Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 August 1939 — Page 1

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FORECAST: Partly cloudy tonight and tomorrow; not much change in \ temperature.

Final Home 3d Extra

N SCRIPPS — HOWARD §

a 51— NUMBER 144

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1939

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COUNTY TO CUT PROPOSED TAX

. City Budget So Far Has

Escaped Demands for Heavy Slashes. °*

The Marion County Council will reduce the proposed 64-cent County property tax rate for 1940 to 51 cents, three: cents’ more than the

current rate, it was learned from

a reliable source today.

The 51-cent rate is to be fixed|

formally at a meeting Sept. 5 and then filed with the County Tax Adjustment Board for approval. The Board has authority to further pare budget requests and the levy rate, but eannot irffrease them. Meanwhile, it appeared unlikely that large taxpayers’ groups will demand drastic slashes in the proposed City budget of which would mean a property tax levy of $1.30.

Hearings Resume Monday

There were only occasional de-|

mands for pruning as taxpayers’ groups appeared before City Council last night to study general fund requests. Hearings will be resumed Monday night. The County Council at a meeting Monday is te reduce the proposed Welfare Department levy from 26 to 8 cents. . The proposed 22.6-cent county . gneral fund levy will be whacked to. 18 cents, the current rate, ac- . cording to agreement between gouncilmen. : The Tuberculosis Hospital proposed 3.5 cent rate will be lopped by one-half cent. On the basis of the new valuation, with one cent on the tax rate raising $60,635, the Councijl’s action in agreeing to make the 13-cent reduc(Continued on Page Two)

BURNED MECHANIC “IN FAIR CONDITION

Clyde Wiley, 35, of 2304 N. Delaware St.,, who was burned yesterday when sparks from a carburetor set’ fire to his gasoline- -soaked shirt, was reported in fair condition at

City Hospital today. He was burned] . while working on an automobile at|

a garage on E. New York St, 300 block. : William Heid, 28, 359 S. Illinois St, was treated at City Hospital after he was burned on the foot . when he stepped into a bonfire while hunting bottles at the Rivergide dumping ground .

CRICKET SYMPHONY . HAILS “SWELL DAY’

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

"6a m... 60 11 a. m.... 7am... 65 12 (noon). Sam... 1 1p m.... 9am... 3 2p m... 10a. m.... 76

The Weather Bureau is noncomittal on the weather meaning of the nightly cricket symphony hereabouts. But as for the immediate weather, the Bureau said tomorrow will be a “swell day,” aside from a little cloudiness. The temperature won’t change much. :

78 78 79 81

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

10 9

‘BOOKS ........ Broun .... Catton .......-10 Churches .... 5 Clapper ...... 9 Comic fe. 18 Crossword ....13 Editorials .... 10 Financial .... 11 Flynn ..... Forum ..... Grin,. Bear t 14

#n Indpis.

Jane Jordan.. Johnson Movies ....... Mrs. Ferguson 10 Obituaries ... 12 10 y. 9 Mrs. Roosevelt 9 Radio Serial Story..

Sports .... iState Deaths, ‘12'¢

$8,040,691, |

Crisis at a Glance

(BY UNITED PRESS)

Europe swayed precariously ‘between peace and war today. Developments were:

LONDON—Emergency British Cabinet session reported drafting firm refusal of Adolf Hitler's “suggestions” for settling demands op Poland. Embassy orders Germans home. Special Pi iament expected.

BERLIN—Tens of thousands more reservists called to colors. Railroads so choked with them civilians left stranded. Fuehrer Hitler's message to Britain first called “peace” proposals, then just proposals. Commercial planes grounded by Goering.

ROME—Mussolini receives two messages from Herr Hitler and he replies to one, as Italian press sees “small opening of light.”

PARIS—French summon three more Army classes despite peace plan rumors as Italy closes Alps frontier. Nazi Embassy advises Germans to leave France.

DANZIG—Nazis report two German soldiers fatally shot by Poles on Danzig territory. German planes given orders to return fire if attacked by Polish anti-aircraft guns.

WARSAW—Series of shootings, explosions and incendiary fires along Polish-German frontier causes officials to charge Germans with “manufacturing incidents” to provoke war. Official tension rises; people

peace up to Hitler, having pledge to negotiate. pledge. :

tral in event of war.

THE HAGUE—The

BERNE—The German Government that Germany

hoard food from diminishing supplies. WASHINGTON —President Roosevelt puts war and

received Polish President's

He asks Der Fuehrer again for

CRISTOBAL, Canal Zone—Six British cruisers stand off Panama Canal, apparently intending to intercept German commercial ships if war comes.

MOSCOW—Anglo-French military mission leaves.

