Indianapolis Times, Volume 44, Number 282, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 April 1933 — Page 1

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CAMPAIGN FOR JOBS STARTED BY ROOSEVELT President Outlines Plan to Relieve Unemployment: Names Director. FUND IS ESTABLISHED Power Given in Executive Order for Selection of Advisory Council. By l >K>C'l Venn WASHINGTON, April s.—President Roosevelt, in an executive order today, outlined the means by which his unemployment program will be carried out. The five-paragraph order called for appointment of Robert Fechner as director of emergency conservation work, at a salary of $12,000 annually. less the 15 per cent salary reduction; vested in the secretaries of war, agriculture, interior, and labor, the power to appoint an advisory council; established in the treasury a fund of $10,000,000 subject to requisition by the director, on approval of the President; reimbursement to departments furnishing supplies; reimbursement to departments for other services rendered. The order follows: Fechner Heads Work ■ By virtue of the authority vested In me by the act of congress entitled 'an act for the relief of unemployment through the performance of useful work, and for other purposes,’ approved March 31, 1933. is hereby is ordered that: "1. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said act, Robert Fechner hereby is appointed director of emergency conservation work at an annual rate compensation of $12,000, less the reduction prescribed in sub-paragraph tB), section 2. title 11. of the act of congress entitled 'an act to maintain the credit of the United States government,’ approved March 20, 1933. “2. The secretary of war, the secretary of agriculture, the secretary of the interior, and the secretary of labor each shall appoint a representative, and said representative shall constitute an advisory council to the director of emergency conservation work. Fund Is Established “3. There hereby is established in the treasury a fund of $10,000,000 by the transfer of an equal amount from the unobligated balances of the appropriation for emergency construction of public buildings contained in the act approved July 21, 1932, as authorized by section 4, of the said act of March 31, 1933, which fund shall be subject to requisition by the said Robert Fechner, as director of emergency conservation work, on approval of the President. “4. Subject to direction by the President, supplies and materials of the several departments or establishments shall be furnished on requisition of the director of emergency conservation work, and the departments and establishments furnishing such supplies and materials shall be reimbursed therefor in accordance with instructions of the President. ■'s. Reimbursements, if any, to the departments or establishment for other services rendered shall be made in accordance with instructions of the President." STATE TO VOTE ON REPEAL ON JUNE 6 Governor Confirms Date for Holding of Ratification Balloting. Governor Paul V. McNutt today confirmed the forecast date of June 6 for holding the Indiana election on repeal of the eighteenth amendment. Expressing optimism over the result of the Indiana election, after overwhelming wet victories in Michigan and Wisconsin, the Governor said he would issue a formal proclamation Friday fixing June 6 as the date. SCHOOL PUPILS STRIKE Refuse to Attend Classes Because Teachers Are Not Paid By United Press CHICAGO. April s.—Chicago high school students went on strike today, protesting because their teachers have not been paid since last June. The strike started in the Calumet high school on the south side.

HERE COMES THE PARADE! Mother, father, daughter, son, the little ones—all want to look their very best at Easter. What to wear, from hats to shoes, for every member of the family is interestingly told by the fashion experts in a series of articles— DRESS UP! IT’S EASTER! Starting Today on the Woman's Page, of The Times Don’t miss a single article of this timely fashion series.

The Indianapolis Times Rain tonight and probably Thursday colder Thursday.

VOLUME 44—NUMBER 282

Survivors of Akron Crash Land

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The three survivors of the seventy-seven men who set out for a test trip on the Akron are shown as they reached Brooklyn navy yard aboard the destroyer Tucker. Rescued after five hours in the sea, clinging to wreckage, the men were transferred to the Tucker from the Phoebus. A fourth man

Wets’ Temperance Plea Is Spumed by W. C. T. U. Mrs. Sabin, Head of Organization for Prohibition Reform, Assailed by Mrs. Jameson. " Never the twain shall meet!” All hopes of the W, C. T. U. and the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform joining in a nation-wide temperance campaign with the advent of 3.2 per cent beer is “out” today, as far as Marion county temperance unions are ocncerned.

