Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 May 1940 — Page 1

The Indianapolis Times

FORECAST: Cloudy and continued cool becoming fair tonight, followed by fair and somewhat warmer tomorrow,

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 57

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¥ THURSDAY, MAY

16, 1940

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

Final Home : EXTRA

PRICE THREE CENTS

Roosevelt Calls for Air Defense Armada of 50,000 Planes

NAZIS HURLED BACK AT LOUVAIN

British Planes Force Germans to Pay High Price for T heir Blitzkrieg]

By RICHARD D. M'MILLAN British United Press Staff Correspondent

WITH BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, IN BELGIUM, May 16.—British troops, tanks, artillery and airplanes fought desperate battles today against a powerful German thrust against Allied defense positions on the Belgian front. The Germans appeared to be throwing tremendous strength into an attempt to drive a spearhead into the Allied positions. (This dispatch did not locate the scene of battle definitely, but it presumably was along the Dyle River line defending Louvain, Brussels and Antwerp.) Royal Air Force bombing planes rained death on the enemy rear lines. RAF but British officers believed that the courage with

There have been casualties in the:

which the British attack has been carried on the air may be a deciding factor in the first great battle of the war in the Low Countries. The British resistance has been determined all along the line. Whenever there is a lull the British have coun-ter-attacked and have made the Germans pay a high price for their methods of attack. The Germans are using the blitzkrieg methods or attack, as they did in Poland. There have been some tremendous mass attacks by the Germans in which they have suffered great casualties. One British platoon which had a good position attacked a massed German column with hand grenades, pushing the attack home until they themselves suffered

casualties. But, their officers reported, they had inflicted 10 times as many casualties on the Germans. There has been no indication yet as to how many casualties the British in Belgium have suffered, but the fighting has been uninterrupted. At one point on the front I saw Dutch soldiers among the advance troops and an occasional Tommy emerging from the smoke of battle for a brief rest. The Tommies were grimy and tired but cheerful. Looking down into a valley I saw guns and infantry moving into a no-man’s land in which trees had been set on fire by German shell fire. The village being shelled by the Germans was about half a mile from the hilltop on which I stood.

I saw German shells hit near a church but could not detect what damage was done.

Through clouds of smoke and dust, scouting airplanes circled to avoid anti-aircraft shells while their British" pilot observed the effects of British gun fire on enemy columns. :

The Tommies in this great battle were maintaining’ the best traditions of the British Army. They may have been inspired by the fact that they are not many miles from the field of Waterloo. : It appeared within the realm of possibility that a decisive battle of this war would be fought within shell shot of the field where the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon.

BUSINESS HERE | Frederic M. GAINS IN APRIL

Residential Building Up 50 Per Cent; Employment, Payrolls Ahead of ’39.

Paced by the first million dollar building month since last August, Indianapolis business recorded general advances in April over both March this year and April a year ago, the Chamber of Commerce reported today. Residential construction month was 50 per cent ahead of March and a third greater than April a year ago as building permits with a valuation of $1,024,640 were issued. Business and industrial permits, however, were 55.7 per cent under April a year ago, though they were over March, Real estate transfers made gains.

Even so, the reports of 165 manufacturing plants to the Indiana Unemployment Compensation Division showed losses of 2.1 per cent in employment and 2.5 per cent in payrolls for the group from March %o April,

Employment Up 12 Per Cent

Iron, steel, machinery, non-fer-rous metals and products, lumber and allied products and the chemical groups showed gains. April industrial employment as a whole gained 12 per cent and payrolls 18.5 per cent over April a year ago, with the durable goods group pacing the advance. Inbound car loadings were 123 per cent off from March and] 4 per cent from April a year ago, but outbound carloadings were up| 12 per cent over March and 4.7 per cent over April last year. | The number of telephones and | the residential gas and water meters increased, the telephones to a new high of 95327. Livestock receipts gained over March and were nearly a third higher than April last year and air passengers, numbering 7259, were 856 per cent! over April last year and established | Indiana's leading businessmen, died a new high. | Lane.

Postal Receipts Drop Streetcar passengers,

last

postal re- life in Indianapolis.

itd Soe V3) eras or ON] ROOSEVELT MESSAGE

ago.

Center Township relief rolls were | off 64 per cent from March and | 178 per cent from April last year, and relief costs dropped 12 per cent and 193 per cent for the respective

ods. . pels declined 9.1 per Steels Go Higher; Wheat

WPA relief rolls cent from March and 39.7 per cent : Regains 41% Cents. (Details, Page 19)

from April 1, 1939, and wages paid | were 10.4 per cent and 45.1 per cent | less respectively. Job insurance benefit payments were 23.4 per cent less than in March and but 15.7 per cent greater than a year ago.