BRUSSELS—The German Ambassador, Dr. von Buelow-Schwante, reaffirms to King Leopold today the pledge of Oct. 13, 1917, that Germany will in no way violate Belgium, provided Belgium remains strictly neu-

German Minister assures

Queen Wilhelmina that in the event of war, Germany will respect Dutch neutrality.

Minister assured the Swiss would respect Swiss terri-

tory and neutrality in event of war.

BUCHAREST—Hungary turns down a Rumanian invitation to conclude a non-aggression pact and Rumania’s military precautions may be doubled. ;

3 Local Boys

Three Indianapolis boys are among the 1600 passengers aboard the North German-Lloyd liner Bremen which, according to New York officials of the line, was expected to dock in New York Monday despite reports it had. been ordered to return to Germany. They are Shubrick Kothe, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kothe, 4130 N. Illinois St.; Lewis Morrison, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald A.

0| Morrison Sr., 3921 Guilford Ave., and 8 Harley Rhodehamel, 20, son of Mr

and Mrs. H. W. Rhodehamel, 5320 N. Meridian St. Mrs. Kothe said today that she talked with her son at 10 o’clock (Indianapolis Time) last night by radio telephone after hearing a radio broadcast stating that the liner had been turned back to Germany.

“Which way are you SOLER”.

. She said her first questioh was

on Bremen,

Believed Nearing N. Y.

“Why, we are headed for New

York,” the son replied. Young Kothe added, however, that the rumor had circulated aboard ship yesterday afternoon that they would turn back. Evidently the order had been countermanded, he explained, and they were proceeding toward New York where they are due to dock Monday. Wire dispatches were not definite as to which way the Bremen was going. The ship-to-shore telephone connection was made in 25 minutes, Mrs. Kothe said, and the ection wss as clear as a local calf. “I'm sure I would not have slept last night if we had not made the call,” she said. The three young men landed at Cherbourg June‘13. and: have been on a motor trip through France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hoiland, Belgium and :

WARY WARSAW STORING FOODS,

Supply Diminishing, but Prices Same; Crack Ex-press-Train Is Stoned.

WARSAW, Aug. 26 series of shootings, explosions and incendiary fires reported along Poland’s common frontier with Germany caused Polish officials today to. charge that Germans were “manufacturing incidents” to provoke a

war. Official tension ® increased with each new report, and the people were busy procuring food enough for the week-end from diminishing supplies. Otherwise the capital was quiet despite reports of border sniping, explosions which the Poles said were set by Germans, and fires alleged to have been started to stir up border hatred.

Rails Requisitioned

Here and there were evidences of war-time preparations. Ministries, the Foreign Office -among®them, began draping their windows with’ black air raid curtains. Government employees scurried through the corridors carrying their newly-issued gas masks. Privately-| owned railways were requisitioned by the Government, along with ‘horses and automobiles. The immediate concern of the shopper was the shortage. of milk, sugar, butter, chocolate and biscuits. Most staples were limited to -quar-ter-pound purchases, ns prices had not increased.

Claim Pole Killed

The capital had" its first sight of the border difficulties last night when the “Norde .Express,” fast north European train between Paris and Moscow, arrived here with most of ‘its windows. smashed. Passengers said that the train had been stoned (Continued on Page Three)

TOWNSEND RAPS BAR

REPORT ON JUDGES

Views Appointment Departure From Tradition.

An Indiana State Bar Association committee report recommending that judges be appointed by the State Executive was opposed today by Governor M. Clifford Townsend. The report, approved by the, Association at its final session, calls for the appointment of all judges by the Governor from a pre-selected list drawn up by a council of judges, lawyers. and other citizens holding no public offices. ; “I could not reconcile myself to any method which takes selection of the leaders away from the people,” the Governor said. “When this is done you are getting away from fundamental democratic processes.”

“Government should be kept close |

to the people. I am convinced that, they should vote directly: for judges. No group should be delegated or allowed to select representatives / of the people. “That method would certainly not be following the Constitution. To have the executive branch select the judicial would surely destroy « our system of checks and balances.” Until a constitutional change could be’ adopted, the committee recommended that judicial officers be taken out of politics by having a single ballot without party designation or label to be voted upon at the general election. / “A separate ballot for judges might ‘be more democratic,” the Governor stated.

