convention by differing with the Fascist program. Many resented his speech, but Premier Benito Mussolini ordered silence, permitted Grandi to continue. and since has aided Grandi to the high post of foreign minister. Speaks English Fluently All of his conversations with President Hoover will be in English. He speaks Italian, French and English fluently. Rioting at the Irving Plaza hall rally here Sunday night was typical of the trouble expected from agitation arising with announcement that Grandi was to visit Washington. Fists and chairs flew in a five-minute turmoil which brought out an emergency squad of policy. Dense fog today caused cancellation of all passenger flights between Newark, N. J., and Washington. The hazardous conditions even disrupted the air mail schedule, although, a few pilots took off, hoping to get through. Conditions around Washington were especially bad, with only a 250-feet ceiling. Grandi is prepared to speak frankly with State Secretary Henry I. Stimson and Mr. Hoover on Italy’s attitude toward disarmament, war debts, reparations and revision of the war treaties, although his public speeches will avoid sensational statements. Grandi hopes to go into the Franco-German problem and its effects on reparations, disarmament and treaty revision. Grandi, although scheduled to go to Woodley, Stimson’s suburban home, as soon as he arrives in Washington, may pay a visit to the White House. He will remain in Washington until late Thursday when he will leave for New York. He sails for Italy Nov. 27.

Nation Acclaims Woodrow Wilson Film, to Be Shown Here Nov. 28

thousands of school children have attended, and critics declare that no more valuable history lesson ever has been given the youth of the nation. Everywhere that the film has been presented it has received the indorsement of educators, pastors, civic leaders and citizens in all walks of life. m * * THE Woodrow WilSon FilmMemorial has won for itself an unusual amount of good will in numerous communities, whose newspapers comment editorially about this screen masterpiece as follows: The Birmingham News—Woodrow Wilson's leadership has been insured to the nation for all time. Yesterday’s unforgetable presents

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1931

Legion Boss on the Job

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Annual session of the national American Legion executive committee was opened at Legion headquarters here today by Henry L. Stevens Jr., new national president. Although he visited the national headquarters in October, the new president, who was elected at the Detroit convention, formally took over his offices here today.

Just Like This By United Press CHICAGO, Nov. 16.—Herman B. Markus, grocer, was showing his friend, George Way, 29, how he repulsed burglars who entered the store during the night. “I took my shotgun,” he told his friend excitedly, “and fired at them. It didn’t go off and I remembered I forgot to load the gun.” "They were standing right by the door where you are,” Markus said, seizing his gun. I pointed the gun at them like this and fired.” He pulled the trigger and Way dropped to the floor, fatally wounded by the charge. Then, Markus remembered he had looaded the weapon after the burglars had fled.

PLEADS TO GO BACK TO‘PEN’ Suspended Term Bars Work or Charity, Judge Told. Explaining to Criminal Judge Frank P. Baker that a suspended prison sentence prohibits him from obtaining either work or charity, Talbott Robinson, 1337 Lee street, pleaded today to be sent to prison, Robinson was sentenced more than two years ago to serve one to three years at the state prison following conviction on a charge of wife and child desertion. The sentence was suspended and Robinson was placed on probation because of his family. Today Robinson told Baker that the threat of imprisonment caused prospective employers to “turn me down.” “I can’t get charity because I’ve got a criminal record. I can’t support my family, and I’m of no use. I’d be better off in prison,” he told Baker. Robinson said that employers refused him work because “every time I get a job, a bonding company starts bothering my boss.” Deaf to Robinson's plea, Baker instructed him to go back to his family. “And if those bonding companies start bothering again, you just let me know,” Baker warned. LANTERNS FIRE AUTO Wreckage Warnings Overturn In Car Near Oaklandon. Carrying lanterns to warn motorists of wreckage of automobiles on state Road 67, near Oaklandon Sunday night, Houston Offenbacker, R. R. 12, Box 218, had his car turned into a flaming beacon. The lanterns overturned in the rear of the car and flames broke out. Fire apparatus from surrounding towns extinguished the blaze.

tations of the Woodrow Wilson Film-Memorial demonstrated that gratifying fact for the encouragement of the large audience, which literally were overcome by what they witnessed. The Raleigh News and Observer —The Woodrow -Wilson FilmMemorial is no dramatization of President Wilson, no fictionalizing of his personality. We see the President as he actually was, and along with hmi, the outstanding figures who moved across the stage of the world during an era that will be memorable as long as civilization endures. The Charlotte News and Observer—The Woodrow Wilson Film-Memorial is an impressive presentation of Wilson history and one well calculated to keep alive the memory of Wilson and his