Today in Washington, Mrs. Charles H. Sabin, national chairman of the prohibition reform body, announced that her offer to unite with the W. C. T. U. in a campaign for temperance had been spurned. Replying to her offer for unity in temperance thought and action, Mrs. Ovid Butl°r Jameson, prominent Indianapolis dry worker, said: “She's the most pernicious woman in the country. She worked against the law when it was a part of the Constitution, “I certainly do not believe that the W. C. T. U. could lend itself to a temperance campaign with her organization.” Mrs. Jameson decried the proposed use of beer on the White House table by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. “I've been in the White House during the administrations of a number of Presidents and I've never seen beer used officially. She is setting a precedent," Mrs. Jameson declared. Mrs. Sabin's organization will be compelled to climb over the fence that divides the two organizations if it ever hopes the W. C. T. U. will (Turn to Page Seventeen)

Kindest Officer Who Ever Walked on

a Deck, Is Cop’s

“/'ANE of the kindest executive officers whoever ■ walked a deck—always ready to hear an enlisted man's side of any case involving discipline.” That is the memory of Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, believed dead in the Akron crash, that is : cherished by Motorcycle Patrolman 1-ouis p, Geiger. I

2109 Barth avenue. Admiral Moffett’s marker for four years. Admiral Moffett wasn't an admiral when Geiger served under him on the U. S. Cruiser Maryland from 1906 to 1910. He was a lieuten-ant-commander then, executive officer of the Maryland. Geiger's duties of marker, a rating since abolished. was to accompany his officer on all shore landings as aid and bodyguard. To become a marker, an enlisted man had to hold a sharpshooter's medal for rifle and pistol shooting. In addition to holding this medal. Geiger held the navy champion - ship for 8-inch gun pointing in 1908-09. He held a rating as first-

class gun pointer as well as the marker rating. "Admiral Moffett tried hard to get me to do another hitch when my enlistment was up in 1910.” reminisces Geiger. "He took a great deal of pride in the ship's gunnery record and wanted to keep that big ‘E’ we: were enitled to have painted on our smokestack, that I announced proudly to other ships that we held a gunnery championship.” Geiger did another hitch. He heard the navy's call I again when the United States entered the Worid war,

taken from the sea died of his injuries. On the stretcher, coming down the gangplank is seaman Richard Deal. On the deck, approaching the gangplank is Seaman Moody Erwin. Behind Erwin at the extreme right, bareheaded and wearing a summer uniform jacket, is Lieutenant Commander H. V. Wiley, executive officer of the craft.

•PRINCE MIKE’ IS GIVEN 90-DAY TERM IN JAIL Sentenced for Perjury Before Ellis Island Officials. By United Press NEW YORK. April s.—Harry Gerguson, known as "Prince Mike” to immigration authorities and some society circles, today was sentenced to ninety days in jail and a fine of $1 on charges of violating the immigration laws. Federal Judge John C. Knox suspended the fine and placed "Prince Mike.” who once described himself as “good as any of the thousand Romanoffs in the telephone book,” on probation for three years.* Gerguson was sentenced for committing perjury before the Ellis Island board of inquiry when it questioned him concerning his most recent entry in the country. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 46 10 a. m 51 7a. m 49 11 a. m 54 Ba. m 50 12 (noon'.. 56 9 a. m 51 1 p. m 59

Tribute to Moffett

but his desire to serve again under Moffett was not realized. Geiger was assigned to the “ghost ship,” Von Steuben, whose career is one of the most romnatic chapters in the naval history of the war. The pride of the North German Lloyd line, the Von Steuben originally was a fleet mail steamer named the Kron Prinz Wilhelm. Early one gray dawn, she slipped her moorings at Hoboken, eased her way out the Hudson to sea. and was armed there as a raider. For nine months, the “ghost ship” eluded British patrols and failed to make port, taking coal and supplies from ships she sank. Finally, the.raiding business got poorer and poorer and the Wilhelm hoisted the British flag and tried to obtain coal at the British naval base at Bermuda. However, the British ships stationed there recognized the famous four-stacker and set out in hot pursuit. Realizing her career was ended, the Wilhelm dashed into Norfolk. Va.. for sanctuary and was interned by the United States. She was refitted as an auxiliary cruiser by the United States and made seventeen trips to France, carrying from 5.000 to 6,000 American doughboys. Geiger made all seventeen trips on the rechristened Von Steuben and was with her when a U-boat shattered her bows with a torpedo, when she was rammed by her sister ship, the Agamemnon, and when she was rushed on rescue duty to Halifax. N. F.. when a French tanker loaded with nitroglycerin exploded, killing approximately 3,000. "Yes. they were exciting days, all right. I sure would have liked to do my second hitch under Moffett, Geiger regrets. &9 he joins hundreds of other gobs and ex-gobs who mourn the death of “the kindest officer.”

