Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 October 1939 — Page 1

The I dianapolis

VOLUME 51—NUMBER 186

.

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FORECAST: Fair tonight with heavy frost; tombrrow fair with rising temperature

£4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1939

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ve ——— | PRICE THREE CENTS Entered as Second-Class Matter : : at Postoffiee. Indianapolis. Ind.

BRITISH WARSHIP SUNK, 830

“IRATE PARENTS BATTLE SCHOOL ~ BUSCROWDING

Tell -of Perils to Children: Demand Safety for Warren Twp. Pupils.

By TIM TIPPETT

A story of dangerous and crowded conditions in antiquated busses, of (‘safety of our children measured in dollars and cents,” was unfolded ‘by irate and anxious parents before Warren Township trustees last night.

Today a committee prepared to carry the fight against hazardous transportation to the Township's advisory board and the .State Tax Adjustment Board, if necessary. Instances of busses, built to seat 35, carrying as many as 68 children, were cited as more than 100 fathers and . mothers met at the Lowell School, Raymond St. and Hunter Rd, and told Warren Township Trustee H. M. Thomas and E. C. Eash, Warren Central High School principal, that they no| longer would allow ‘their children to ride in overcrowded busses.

Describes Police Attitude

Mr. Eash, in charge of routing Warren Township busses, said he knew the present condition. violated the law. But when he conferred “with State Police, he said they told him that “we know that school busses all over Indiana are overcrowded, but we realize the trustees’ problems and have to overlook it.”

State Police Capt. Walter Eckert |;

today substantiated the statement by ‘explaining that “If we stopped these crowded busses we would leave a problem with the trustee that he would be unable.to cope with. Many of the townships have insufficient appropriations for transportation.” Mr. Eash said that the Township has 18 busses, that 15 of them are seven years or more old, and that seven are of the wooden type. “If the new State law goes into effect next year,” he added, “most of these busses will have to go, because they don’t come anywhere near meeting the specifications required.” Explains Lack of Funds

In answer to parents’ repeated questions as to why there are only three busses serving Lowell School this year, instead of four as of last year, the school principal said: “I am not here to defend the overcrowded busses. But transportation

Township

Assessor James Cunningham ... called as Grand Jury witness.

29.8% OF FUND GOAL REACHED

Pledges in Community Drive Now Total $263,906; Report Monday.

$683,710 Total raised to date... .$203,906.53 Amount needed $479,803.47 Drive ends ...........c0u.. Oct. 26

The Community Fund army went into the week-end with 29.8 per cent of its goal of $683,710 pledged and 12 days until the deadline. First report of the second week of the 20th annual drive will be made at a luncheon meeting Monday in the Claypool Hotel at which Juvenile Court Judge Wilfred Bradshaw will be the speaker. Workers reported at a Claypool luncheon meetings yesterday that an addition sum of $97,41487 had been pledged to bring the total to date to $203, 53.

Honor ‘Hoke Division

Special honor will be paid at Monday’s meeting to the Public Employees’ Division of which Fred Hoke is chairman. William P. Evans, Public Service Co. of Indiana counsel, was the main speaker at yesterday's meet-

in this township costs $24,000 a year and the overloading is -a matter of not having enough money.” Last year, he said, he had suggested that a new large bus be purchased. “We had it all picked out and then were told by our budget advisers that we didn’t have enough money to buy it.” He later said, when questioned by a reporter, that he had rerouted the busses on the assumption that the new bus would be purchased. He also said immediate relief to the situation will be given by adding another route to one of the schedules. A visit to the school yesterday at losing- time disclosed that one bus loaded 54 children and another (Continued on Page Three)

MOVE FRIDAY 13TH; FIRE OUSTS THEM

Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Davis moved into a house yesterday—Friday the 13th. Today they were dispossesed by a fire that started in a defective flue. At dawn Mrs. Davis was awakened when she smelled smoke. She awakened her husband, who is 69 and has been ill. He spread a neighborhood alarm. = Mrs. Davis meanwhile sought to extinguish the fire by pouring dippers of water on it. They said nearly all of their sessions were destroyed. They could not estimate the loss.