President Roosevelt's defense message today caused the heaviest buying of the year at New York in aircraft shares which swept upward to recoup earlier losses this week, Steel shares led other divisions of the list higher after the market fluctuated nervously throughout most of the session. Trading ran around the 2,000,000-share level. Wheat gave evidence of settling down after the wild plunging vesterday and Tuesday. Prices regained as much as 4'; cents of the 20 cents lost in the past two days. Other prices were stimulated by wheat after a bad hour near the start and all closed higher.

Summer's Due Back Tomorrow

LOCAL TEMPERATURES 44 10am ... % v 35 31 awn ... 48 . 46 12 (noon). . 4% 1pm ... §%

a. m am a mo. am ... 46 Summer will return to Indianapolis tomorrow with fair skies

and warmer temperatures, the Weather Bureau predicted today. But as for today, button up that overcoat. It remains sunless and about 14 degrees below the normal temperature,

2 SCHELL SPEEDWAY

Frederic oar Aree rw Store President Was Civic, Business, Welfare Leader

Frederic Murray Ayres, president of L. S. Ayres & Co. and one of

Mr. Ayres, who was 68, had been ill the last five months. Although born in Geneva, N. Y,,

Ayres Dead

FAST ACTION

Cites Bombing Distances Which Make Even the Midwest Vulnerable.

By LYLE C. WILSON United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 16.—President Roosevelt today called for an American air fleet of 50,000 fighting

planes. Such an armada would exceed

by 44,437 the present total of 5563 | planes now in operation, 2863 of which belong to the Navy 2700 to the Army Air Corps. The recommendation for the 50,000 planes topped Mr. Roosevelt’'s billion-dollar special defense

session of “the possibility of attack on vital American zones.” Mr. Roosevelt asked for fast action on extraordinary appropriations to match the speed of modern war.

President Appears Nervous

He appeared nervous as he took the dais. His hands shook as he adjusted his spectacles and he began in a low, serious tone. Silence over the great audience was complete, From the diplomatic gallery Lord Lothian, the British Ambassador, watched the proceedings closely. Near him sat the ambassadors from Brazil, the Argentine and the Australian minister, The French Ambassador, Count Rene de SaintQuentin, was not present. Neither were Italy or Germany represented. When the President had spoken a few words he was interrupted by thunderous applause. He proposed to put national defense manufacturies on a 24-hour basis.

Midwestern Cities Vulnerable

He warned that our shores—even great Midwestern cities such as St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha —no longer are days, weeks or months away from potential attack, but are within hours and minutes of places which conceivably could become bases for air war, The message asked: 1. Immediate appropriation of $896,000,000 for armament. 2. Authorization for the making of future contract obligations aggregating $286,000,000. Together with the $2,000,000,000 already asked from this Congress for defense, this would make the total $3,182,000,000. And still more requests are likely before Congress goes home, pg

Cites Bombing Distances

Mr. Roosevelt left up to Congress the question of how to pay the bills for defense. Unlike his January message, in which he proposed a special national defense tax of $460,000,000, he did not mention taxation or boosting the national debt limit, now near the $45,000,000,000 statutory limit, Congress has given no indication that it planned to levy the special new tax. Great additional production capacity is our principal air requisite, Mr. Roosevelt said, adding: “I believe that this nation should plan at this time a program that would provide us with 50,000 military and naval planes.” He said the speed of potential at-

last night at his home, 5700 Sunset

he had spent practically his entire

In 1872, a few months after Mr. Ayres was born, his parents Lyman [S. and Maria (Murray) Ayres moved {here and his father bought into {the N. R. Smith store, also known as the Trade Palace. A few years [later, the elder Mr. Ayres bought out his partner and the store became L. S. Ayres & Co.

Started As Cash Boy

As a small boy, Mr. Ayres was employed in the store after school hours and during vacations, starting as a cash boy. Upon his father’s death in 1896, he became president. Mr. Ayres attended the public schools here and also the Indianapolis Classical School for Boys. He vas graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University in 1892. Mr. Ayres’ first marriage was in January, 1896, to Miss Eleanor Allen, who died in August, 1898. The first Mrs. Ayres was a sister of Mrs. William M. Taylor, 1449 N. Delaware St, and of Dr. Frank Allen. In 1904, he was married to Miss Alma Hoegh of Minneapolis, who survives him. To this union were born three children, Lyman 8S,

and | Ny a

message to Congress which brought op rounds of applause as he gravely! : warned members gathered in joint