Henry L. Stevens

TAX RISE SURE, WATSON SAYS Senator Shifts His Position After Talk With Hoover. By Times Special WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.—Senator James E. Watson, who has been in Washington since Armistice day, talking with other Republican leaders and dodging newspaper reporters, came forward today to announce that he had decided an increase in federal taxes was “inesqapable.” The Indiana leader’s announcement came as a surprise, for he has insisted that any boost in taxation would be harmful to business. The reversal in position, Watson indirectly revealed, came about as a result of a three-hour conference he had with President Hoover after breakfast at the White House Sunday. The treasury deficit, by the end of the year, will be $2,000,000,000, Watson said, and Secretary Mellon’s tax experts are computing the amounts that can be raised by various tax increase proposals. Watson candidly admitted that he considered a sales tax the logical levy, but added that it was out of the picture now because sentiment against it is overwhelming in congress. He said that he believed it might be possible to levy taxes on luxuries, and added that an increase in the income tax rates was inevitable. M. Bert Thurman, Indiana’s Republican national committeeman, is in Washington. Thurman and Watson were to have lunch together, but both insisted that politics would not be discussed.

HOOVER JCIN PLEADS Denies Guilt; Rum Trial Is Set for Nov. 24. By United Press SANTA MONICA, Cal., Nov. 16. —C. Van Leavitt, 57, brother-in-law of President Hoover, and C. R. Dailey, Santa Monica grocery store proprietor, today pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of liquor. The men and their attorneys appeared before Police Judge C. A. M. Spencer at a preliminary hearing and asked for a jury trial. Leavitt’s trial was set for police court on Nov. 24, while that of Dailey was scheduled for Dec. 7. The hearing occupied only a few minutes and was marked chiefly by excitement on the part of newspaper photographers, when Judge Spencer ordered them to “lock up your boxes.”

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accomplishments. It is a running picture of the incidents leading up to the war itself and how it was handled by the American President; of the making of the peace treaty and of the subsequent events up to the death and burial of the greatest casualty of the war. # n n THE Atlanta Journal, mentlng editorially, after 15,000 people had been turned away from the presentation in the big Fox theater, Atlanta—ln his lines to his mother's picture, written years after her passing, Cowper speaks of the “art that can immortalize’’—the ‘a‘rt that baffles time’s tyrannical claim.” In a peculiarly vivid and vital sense, that is what the Woodrow Wilson film does with the career

LEAGUE MEETS TO HALT WAR; CLASH RAGES WITH NEW FURY IN MANCHURIA

Savage Battle Waged on Nonni River Front as Council Convenes. DAWES -STANDING BY’ Statesmen, in Paris, Listen to Briand Summary of Situation. BY RICHARD D. M’MILLAN United Press Staff Correspondent PARIS, Nov. 16—The council of the League of Nations convened today for its final effort to prevent war in Manchuria, the most critical test the league ever has faced. The meeting started at 4:07 p. m. Leading statesmen of the great powers, deeply concerned over the threat to world peace, gathered in .the ’’Clock room” of the foreign office, where the Kellogg treaty outlawing war was signed a few years ago. Although the United States is not a member, Ambassador Charles G. Dawes came to Paris from London to stand by with advice or assistance. While the council met, actual hostilities were under way along the Nonni river front in Manchuria and Japan. Japan had been ordered by the league to withdraw its troops by today, but was dispatching more fighting planes into the battle area across the Japan sea.