BRITISH WRECK KILLS 4 LONDON,. Oct.| 14 (U. P).—A train wreck attributed to the “plack out” killed four and injured five persons at the Bletchley Station in Buckinghamshire last night and “black out” restrictions had to

be lifted to facilitate the search for|*

victims buried in| the wreckage. i era

ALOFT 15 DAYS LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14 (U. P)). —With one world’s record already behind them, Clyde Schleipper and Wes Carroll ay kept aloft in a tiny seaplane Ior the 15th day. They were gunning for an all-time endurance flying | record of 30 days.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Books. wee essen

ries ees Comics ..

Crossword ... 13 Curious World 14

Editorials . 8 Financial

Mrs. Fein Music in Obituaries ...

8 8 5 7 14

Mrs. Roosevelt Scherrer Serial Story.. Society Sports .

[ERR J 9 FINN ...coone 8 Forum ....... B In Indpis. - g

Jane Jordan. . 10, 11

ing. He said, in part: “May we all recognize that all human needs is our business to the extent of our power to aid. May we all show that we are good neighbors and be utterly unwilling to shirk our responsibility to any man, woman or child in need.”

10 Firms Over the Top

There were 10 firms to report “over-the-top” results. Gifts reported included those of the firms, employees and executives. They were: The Indianapolis Power & Light Co., $21,197.84 for 101.3 per cent of the quota: Citizens Gas & Coke Utility, $11,000; Indianapolis Railways, Inc., $6200; Public Service Co. of Indiana, $2825; American Silk Hosiery Mills, $508 or 203.2 per cent of the quota; Baxter Steel Equipment Co. $450; Hibben-Hollweg & Co., $434 or 103.3 per cent of the quota; Rink’s Store, Inc. $346, or 106.5 per cen: of the quota; American Linen Supply Co., $162. or 108 per cent, and Capital Ice Refrigerating Co., $50.

MORGAN IN CHICAGO

Schools Superintendent DeWitt S. Morgan was in .Chicago today attending an executiv committee meeting of the North Bentral ‘Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and a meeting of superintendents of schools in cities with more than 200,000 population.

By WEBB MILLER United Press Staff Correspondent WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE, Oct. 14.—Passed by Field Censor.—Thousands Jf British troops and thousands of tons of war machinery and munitions are pouring into France to add to the 158,000 men which the British Government announced had safely reached French soil last Wednesday.

and British overseas accredited war correspondents, I drove by automobile for two days through the areas where the British Army has taken

ports of debarkation. I passed mile after mile of grimlooking olive-drab motorized units, which roared along.at 30 miles an hour toward positions under lowering autumn skies. Often they were drenched by a clammy rain. Large numbers of guns rumbled

B| State Deaths... 11 Motor.

over excellent roads at speeds surprising to World War veterans. trucks carried guns already

i

ounty Auditor, Center

Assessor Subpenaed in HOPE Hi WAR,

Relief Probe

Grand Jury Meets Monday|

To ‘Lay Groundwork’ For. Investigation.

By LOWELL B. NUSSBAUM County Auditor Fabian Biemer and Center Township Assessor James Cunningham have been

§ |subpenaed to appear before the i |Grand Jury Monday at the start of | |its investigation of Center Town-

ship poor relief administration. Samuel E. Garrison, Grand Jury deputy prosecutor, said one other witness, whose name was withheld

i (pending the serving of a subpena,

also will be called Monday. Mr. Garrison said the first day would be devoted largely to “laying the groundwork” for a thorough investigation of all the rumors and complaints about relief. practices in the township.

Admits Favoritism

Prosecutor David M. Lewis called the Grand Jury probe after Center Trustee Thomas M. Quinn admitted to The Times that political and family favoritism had played a large part in his distribution of the relief business. Mr. Biemer was subpenaed, it was believed, to testify in regard to relief supply claims, which are filed in his office. It was expected Mr. Cunningham would be questioned about an assessment sheet for the Martindale Market, 22d St. and Martindale Ave, one of the favored relief groceries.