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Geiger

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1933

CRASH PUZZLE TO ROSENDAHL Former Commander Says He Is at Loss to Account for Akron Tragedy. By United Press SAN DIEGO, Cal., April 5. Lieutenant-Commander Charles E. Rosendahl. first captain of the dirigible Akron and a survivor of the Shenandoah disaster, declared today that he was baffled by the Akron's loss. “The Akron was a Well-con-structed ship and previously had survived the severest tests of any airship in history," Rosendahl said, in a signed statement. “In my opinion, judgment as to the cause can not be passed until complete, dispassionate study is made.” Rosendahl. now stationed aboard the battleship West Virginia, sent, his statement by radio to Eleventh Naval District Headquarters here. “I am more than deeply shocked at the loss of the Akron and extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the lost, many of whom for years had been my associates in airships,” the commander said. “The meager reports so far available are insufficient to form an opinion as to the cause of the accident. Lieutenan t-Commander Wiley (rescued first officer of the Akron) is widely experienced and no doubt will be able to give most valuable information.”

NEW HOPE AROUSED FOR AKRON VICTIMS; MEN MAY BE CLINGING TO LARGE SECTION OF WRECKAGE

Naval Committee of House Votes Thorough Inquiry of Disaster. SIFT SABOTAGE CHARGE Dirigible Not Doomed Yet, View of Representatives; Swanson Skeptical. By United Press WASHINGTON. April 5. The house naval affairs committee today voted unanimously for a thorough investigation of the Akron disaster, which w'ould include the past history of the navy dirigible and rumors of sabotage during its construction. The inquiry will be constructed by the naval affairs subcommittee on aeronautics. The crash of the nonrigid blimp J-3 during Akron rescue work also will be investigated. Chairman Delaney (Dem., N. Y.) of the subcommittee said it had not been decided whether the inquiry will be held at Laitehurst or at Washington. Delaney indicated that the same group of witnesses likely to be summoned before the navy department's board of inquiry will be called before the house investigators. Details of the inquiry will be decided by Friday, he said. Dirigible Not Doomed Delaney said he was “by no means convinced” that the Akron disaster meant the end of the dirigible as a naval weapon. His view was concurred in by Representative McGrath <Dem„ Cal.), of the subcommittee in whose district the Sunnyvale naval air station is located. The new 7 dirigible Macon is scheduled to be based there. The committee adopted two resolutions. one of sympathy for relatives and those who w r ent down in the Akron crash, and the other eulogizing the heroism of the ship's crew. All the skill of the ablest men in the United States navy will be flung into the task of trying to learn why the dirigible Akron crashed through the darkness into a storm-troubled sea. The investigation —demand for which came today from both navy and congress—may shed light on the puzzling problem of whether the tragic fate of so many dirigibles justifies man’s gallant attempt to conquer the clouds in lighter-than-air craft. Swanson Skeptical of Value Even while the tragic details of the disaster still were trickling into the white, squat building that houses the navy department here, Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson expressed doubt on the value of dirigibles. "I have never been as enthusiastic as some people are over airships,” he said. “I think they are very vulnerable.’’ President Roosevelt voiced the nation's grief Tuesday night, and saluted those who perished as men “w r ho upheld to the end the finest traditions of the United States Navy.” Dark rumors of sabotage and overloading of the Akron raced from lip to lip Tuesday night un J .1 Swanson felt obliged to take official cognizance of them: Hits at Allegations “A careful investigation,” he said, “later w 7 ill determine all the facts that are available. The Akron had operated with notable success for a year and a half and had proved her sturdiness even under severe weather conditions. “This service effectively should refute the early allegation that sabotage and excess structural weight had anything to do with this disaster. “It still is too early to venture to outline the department's future policy regarding ai’-ships. The air problem must still be considered in the experimental stage in many of its aspects. But like many other problems, such as gunnery, which have taken their toll of life, the navy has had to undertake and to solve this problem i f possible. Sympathy Is Voiced “Once more the navy has paid the toll in life and to those w 7 ho have been left behind to bear the grief, I send my deepest sympathy.” He indicated the naval air station at Lakehurst, N. J., might be closed as a result of the tragedy. Grief lay heavy on the navy department today. Not only had the Akron, pride of the skies and largest dirigible ever built, plummeted into the ocean, but the blimp J-3 floating on an errand of mercy in search of survivors—buckled and carried two of its crew to death. Moffett Is Mourned The navy mourned one of its most picturesque figures Admiral William A. Moffett, chief of the naval bureau of aeronautics, who was a passenger on the Akron. For years this square-jawed white-haired man had dreamed the dream of fil|ing the skies with mighty dirigibles—floating houses that defied gravity's laws—and to his eternal labor the navy owed the Akron and the uncompleted Macon. Representative Fish (Rep,, N. Y.) introduced a resolution in the house Tuesday to create a special congressional committee to investigate the disaster. He called upon the department of justice to make public the findings of a recent investigation into alleged attempts to sabotage the Akron during construction.