Anne (Mrs. Frederic W. Taylor) (Continued on Page Five)

oR oewaNos MILLIONS OF MEN ARE ENGAGED

ALONG 200-MILE BATTLE FRONT

E ond Orgonines calles Porachute [avasion

te Oce upatisn,

; Ready to Strike England

Boson di t British Agoinyt Alt Roig 4 Arson Fight, Batele May Decide Wor Seis

Mobilized viand

FRANCE Expects Nazi {nvosion

Shyen

Americans Fine All Europenn Nations

Times Telephoto. Today's deidopments in the European war,

REYNAUD HINTS | War ARMY SHAKEUP| Bulletins

Germany Throws 3 Fresh GENERAL CONFIDENT Mechanized Divisions Into | PARIS, May 16 (U. P,)—Mem-

. bers of the Chamber of Deputies Dr ive Near Sedan. said tonight that Premier Paul PARIS, May 16 (U, P.).—Ger-

Reynaud had told them he remany threw three fresh mechanized | ceived advices from Gen. Henri divisions into a new drive against| Giraud at field headquarters saythe Maginot Line defenses in Pe ing they believed they had “the Sedan sector today soon after Pre- » mier Paul Reynaud of France had| Situation under control. warned that the Allies might be forced to “change men and methods” to stem the Nazi offensive,

The German divisions presumably about 45,000 fresh troops) appeared to be making a frenzied effort to crumple the French lines after having crossed the Meuse River and gained a foothold in the Maginot Line defense system. French tanks, supported by fleets of French and British planes, were said in French advices to be engaged in a “plunging battle” in an attempt to break the Nazi drive. Hundreds of thousands of troops were reported engaged in the bloody battle as the Germans sought to crash through to the western plains above Paris. British reported that the Germans outnumbered the Allies 10 to 6. The battle front was furiously active from the north border of

(Continued on Page Three)

INDIES TIGHTEN VIGILANCE

WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO, Netherlands West Indies, May 16 (U. P.)~Dutch authorities announced today the arrest of “several suspicious persons,” following reports that Germans interned on Bonaire Island, 30 miles east, had revolted. The Germans, interned last week after the German invasion of Holland, were placed under guard.

BELGIAN CAPITAL MOVED?

NEW YORK, May 16 (U. P.).— The German wireless today quoted diplomatic quarters in Geneva, Switzerland, as saying the Belgian Government had moved from Brussels to Ghent. The wireless said official confirmation was lacking because telephone com-

and Frederic M. Ayres Jr, During the World War, Mr. Ayres was noted for his work as one of the Government's famous “dollar

munications appeared to be interrupted between Geneva and Brussels,

German Columns Slice Across Meuse as Rumors Grow Hourly That Italy Is Ready to Enter War.

By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor

Millions of men fought back and forth across a 200-mile battlefield in Europe today as President Roosevelt called for a vast increase in American defenses.

Almost at the hour that Mr. Roosevelt urged Congress to approve $1,182,000,000 emergency defense funds and 50,« 000 airplanes, dispatches from the battle fronts in Belgium and France said that:

1. Germany was throwing tremendous power into am offensive against Brussels and Antwerp along the Dyle River front, but had been driven back from the battle-scarred city of Louvain by three desperate British counter-attacks.

Fear Italy About to Enter War

2. German mechanized columns slicing across the River Meuse in south Belgium (below Namur) reported they had thrown back French tanks, extended their gains in support of the Nazi attack on the Dyle River and beat off a French flank attack from Givet.

3. Three fresh German divisions, probably 45,000 men, were reported in Paris to have been thrown into the Sedan sector of the Nazi offensive against the Maginot Line, north of Verdun. They were counter-attacked by French tanks and British and French airplanes.

4. Rumors hourly increased fears that the war would soon spread to the Balkans, with Italy fighting on Germany’s side, The greatest point of danger to the Allies appeared to center on the Belgian front between Namur and Sedan, {where the Germans broke through the Meuse defenses in a slashing armored column attempt to encircle Brussels and Antwerp and drive a wedge between Belgium and France. The Germans then could drive through to the northe west in a race to the Channel and possibly bottle up the entira Allied force in Belgium. In Paris, Premier Paul Reynaud admitted that the Ale lies might have to change both leaders and methods to stop the Germans. Allies Continue to Fight Back

That the Allies were fighting back was emphasized by both German and French advices, which said that: 1. French 30-ton tanks counter-attacked the German flank on the French frontier near Givet but, the Nazis claimed, were repulsed. 2. German troops were being swiftly moved from Hol< land to join in what Nazis described as “a great battle” along the Dyle River for Antwerp, Louvain and Brussels. 3. Many thousands of airplanes were in action on both sides, with the British and French continually smashing at the German mechanized columns and rear line communicas tions.