Dermies Active Partnership

The assessment sheet, signed by Dan R. Anderson, lists the firm as a partnership with “Anderson & Quinn, partners.” Mr. Quinn said the name, “Quinn,” on the sheet referred: to his son. The son said he had discussed “opening a partnership grocery with Mr. Anderson, his father’s campaign manager, but-reached no decision. Later, he said, after deciding against the partnership, he learned Mr. Anderson had filed the “partnership” assessment sheet. He said he never had participated in operation of .the grocery nor had he received any money.

Opened After Campaign

The store, which received more than $8000 in relief orders in August, was opened a few days after Mr. Quinn took office last January. A number of complaints about the (Continued on Page Three)

WEATHER CRISP FOR GRID GAMES

‘Big Three’ and Butler Meet Major Opponents.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6am. ....34¢ 10a m: 7a.m.....34 11 a.m. 8a.m.....38 12 (noon) .. 4 9a. m. .... 43 lpm .... 49

While Butler's Bulldogs met George Washington University here and Notre Dame and Southern Methodist clashed at South Bend, the football forces of Purdue ani Indiana University this afternoon engaged powerful Big Ten foes. Crisp football weather prevailed throughout the Midwest. For the first time .this fall, below freezing temperatures were recorded today at the Airport station of the Weather Bureau where it was 31 at 5 a. m. t the downtown bureau it was 33 at 5 a. m., which equaled the alltime record for this day of the year, set in 1874. and repeated in 1894. Tonight will be fair with a heavy frost, and tomorrow will be fair with rising temperatures, the Bureau

said.

With the first party of American .

up its positions and to which other : thousands streamed daily from the §%

A British field gun is assembled at a French pier after channel crossing.

L0RDS' OF U.S. - SENATOR SAYS

Frazier Backs Embargo as Colleagues Argue on Lindbergh Stand.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (U. PJ). —Isolationists, resuming attacks on President Roosevelt's neutrality program, sent Senator Lynn J. Frazier (R. N. D) into the front line of debate today with a charge that United States “war lords” desire to push this country into the “insane” European war to “try out our war paraphenalia.” The Senate, meeting in an unusual Saturday session called by Democratic leaders in an effort to speed up debate on the Administration’s program, heard Senator Frazier appeal for retention of the existing embargo on arms shipments to belligerents and warn we will find ourselves in war “once we yield to pro-British and proFrench pressure.” Frazier Opens Debate

Senator Frazier opened debate after Senators on both sides of the neutrality fight expressed conflicting opinions on the feasibility of the limited embargo plan advanced in a radio speech last night by Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. Col. Lindbergh advocated an embargo on *“offensive” weapons and munitions, but urged unrestricted sale of defensive armaments. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg (R. Mich), an isolationist leader, said that Col. Lindbergh’s plan was “not impossible,” but other Senators expressed the opinion that Congress would find it impossible to distinguish between defensive and offensive weapons. Isolationists “believed the Lindbergh speech would win them votes. Chairman Key Pittman (D. Nev.) of the Senate Foreign Relations}: Committee charged that Col. Lindbergh apparently approves of the “brutal conquest” of European democracies by totalitarian governments.

Queries as to Advisers

Senator Pittman .said that Col. Lindbergh “apparently cannot see that the present law not only injures Great Britain and France but gives great aid to Germany, Italy and Russia.” As the session began, Senator Bennett Champ Clark (D. Mo.) obtained permission to print Col. Lindbergh’s speech in the Congressional Record. Before the request was (Continued on Page Three)

SEES ‘FLYING SUBS’ —IN SOMEONE’S HAT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 14 (U.P) ~—Admiral William D. Leahy, Governor of Puerto Rico and former United States Chief of Naval Operations, predicted today that before the European war is over, flying submarines will be seen. The Admiral made it clear’ that he meant that the submarines would be the output of vivid imaginations of propagandists and not of navy yards. At a press conference Admiral Leahy was asked about reports that German submarines had been seen in the Caribbean. ‘Lots have been

flying over towns,” he replied.