Definite Plan Drafted As the council met, the United Press was advised that a definite plan to end the dispute had been drawn up for presentation. The plan suggests that the council ask the Chinese to appoint anew “war lord” in Manchuria who will be strong enough to suppress banditry and who will be acceptable to Japan, which will lend him its moral support. The project was considered more feasible than the appointment of a military commission of league * embers, which, while apportioning the blame for the conflict, would be unable to insure security of Japanese lives and property. Such solution would enable the Japanese to continue the peaceful development of Manchuria. ' Aristide Briand, French foreign minister, opened the session as acting president. He began by recalling to the assembled delegates the obligations of their governments to preserve peace as members of the league. Briand Gives Summary The red and gold Clock room, where Clemenceau adopted the covenant of the league in 1919, wds crowded with delegates and their secretaries, and a heavy press representation. The buzz of voices faded to intense silence when Briand spoke. The Japanese sat behind Kenkichi Yosehizawa, their chief delegate, and the Chinese behind Alfred Sze, on opposite sides. The members of the council sat with qjbows close together. Sir John Simon, new British foreign secretary, replaced Lord Cecil, the regular British delegate, who sat in a rear seat against the wall. Bernard von Buelow, German delegate, welcomed Briand. Briand reviewed the Chinese-Jap-anese negotiations since the assembly last|met. He recalled Japan’s acceptance of the September and October resolutions of the council, asking for withdrawal of troops and warning against war, and also Sze’s letter that China would respect the council’s decision. At 4:30 p. m. the council ended its public session and began private deliberations. Tokio to Send Bombers By United Press TOKIO, Nov. 16.—’The ministry of war was understood today to be planning the dispatch of a fleet of large bombing planes to Manchuria to reinforce Japanese troops fighting in the Nonni river sector. Minister of War Jiro Minami issued a statement placing entire responsibility for the fighting of Marshal Chang Hsueh-Liang, nominal ruler of Manchuria, and his lieutenant, General Ma Chan-Shaw, who has resisted the Japanese in Heilungkiang province. Meanwhile, the government was concerned with the note from Soviet Russia reminding Japan of her pledge that Soviet interests in Manchuira would not be harmed.

of him who steered America’s destiny during the World war and, more than any other leader of his day, lifted up the heart of mankind. Thanks to this graphic and moving record, we have not only * the Wilson of history, but the figure and motion of the man himself, his gestures and glances, his intimate biography from Princeton to the White House, to Versailles and London, to the tragic close and the final sleep. The Columbia State—The Woodrow Wilson Film-Memorial shows the world in its deepest travail and in its greatest triumph, and tHrough the whole portrayal, above and ahead, like a lode-star leading onward, outstands the heroic figure of Woodrow Wilson. The picture is so authentic that it hurts,

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Moscow Press Hurls Tirade at Japanese By United Press MOSCOW, Nov. 16.—The Moscow press today bitterly attacked the Japanese advance northward in Manchuria and charged that the Japanese military was attempting to involve the Soviets in the conflict. Official quarters said the United Press interview with General Ma Chan-Shan at Tsitsihar confirmed claims of a Soviet policy of noninterference.

HARBIN JAMMED WITH REFUGEES Americans Leave Menaced Soviet City. Kuh interview with Genera! Ma on Page 9. BY FREDERICK KUH United Press Staff Correspondent (Copyright. 1931. bv United Press! HARBIN, Manchuria, Nov. 16. Refugees from Tsitsihar crowded Harbin today, expecting the bombardment and fall of the city as an outcome of the battle between Chinese and Japanese on the Nonni river. Tsitsihar is 175 miles northwest of here, just north of Anganchi, on the Chinese Eastern railway. Returning from Tsitsihar after interviewing General Ma Chan-Shan, the Chinese commander, I observed numerous fugitives, especialy Jaj^a Today’s train from Anganchi reached Harbin with three extra cars to accommodate refugees. The only four Americans in Tsitsihar left the menaced town on advice of George Hanson, consul-general here. Three of them reached Harbin—Mrs. J. G. Vos of Princeton, N. J.; Miss Lillian McCracken of Beaver County, Pa., ad Miss Rose Huston of Blanchard, la. Vos stayed at Anganchi to observe events there. The sole American between Harbin and Manchuli, on the Russian border, is John* Galin, who runs a ranch of 10,000 sheep on the Mongolian steppes. Japanese Near Anganchi BY D. C. BESS United Press Staff Correspondent MUKDEN, Manchuria, Nov. 16. The Japanese army fought its way to within striking distance of Anganchi today, after a combined artillery, infantry and bombing plane attack, smashed through Chinese forces on the Nonni river front. Extensive fighting in the Nonni sector was resumed shortly after dawn, Japanese reports from the war zone said. The opposing armies were engaged over a wide front south of Anganchi, the key to Chinese General Ma ChanShan’s defense of Tsitsihar, which is within the Soviet sphere of influence. Later, a Japanese communique announced that Chinese cavalry had cut communications between Taonan and the Japanese troops in the Nonni sector. Taonan is on the railroad connecting the Japanese base in the south with the Nonni troops, and severance of communications would cut off the advance lines of Japanese from their base. INDICT FORJORTURE Jury Charges Imprisoned Girl Maltreated. By United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.—A grand jury today indicted Mr. and Mrs. Harry N. Riley on a charge of maltreatment and torture of 12-year-old Edith Riley, the girl alleged to have been held a prisoner in a closet for several years. Mrs. Riley is the child’s stepmother. The jury’s report charged that on Nov. 6, the day Edith was found huddled in a corner of the closet, Mr. and Mrs. Riley “with force and arms, then and there did wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously torture, cruelly beat, abuse and otherwise wilfully maltreat” the little girl.