(U. P).—A}

| Preview of War—

Mud and Winter Called Formidable Polish Allies

Warsaw Afmies Tough and Will \ and Will Fight, Says Maj. Eliot;

Pr Sees Over Confidence Nazi Peril. 7 z (Editor's Note: Maj. George Fielding Eliot, author of “The Ramparts We Watch” and other books and articles on military fopics, has just completed a tour of the

leading military nations of Europe. The following dispatch is cabled exclusively

to The Times). ¥ - By MAJ. GEORGE FIELDING ELIOT , Aug. 26.~If war breaks between Germany and Poland—

able troops against the Poles, hoping to averwhélm Poland in from two to six weeks—meanwhile standing strictly on the defensive in the West, My guess is that any such offensive against : Poland will bog down. The best Polish allies are Gen. Winter and Gen. Mud. Besides, the Polish Army is tough and will fight. German superiority is insufficient to overcome all these. The. main German attack probably will be against southwestern Poland with secondary attacks on the Corridor from Pomerania and East Prussia. The possibility of the Germans attempting military-political coups’ in Hungary and perhaps Rumania at the same time must not be discounted—possibly accompanied by an attempt to seize the Rumanian oil fields. With air infantry concentrations now massing in Silesia and Vienna, Germany could move either against Poland or down the Danube. The chance of war now rests on the correctness of Germany's ‘appreciation of the actual situation. Germany’s danger lies. in over-confidence—first, in her ability to overwhelm Poland quickly and confront the Western powers with this accomplishment to be followed by a negotiated peace; second, in Ribbentrop’s belief that Britain will.

Entered as Second-Class Matter Postoffice, Indianap lis,

A 2) “Germans probably will concentrate four-fifths of their avail-

PRICE THREE CENTS

Ind.

NAZIS ‘MAKING’ WAR INCIDENTS, POLAND CLAI

French Envoy Takes Reply to Berlin: King And Cabinet in London Hear Henderson Review ‘Suggestions.’

(Telephotos from Europe, Page Nine)

By WEBB MILLER United Sie Staff Correspondent

LONDON, Aug. 26.—Britain and France were said in reliable quarters tonight to be preparing a firm reply to Adolf Hitler, making it clear that they cannot accept his latest suggestions for settling Germany's demands on Poland.

‘The British Cabinet had met tenight to consider the proposals flown from Berlin by the British Ambassador there, Sir Nevile Henderson. At almost the same time, the French Ambassador Robert Coulondre returned to Berlin from Paris and was received by Fuehrer Hitler with a flourish of drums.

Herr Hitler had made his suggestions to the two Ambassadors in a 75-minute conference yesterday. A reliable source said that no peace plan was submitted, saying ironically that Herr Hitler had merely made “suggestions.”

“He suggested that Britain and France strangle Poland as they strangled Czechoslovakia,” this source said. - “Britain and France are not going to do that.” : Poland today was charging that by a series of border shootings, explosions and fires, the Germans were “many facturing incidents” to provoke a war. - ~~ ; Sir Nevile will flv Britain's reply back to Berlin tomor-: row, It probably will be about the same M. Coulondre gave today. . It was said also that Parliament probably will meet in special session again Monday. The Hitler message to the Ambassadors had provided a brief respite in the war tension and it seemed that perhaps the peace efforts of President Roosevelt, the Pope and King Leopold of Belgium were having effect. The Italian press had indicated that Herr Hitler had made proposals along lines of a plan suggested years ago by Robert Lansing, then American Secretary of State. : The Lansing plan envisaged restoration of Danzig and

the Polish Corridor to Germany, with virtual restoration of Germany’s 1914 frontiers, excepting parts of Poznania, and the granting to Poland of the right of way to a free port on the Baltic.

not fight for Poland. Great Britain has mobilized ‘her regular Army reserve, enabling from four to six regular die visions, plus two armored divisions, to take the field at once. | The . Britis Territorials are partly mobilized at the moment, and are in the process of being doubled. Twelve Territorial divisions could be added in approximately 60 days—12 more in six months. The Air Force is completely ready—and highly efficiently ready. Great Britain's air force in fact, the best air force:in Europe. While it is only about two-thirds as strong as the German in first line machines, it is superior in staff, training and experience. 3 The Navy's reserve fleet is completely mobilized—to the extent that it can control Germany in the North Sea and still spare reinforcements for Western France and the Mediterranean. Air defenses of the British Isles are’ in much better shape than last September, but they are not yet complete. ” ”» 8

RANCE has the best army in Europe. Organization and leadership are magnificent. Eight classes of reserves have been mobilized. France can put 60 to 100 divisions into the field immediately. In strength the French Air Force does not measure up to the British, but much progress has been made during the last year and is (Continued on Page Two)

RECOVER 1000 BODIES

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PEIPING, China, Aug. 26 (U. P.). —One thousand bodies, mostly of women and children, have been recovered at Tientsin, which is flooded by the rise of the Hai River, it was reported: today. One hundred thousand were reported marooned and destitute, while 500,000 were in’ the same circumstances, in the eountrye, >

KILLED IN AUTO CRASH VALPARAISO, Ind, Aug. 26 (U. P.).~~Louis F. Bickel, 31, of Chesterton, a New York Central Railroad section foreman, was killed tary today as he was returning from the LaPorte County Fair when his Oe collided with a truck

Mile N. - Peightner,

“Huntington, dr AY

FROM TIENTSIN FLOOD |

Biss Lindholm of Valpa-

MARKET RISES AS EUROPE: HESITATES

Weeks’ Losses Wiped Out; Steel Leads Advance.