WARNINGS GIVEN OF STORM IN CARIBBEAN

MIAMI, Fla. Oct. 14 (U. P.).— A tropical storm carrying squalls and moderately strong winds was centered today in the Atlantic Ocean about 350 miles north-north-west of Puerto Rico, moving slowly ‘northwestward. The Federal hurricane warning system advised small vess€éls to take precautions.

reported. None has been seen. Be-|. fore it is through they will be seen|

# R =

8 = 8

Believed Second Naval Prize

H. M. S. Royal Oak . ... sunk by

Times-Acme Photo. U-boat “where risks are greatest.”

Past 24 Hours Emphasize U-Boat Menace to Allies

Germans Sink 65 Merchantmen, Aircraft -Carrier and Warship in First Five Weeks of Fighting.

By LOUIS F. KEEMLE United Press Cable Editor The gravity of the German submarine menace to the British Navy and to Allied and neutral shipping was emphasized in the last 24 hours by the sinking of the British battleship Royal Oak, presumably by a Nazi torpedo, a sizeable British freighter and a large French tanker. The British have expressed optimism over the convoy system and mod-

NATIS WANT AID

OF STALIN, DUCE

Finnish Russian Talks Being Conducted in Deep Secrecy.

By JOE ALEX. MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor

Behind a spectacular curtain of naval warfare today, worked hard to drum up Russian and Italian military support. The British announced that the Germans had sunk the second cap-

ital ship to be lost in the war, but

at the same time the Allies claimed to have sunk 17 or 18 German submarines. Less - flashy, but far more important for the future, was the attempt of the German Government, through secret diplomatic channels, to arrange a conference with Russian and Italian leaders to consider “common defense problems.” The Germans talked of a meeting somewhere> in Italy, possibly at Lake Como, where Heinrich Himmler, chief of the dreaded Gestapo, has just visited. Nazis hoped that Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and (Continued on Page Three)

LOSSES RANGE TO $1 ON STOCK MARKET

® By UNITED PRESS

Stocks at New York today ‘slipped lower with losses ranging to $1 a share as traders lightened commitments to be out of the market during the week-end. The White House statement asserting that President Roosevelt had not received a plea to mediate the European war failed to quell Wall Street rumors that a neutral power may start peace negotiations among the belligerents. Commodities were mostly easier

in North American markets with

wheat dnd corn slightly lower at Chicago. U. S. Government, bonds improved, but foreign government liens drifted irregularly lower.

Germany:

ern anti-submarine devices. So far, according to available information, about 17 or-18 U-boats have been sunk. Yet merchant ships and warships continue ‘to go down. In a little more than fiye weeks of war, the Germans have “sunk 65

itt carrier Courageous and” “the

tauntingly asking Britain, where is the Ark Royal?—an aircraft carrier which the British denied was sunk, In the first year of the World war in 1914, German submarines ssnk 453 Allied and neutral ships. Of the total, 168 were merely fishing boats.

Larger Boats Are Victims

If the present ratio continues, about 750 merchant ships would have been sunk after a year of this war. All the losses reported so far

fishing smacks included. ')

At the start of the World War, Germany had only 28 submarines, of which 18 were fit only for harbor duty. The 10 available for high seas operation had not the range nor the modern efficiency of today's underseas boats. At the start of the provers war, Germany had an estimated 70 submarines, of which about 40 were available for ocean service—not, of course, all at one time, but in fleets of perhaps 12 or 15. Just as the Germans kept building submarines in the World War to replace losses, so undoubtedly they are doing today. The ratio therefore may stay almost unchanged, unless the Allies have greater destructive success than up to the present.

Germans Count on Subs

The British had 15 capital ships at the start of this war—12 battleships - and three battle cruisers. Now they have 14. If the jnferior German fleet does not dare to risk open battle on the surface, the Germans will count on their submarines. airplanes and mines to pare down the British strength. So far, the efficiency of airplanes against battleships has not been proved.