THE Baltimore Sun The Woodrow Wilson Film-Me-morial proved to be intensely impressive. The various episodes are so woven together that they create sustained dramatic interest. The film moves relentlessly toward its main objective—to impress the spectator that Woodrow Wilson lived and died a martyr to his idealism. Stripped of all the mechanics and tricks of the movie studio, it deserves to rank with the most thrilling made-to-order movie. • The New York Times —The scenes of the past in the Woodrow Wilson Rim-Memorial were stirring. Memories of the conflict, brought nearer by living pictures, carried a strong appeal to the emotions.

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Present Tokio Regime May Fall Before Onslaught of Militarists. RUSSIAN WRATH RISES Japan, Preparing for Last Decade, Is in Position to Defy World. BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS Scripps-Howard ForeUn Editor WASHINGTON, Nov. 16. The Sino-Japanese brawl has reached the critical stage where Washington is in momentary expectation of a showdown at any one of our different places—Manchuria, Tokio, Paris or Moscow. 1. Unless the mikado’s legions in Manchuria can be brought quickly under control of the existing. Japanese government at Tokio —instead of taking their orders from the general staff, which thus far has acted on the authority of the emperor alone—a bloody war is inescapable. 2. The desperate fight for power at Tokio, in progress now for eight weeks, is nearing a decision. Soon either the peace party, headed by Premier Wakatsuke and Foreign Minister Shidehara, must curb the war party, headed by the ministers of war and navy, or resign and leave the militarists in unhampered control.

League in Sesison 3. Today, in Paris, the council of the League of Nations meets in extraordinary session with Ambassador Charles G. Dawes on hand for the United States. Unless Japan comes through with a satisfactory explanation of why she flaunted the league’s order to evacuate Chinese territory, and gives acceptable assurances that she will live up to her solemnly signed anti-war pledges, sanctions will be in order. Otherwise, it is admitted the league itself will be in peril 4. From Russia comes disquieting rumbles. Moscow is reported increasingly impatient as Japanese operations continue well within the Russian zone. Unless there is early withdrawal, it is feared that the spiked helmsets of Soviet regiments soon will make their appearance in northern Manchuria—the thing of all things to be feared. The main crises, of course, appear to be those of Tokyo and Paris.

Government Near Fall Premier Wakatsuke’s government is reported to be balanced so delicately at this writing that a breath would send it toppling. By inflammatory propaganda and mass meetings, the public has been aroused so that compromises may become necessary to prevent the war party gaining control, and hopelessly upsetting the applecart of peace. At Paris the League of Nations is fighting for its life against a Japan which feels itself impregnable in its own sphere in Asia. From a military attache here with several years’ experience in the Far East, the writer learns that Japan has been preparing intensively for the last decade against the day when she would step out to achieve her destiny. That destiny, the Japanese admit, at a minimum is control over Manchuria and Mongolia. With a chain of islands stretching unbroken from Kamchatka to the China coast near Hongkong, experts declare, the two biggest fleets in the world combined could not force passage from the Pacific. Properly mined and protected by warplanes operating from shore, Japanese waters would be untenable for enemy ships. Position Near Impregnable 'From the land side the only danger would come from the direction of Siberia. A force attacking that way would have to use the singletrack Trans-Siberia railroad, meandering across 3,500 miles of bleak Russian steppes. That the Japanese general staff is well aware of Nippon’s Gibraltarlike position within a thousand-mile radius of Korea, here continental bridgehead, is obvious. The one big question is: Will they take advantage of it at this time? That query, it is believed, will be answered shortly, either from Paris or from Tokio. Should the league be forced to act against Japan, diplomatic and economic sanctions, rather than military, are deemed most likely.

SCRAP HEAP FOR R-100 British Dirigible Is Disposed of to Metal Firm. By United Prtss LONDON, Nov. 16.—The government today sold the dirigible R-100 to the London metal merchants Messrs. Elton, Levy & Cos. They will dismantle and scrap it. The dirigible, once the largest in the world, was built as the first in a great series of ships to link the empire. It was abandoned after the R-101 fell in flames in Ranee and because of necessity for economy. LAUD HOME LOAN PUN Scores of Bankers Praise Hoover for Latest Proposal. By United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.—Scores of telegrams praising Resident Hoover’s home loan reserve banking system program were received over the week-end from bankers throughout the country. The messages were issued without comment at the White House.