The success of the Germans in forcing the Allied de (Continued on Page Three)

Wedge Is Driven Across River Into Belgium, Germans Claim

In Berlin:

TIMES FEATURES

ENTRIES ARRIVE HERE

-year” men, (Other Speedway News, Page 20) Reyer =n

Served in Washington

One - Sixth of Swiss in Army; Americans Told to Come Home

Two Italian Maserati racing cars, entered in the 500-mile race by Mrs. Lucy O'Reilly Schell, an American living in Paris, arrived today at the Baltimore & Ohio freight vards in sealed box cars. They will be kept there until the arrival of the two drivers, a relief | driver and two mechancs, according | to Bernard Musnik, Mrs. Schell’s representative in the United States, 17, who flew here last night. 3|Scherrer ..... 17 The drivers, Rene Dreyfus and 18 | Serial Story.. 25 Rene LeBegue, the relief driver, Jane Jordan.. 15|Side Glances. 18| Luigi Chinetti, and the mechanics, Johnson ..... 18|Society ....14, 15 are aboard the Conte de Savoia, Movies ....12, 13|Sports..20, 21, 3. Wich left Naples, Italy, Tuesday.

ON INSIDE PAGES

18 17 25 4 18 19 18

Books Clapper Comics c.eeee Crossword ... Editorials eee Financial «..s Flynn Orum ..oees In Indpls.t...

Inside Indpls.

Mrs. Ferguson Music «ci. Obituaries ... Pegler ....... Pyle .... Questions «ee Radio . 18 Mrs. Roosevelt

18 12 7 18 17 17 19

Cree

In 1917 he was state chairman of the first Y. M. C. A. campaign tor war funds and chairman of the Commercial Economy Committee of the Indiana State Council of De- | fense. | From February, 1918, until the fall |of that year, he served in Washington full time and without compensation as director of the Bureau of | Stores and Requirements of the | American Red Cross national headquarters. That fall he became as'sociate director of the Department of Supplies. He was commissioned a major im (Continued on Page Five)

BERNE, Switzerland, May 16 (U. P.) .—Switzerland prepared today for a German invasion that could come at any moment and without warning. At least 600,000 men—one-sixth of the population—were under arms, civilians were evacuating the Rhineland frontier areas and the government moved to prevent “Fifth Column” activities. Air raid alarms were sounded at noon in French villages surrounding Lake Geneva on the border, Within 18 hours of the invasion of

the low countries the last small

neutral in western Europe mobilized its army at full fighting strength. Gen. Joseph Guisan, com-mander-in-chief of the fighting forces, said that the defenses now were manned by full complements of men equipped with large amounts of war quipment and munitions. Important banks and insurance companies and other financial institutions in northeastern Switzerland removed the contents of their strong rooms to the west in fleets of especially constructed lorries. Organized evacuation was expected (Continued on Page Three)

HATCH BILL SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

WASHINGTON, May 16 (U. P.). —The House Judiciary Committee voted in executive session today to make the Hatch Bill a “special order of business” at its next meeting Tuesday. The Committee met today but did not take up the bill. Advocates of the bill have accused the Committee of bottling it up so 'as to prevent it from reaching the floor this session. After voting by secret bellot to table it, the Committee later reconsidered.

BERLIN, May 16 (U. P.).—German armed forces were reported officially today to have driven a wedge across the Meuse River into south Belgium, turned back a powerful French tank counter-at-tack and joined in a ‘great battle” {with Allied defense forces along the Dyle River before Brussels and Antwerp.

German reinforcements are being rushed in great numbers from conquered Holland to the Dyle River front in Belgium, and Nazi U-boats of the coast of the Low Countries have “embarked against England,” the official news agency stated. Farther /south, along the River Meuse, the German forces that fought their way across the river have “extended their successes” ™~

again defeated French mechanized forces in a drive southwest of Namur, the High Command ree ported. The German advance southwest of Namur was designed to drive dagger point between Belgium France and thus encircle the dee fenders of Brussels and Antwerp, hut the official agency admitted that the Allies were counter-attacking: fiercely. A counter-attack by big French tanks (probably 30-ton- fortresses om wheels) was repulsed by the Gere mans in the Givet sector, on & French frontier salient that into Belgium south of Namur, he agency said. Several million men, using (Continued om res kes