CHAMBERLAIN SPEECH ’OFF’ LONDON, Oct. 14 (U. P.).—Prime Minister Neville ' Chamberlain will not make a broadcast speech to Canada and the. United States to

night, as had been reported, his office. announced.

Webb Miller at Front Finds British Tommies Grim

gave a vivid idea of the complexity of transport of modern motorized war machines, at which War Secretary Leslie Hore-Belisha hinted in Commons Wednesday when he mentionéd that 25,000 vehicles already were in France. These include large numbers of tanks. From my experience in the World War, I would hazard a guess that at least ten times—perhaps 15 times —as many motorized vehicles are required under modern conditions for the same number of men as compared to 1918. = But’ the evident speed with which a division can be shifted over long distances is equally surprising. Huge numbers of heavy motor

trucks and motorized machines]:

- which must be transported from

Times-Acme Photo.

England to France for the presentday army have rendered the task of shifting an army, to the continent far more complicated than during the World War. From what I have seen in two days, I believe the British Army accomplished efficiently and without

camouflaged under 'a netting into|France already are in position and|I passed in various areas were|a single casualty a task far out of

which branches of trees were woven. The bulk of I the British forces in

engaged in strengthening their lines, Miles of. fmoiorizg Bits which

moving forward to reinforce them. What we witnessed on the. roads

proportion in I as to hat {Continued on Page Three

merchant vessels, the British_ air-'

Royal Oak. The Germans are still}

have been larger vessels, with noj|

U-BOAT B

LONDON, Oct. 14 (U.P.

presumably by a German U-

check on lists of survivors,

lost in the two actions.

“The that His believed b ment.

Sovereign. : \

17 NAZI SUBS SUNK SO FAR, ALLIES SAY

Rain and Fog Force Halt in Rhine Fighting.

PARIS, Oct. 14 (U. P.).—Authoritative French sources said today that -the Allied fleets had sunk 17 or 18 German submarines since the start of the war and that several others had been attacked and their fate could not be determined. Activity on the Western Front the last 24 hours was reported almost at a . andstill because of heavy rain and fog. Several German patrols appeared east of the Moselle River and in the Chrenthal salient southeast of Zweibruecken and German artillery shelled French positions on # hill west of Saarlouis, it was announced, but elsewhere it was generally quiet. French sources admitted a previous German announcement that the French had blown up three railway bridges over the Rhine Thursday morning. The bridges were at Wintersdorf, near Hagenau; Brissac, near Colmar, and Neunburg, near Mulhouse.

PARALYSIS OUTBREAK CANCELS GRID GAME

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14 (U. PJ. —A football game scheduled for Sunday between St. Mary's College| and Loyola University was cancelled today because of an infantile paralysis outbreak on the Loyola team. Quarterback Burch Donahue and Tackle Bob Link were stricken, though not seriously. Loyola had gone ahead with plans for the game, however, until word came from St. Mary's at Moraga, Cal, that the entire St. Mary’s squad had been threatened with 14 days’ isolation by the county health of-

‘ficer if the game were played.

3 WIN AGAINST 100, CHINESE ANNOUNCE

. CHUNGKING, China, Oct. 14 (U. P.).—An official Chinese statement today said that three Chinese bombing planes had “wiped out” the airfield at Hankow, destroying almost 100 Japanese airplanes. After destroying the planes on the ground, the announcement said, the Chinese craft engaged in a dog fight with: Japanese pursuit planes over a distance of 200 miles in the direction of Ichang. Three . Japanese pursuit planes were shot down during the battle, which was the longest of the war, the statement said.

NAZIS URGE ‘HOME’ BABIES - BERLIN, Oet. 14 (U. P.).—The Reich Health Fuehrer, in the interest of war-time efficiency, appealed to women today to bear babies at home in order to keep

hospital rooms available for “more urgent” cases. To 3

370 RESCUED;

BY ADMIRALTY

13-Inch Steel Armor Fails to Save 25-Year-01d, 29,000-Ton Royal Oak in Danger. Bone English Claim Three Subs Destroyed."