INDIANA VICTIM TO BE BURIED IN HOME TOWN Robert W. Copeland Will Rest in Cemetery at Cross Plains. By United Press CROSS PLAINS, Ind„ April 5. The body of Robert W. Copeland, 38, one of the Akron disaster victims. will be brought back to Cross Plains for burial, it was revealed today by his father, Perry Copeland. The sailor was a native of Ripley county and had been in the navy

for more than fifteen years. His last visit to his old home here was in 1928. Copeland was picked up by the German tanker Phoebus after the Akron plunged into the ocean, but died from shock and exposure. It was by the merest cha nee that he was not in the Shenandoah crash, his

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Copeland

father recalled. He said that Robert was a member of the Shenandoah crew at the time, but was ordered to stay aground while a relief man took his place. Survived by Widow. Copeland is survived by his widow, a native of Greece, whom he married while stationed at Constantinople; his father, and three brothers. Copeland was one of three Hoosiers on the Akron. The others were Gerald L. Tomes, 25, Milroy, and Herschel L. Morlen, 32, New Albany. Tomes’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Tomes, still hope there is a chance that their son will be picked up alive. Less than a week ago they received a letter from Gerald, in which he expressed enthusiasm for the air service. Quits Louisville Job. Morlen's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Morlen, still reside at New Albany. They said their son quit a job as a window trimmer in a Louisville store to enlist in the navy twelve years ago. He transferred from the submarine to the air service. Survivors include his widow and a 6-months-old son. Frank C. McCord, commander of the Akron on its final flight, was a native of Vincennes, and lived there for several years. His present home was at Chevy Chase, Md. Furlough Saves Life By L nited Press ATTICA. Ind., April s.—Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Conover, living three miles south of here, give a ten-day marriage furlough credit for saving the life of their son, Wilmer, a member of the Akron crew. Conover just had completed the Canal Zone cruise on the ill-fated dirigible when he obtained leave to be married. He went to South Bend for the ceremony and then came here for a visit with his parents. He and his bride left for Lakehurst, N. J., Saturday. His furlough had not been completed in time for him to report for the cruise which ended with a plunge into the Atlantic ocean. PROBE MYSTERY BILL Explanation of Secret Measure Demanded in Senate. By United Press WASHINGTON. April 5. The senate foreign relations committee decided today to summon representatives of the state and justice department to explain Thursday the purposes of the government secrets bill passed by the house at the requests of State Secretary Cordell Hull. The bill is designed to block publication of a book by a former army officer in which are included translations of code messages passing between foreign governments and their ambassadors here.

Fate of Five Known

Bv United Press Os the seventy-seven officers and men who ivent aloft in the dirigible Akron Monday night, only the following were definitely accounted for today . The remainder, listed officially as “missing,” were betieved to be lost: Survivors Lieutenant Commander Herbert Victor Wiley, 41, executive officer, New London, Conn. Richard Edward Deal, boatswain's mate, second class, Lakewood, N. J. Moody Eugene Erwin, aviation machinist's mate, second class, Memphis, Term. Known Dead Lieutenant Commander Harold Earle MacLellan, 37, third senior officer, Westerly, R. I. Robert W. Copeland. 38, chief radio man, Lakehurst. N. J The following men were killed when the blimp J-3 crashed on a rescue flight: Lieutenant Commander David Ervin Cummins, 37, commander of the blimp. Pasquale Bettio, Chicago, machinist's mate.

Entered as Second Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis

Two Bodies Found, Three Men Saved; Two More Killed in Crash of Blimp, Sent Out on Rescue Mission. BITS OF FABRIC ARE DISCOVERED Operations Centered at Atlantic City, With Currents Carrying- Remains of Ship Rapidly Toward South. By l nited Press WASHINGTON, April 5. —Anew incentive for continued search for missing victims of the Akron disaster came today when several navy department aeronautical experts said it was possible that some of the personnel yet might be found alive. They explained that it was possible that a large section of the wreckage might have drifted away with men clinging to it. Wreck Pictures on Page Three By United Press ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., April s.—With the first clear light of day, the navy resumed the search for its dead this morning. Ships and airplanes scouted off the New Jersey and Delaware shores miles below the spot of Barnegat light, where the giant dirigible Akron, torn and twisted by the cross-currents of a spring squall, plunged helpless into the sea early Tuesday. The body of a victim lay in the Atlantic City morgue, where the searching craft were ordered to bring all victims found. Another body lay in the morgue of the naval hospital at Brooklyn, and two men who died on a rescue mission were at Lakehurst, the Akron's home.