By UNITED PRESS A period of hesitation in Europe encouraged Wall Street today to buy stocks, with the result that prices were carried up sufficiently to wipe | out losses for the week. Transactions in stocks reached 520,000 shares incontrast with 290,000 a week ago. All the averages climbed and the industrial figure gained 2.66 = points. gain amounted to 2.40

Steel shares, which. would profit war or no war, were the leaders. U.. 8S. Government bonds led a broad advance in bonds. Foreign issues also improved. The pound sterling declined several points in dollar terms in London. Bar gold in London reached an all-time record high of $34. 57 an ounce. Wheat dropped more than a cent at Chicago. steady in New York and New Orleans. .

Cobb Sets New World ld Records

ONNEVILLE SALT FLATS, Utah, Aug. 26 (U. P.)—John Cobb piloted his 2600-horsepower racing automobile to three new world speed records today. He set" marks of 326.66 m.p.h. for the five kilometers, 283.01 m.p.h. for 10 kilometers and 270.35 m. p. h. for 10 miles. - Cobb_ failed to set a five-mile record only because the timing trap on the southbound five-mile stretch failed, making it impossible to compile an official average for that distance. Wednesday morning he became the first man to travel faster than 360 miles an hour when he set records for the measured . kilometer at 369.74 and the mile at

+ 368.85 m.p. h.

Bi

Cotton was about].

{Berle Jr.

The Rome newspaper Lavora Fascista suggested that the democracies should approve such a program, but there was no indication today that either Great Britain, France or Poland was giving way. (Continued on Page Three)

Nor was

In Rome:

Peace Hopes Rise as Mussolini Gets Two Messages From Hitler

ROME, Aug. 26 (U. P.).—Premier Benito Mussolini conferred today with the chiefs ol the Army, Navy and Air Force gendral staffs and the

Service. Present at the conference were Gren. Alberto Pariani, chief of Army staff, and War Undersecretary; Gen. Giuseppe Valle, chief of Air Force staff and aviation undersecretary; Admiral Giuseppi Valle, chief . of Navy staff and Navy undersecretary, and Alberto Favagrossa, Air Raid Protective chief. Military preparations were discussed. Mussolini also called into the conference Count Galeazzo Ciano, Foreign Minister, and Antonio Benni, Communications Minister.

chief of the Air Raid Protection

Air Marsha! Italo Balbo flew back today to Tripoli North Africa. It was made known officially that Sig. Mussolini had received two messages from Adolf Hitler.

Sig. Mussolini replied immediately to the first message, it was announced, through the Italian Embassy at Berlin. The momentous nature of the exchange was indicated by an official communique which said: “Il Duce (Mussolini) received Herr von Mackensen (the German Ambassador), who was accompanied by Count Ciano. The Ambassador gave I1 Duce a long message which had been telephoned by Adolf Hitler. Il Duce answered the message im-

mediately. His answer was given to

(Continued on Page Three)

In Washington:

Hopeful Officials Keep Their Fingers Crossed

(Roosevelt. Text, Text, Page 12)

WASHINGTON, At Aug. 26 (U. P). —Washington took a slightly more hopeful view of the European situation today, but kept its fingers crossed and continued preparations for the possibility of war abroad. Intense diplomatic actiyity looking toward negotiation on disputed

-'|issues was understood fo be in prog-

ress among European statesmen. While the United States was kept informed of developments, nothing could be learned here as to the =ature of proposals that apparently have been advanced. Assistant War Secretary - Louis Johnson said, “The situation ap-

pears to be unfolding—but of course

it may still ;hit a snag.” Assistant Secretary of State A. A. said, “Dispatches from Europe at least have not been growing worse.” They made those statements to/h reporters at the White House. But at the same time, both: Col. Johnson and Mr. Berle went over with Mr. Roosevelt further precautionary measures to be taken by

this country in event of war,

Col. Johnson said the Army was ready for any domestic duties it might be called on to perform. Mr. Berle and the President reviewed a long series of proclama-

tions which Mr. Roosevelt will issue

if hostilities begin. These would provide for coptrol of international radio broadcasting, tightening of customs rules and other measures to maintain neutrality. Polish Ambassador Count Jerzy Potocki, after a conference with Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, said this seems a waiting period, and added, “one wonders what Hitler is waiting for.” i“ The Ambassador said he also called to thank Mr. Welles for the President’s message to Poland. He emphasized Poland’s readiness always to negotiate but remarked that one ot negotiate fh an atmospiigreof threat with a revolver at his

. Mr. Roosevelt last night cabled another appeal to Adolf Hitler, the second in hours. wo He informed him that Pi enti Mostick) of Poland ntinued on Page Tl