).—The Admiralty anno

today the sinking of the 29,150-ton battleship Royal Oak;

boat, with a possible loss of

more than 800 officers and men. The death toll ‘remained uncertain pending further

but an official announcement

said that so far only about 370 of the complement of ap~ proximately 1200 aboard had been reported safe. It was the second German submarine blow against: the British fleet blocading the North Sea and patroling against underwater attacks, the 22,500-ton aircraft carrier -Courageous having been sunk on Sept. 17 with a loss of 578 lives of a crew of 1260. Thus almost 1400 appeared to have been

4

Claims 3 Subs Sunk

ecretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce ajesty’s ship Royal Oak has been sunk, it is U-boat action,” said the Admiralty announce-

Only a few hours before the announcement of the sinking of the Royal Oak, the Admiralty had announced the sink ing yesterday of three German submarines. Two of these, it was learned today, were of large ocean-going type. The Royal Oak, at the outbreak of the war, sailed “in consort with the Flagship Nelson of the Home Fleet, the Rodney, and her sister battleships, Resolution and Royal

Still Have Edge, British Claim “ de

N aval sources pointed out that Britain still has the ! overwhelming supremacy in battleships, 11 still on the seas .. and nine now under construction, as compared to Germany’ S | three pockes battleships, two battle cruisers and two over-age 4

battleships. which t

ships were ready—had a 18inch belt of steel to protect her vital spots.

British naval quarters said that the loss of .the Royal Oak was not

the Navy’s oldest battleships and these ships had always been intended for use where the risks were greatest. Believed “Unsinkable” ais iret © Nevertheless it was plain that the

| German Navy had won a new and

important victory. : Though the Royal Oak was laid down. in 1914, it was nevertheless

lieved, under modern construction methods; to be almost unsinkable by submarine fire.

German Empire was cracking up; a Brittania off Cape Trafalgar, on the

combined French and Spanish fleets. The Royal Oak had special “bulge” protection against torpedoes, and was regarded by naval author ities as strongly. protected against submarine attack.

: Survived Jutland . ~~ Royal Oak took part in the bat« tle of Jutland in 1916, and was onee under fire in course of patrol duty in the Spanish civil war. little more than $12,000,000—comof the battleships of today, the Royal Oak was refitted in: 1934-1936.

recent years and was recommis< sioned June 7, 1939. Last Augush,

Benn, and was made a unit. of the home fleet.

when it was sunk. squadron.

the duty on which the ship was en gaged when it was sunk, where the sinking took place or where - Sure vivors would be landed. Capt. Benn and Comm. R. Fr. Nicholls, second in command, ‘were survivors.

Berlin Renews Claim To Sinking Another Ship BERLIN, Oct. 14 (U. P.).—Gere man authorities eagerly awaited to= day a report from the commander who sank the British battleship Royal Oak. The radio and the official - sews ageney distributed the. Brust Broadcasting Co. report. of the sink« ing and renewed claims that - airplane carrier Ark Royal had been sunk. “Will Winston Churchill now ad mit the loss of the Ark Royal When will he issue a list of vivors, or were there survivors?”

newspapers asked under their ban- : ner headlines on the Royal Oak.

al Oak—of a. class i] Admiralty had been | 1 planinfig to drop when new

surprising . because it was one of

one of the “floating fortresses” bes |

It was the first British. battleship lost since Nov. 10,-1918, the day bee | fore the Armistice, when as the | submarine sank- the old battleship |

southwest coast of Spain—scene,.in | 1805, of Nelson’s victory over the |

‘Originally built at a cost of. & pared to the $50,000,000 to $75,000,000 |

It was put into the reserve in

just: before the war, it was put | 2 under the command of Capt. W. G, .

Capt. Benn was still in command i It was part of ‘the’ second battle “The Admiralty said siothing as to

submarine

BENIN + RRA si