Os Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, chief of naval aeronautics, and seventy other officers and men aboaK the Akron there was as yet no trace, and no hope remained that any men from the airship had been saved except three, whose rescue was reported in first dispatches telling of the disaster. Os the Akroft, largest of airships, long as three average city blocks, only a few twisted bits of duraluminum and pieces of torn fabric had been found. Atlantic City was designated the center of rescue operations when it became evident that the currents of the ocean had carried bodies and wreckage rapidly south along the coast, while cruisers, destroyers, surfboats, and planes hunted fruitlessly Tuesday off Barnegat. Body Is Found The body of Lieutenant-Com-mander H. E. MacLellan was brought here at 10 p. m. on coast guard cutter 213, which found it afloat thirty miles off Atlantic City. The cutter reported much wreckage, but all in small bits, near where the body was sighted. A report from the steamer George Washington that it had passed what appeared to be an inflated bit of fabric at latitude 39.31, longitude 74.12, sent the cruiser Portland, flagship of the rescue fleet, to that position off southern Jersey during the night. The reports from the cutter 213 and the George Washington made it apparent that unless bodies oi bits of wreckage might have been washed ashore in isolated sections of the coast above Atlantic City, all further operations must be concentrated to the south. Lakehurst In Mourning At Lakehurst, the flag at the naval air station flew 7 at full mast, though the New Jersey town was in deepest mourning. Most of the victims lived near the town, and many left widows. In addition to the personal griel felt over the disaster, there intruded the belief that Lakehurst’s days as a busy airport were over. With the Akron gone, the Los Angeles expected to be sold or otherwise disposed of, because of age, and the new Macon scheduled to make its home port in California, the future of Lakehurst appeared dark. Adding to the sorrow of the town was the tragedy of Tuesday when the blimp J-3, joining the search for Akron victims, crashed into the sea. Lieutenant Commander David Ervin Cummins, 37, commander, and Pasquale Bettio, machinist's mate,

HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County. 3 Cent*

were killed. Five others were rescued by a New York police seaplane. Henry L. Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the navy, pledged Tuesday night that a complete investigation of the Akron’s crash would be held here. He would not say whether he believed the navy's policy toward hghter-than-air craft might be changed as a result of the investigation, nor would he forecast when the inquiry would begin, t Complete Inquiry Promised When the investigation is held, the star witnesses will be the three Akron survivors, Leutenant Commander Herbert Victory Wiley, Boatswain’s Mate Richard Edward Deal, and Machinist’s Mate Moody Eugene Erwin, all of whom were recovering in Brooklyn naval hospital from cuts, shock, and immersion. Thirty women, wives and friends of Akron victims, waited through Tuesday at the naval station for news, and many today resumed the hopeless vigil. Naval authorities conceded privately that they could hold no hope that any of the missing men would be saved. Any small boat, unequipped with wireless, which might have picked up survivors, would have to put into port immediately, being but a few miles off shore, it was believed. Fleet Continues Search Besides, the German tanker Phoebus, which rescued Wiley, Deal and Erwin would have seen any other boat in the neighborhood in the blinding lightning flashes which lighted up the sea as the Akron came down. The Phoebus, after standing by for eight hours, most of the time with lifeboats on the water searching for men, sailed away at 9 a. m. Tuesday, resuming her interrupted voyage from New York to Tampico. The rescue fleet which searched today for bodies, or for wreckage large enough to offer value as evidence in the investigations of the Akron's fall, included: Today’s forecast was for clear weather. Mist and intermittent rain kept visibility low and Interfered wdth the search Tuesday. Cause Still Mystery By L'nited Press NEW YORK, April s.—The essential cause of the crash of the Akron remained a mystery today. Available information from survivors appeared to establish that the ship was not struck bv lightning, did not catch fire, and suffered no explosion. Dr. James H. Kimball, associate meteorologist of the weather bureau here, considered one of the foremost experts on aviation weather, believed the dirigible was struck by “vertical air currents ” which combined with the swirling horizontal winds of an off-shore rain squall to twist the framework of the Akron, making it unmanagable. Lieutenant Commander Herbert V. Wiley, ranking survivor, described graphically how the Akron, crippled because its rudders had been disabled, plunged downward after it was caught in the seeming "enter of the gusty squall which trapped the ship, but his statements shed little light on whether the dirigible actually was mangled by the wand or fell from some other cause. The three survivors of the disaster departed by airplane from Floyd Bennett field at 12:53 p. m. today for Washington. Lieutenant Commanded H. V. Wiley, who was on the bridge of the Akron when she plunged to destruction, and two seamen—Moody E. Erwin and Richard E. Dealboarded a tri-motored plane at the airport. Their goal was Ancostia field.