Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 May 1940 — Page 5

* THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1040

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CAN NAZIS CRUS

~ FRENCH MAGINOT?

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Message

i t - “gg . . . ’ Probably, if They Are Willing to Pay the Price in Lives, Army in World's History, Writer Claims. | | By THOMAS M. JOHNSON | G . Can the Nazis crush France's Maginot Line? | This stupendous undertaking the Nazis would justify by equipment. For if ever a host was armed to break the strongest fortress in history, that host is today’s Reichswehr. | army ever had in the world’s] : history. They have artillery, PRESS IN RUSSIA | unequaled for the task of shattering | the concrete casemates topped with] of the famous line. | MOSCOW, May 16 (J. P.) —Gov-[ernment-controlled newspapers toTerrific Bombing Likely rocked by shell fire as were the less deeply anchored Finnish pillboxes. Western Front—outposts of the casements. The Finns and Poles nothing compared to the bombing Germany would try to give the Germany has not only her 10 armored tank divisions that overincluding a very heavy tank with tough armor. There are also flame.or benzine fluid which bursts into ‘flame when it hits. This would : close the pillbox ports through which «they must fire. break the Maginot Line wide open is to blow up two sections of it and Germans have been silently burrow«ing toward it underground.

Says General; Better Equipped for Job Than Any | NEA Service Military Writer their military doctrine and even more by their state of They have more, better and newer weapons than any German and Czech, that is ‘steel cupolas that are the backbone | Those casements ¢an hardly be But there are also pillboxes on the succumbed to air bombing that was Maginot Line. ran Poland, but many more vehicles, thrower tanks that fling a coaltar ssilence guns by forcing gunners to Some say the only real way to that, during the last seven months, Second Line Lies Behind

Should the Maginot Line once be ‘conquered, behind lies a second Maginot Line, built mostly in those same seven months. It is thinner than the first, contains more pill‘boxes, and behind it is a series of sheavily fortified French cities. Y Most important of all, there are #fwo armies; for the garrison of the main Maginot Line comprises only «300,000 men, all trained specialists "The great mass of French manpower is free to operate in open warfare as the finest maneuvering army in ‘he world, brilliantly led and thoroaghly trained. The British army in France, now approachSng 500,000. is more spotty in training, but mechanized and motorized in equipment. Tt is said to have only four horses, the four horsemen being brass hats who need exercise, including Lord Gort and the Duke of Gloucester. General Says ‘Yes’ British and French are ready for open warfare against the somewhat spottily trained Nazi infantry if the Maginot Line ever breaks. « Can it be broken? For years I have been asking that question of men who should know. Only yesserday 1 asked a voung officer, who Jatelv has been in the line. He re-

1t 1

day accused Great Britain and France of furthering an “imperialist war” and suggested that the conflict not only could conceivably {spread to the Balkans and the Mediterranean, but also to the Far| i Bast. The official Tass Agency circu-, lated editorials carried by the news- | papers Izvestia and Pravikvifh| ‘supported completely the German | view and charged that Britain and | France were bent on bringing ad-| ditional neutral countries, and pos-| sibly the United States, into a new world war. “One may assume that in the near future the Mediterranean basin and the Balkin peninsula will become a new war theater,” Izvestia said. “The war danger also grows in the Pacific. Contradictions between the United States and Japan are sharply aggravated in connection with the beginning of the struggle for ‘Dutch inheritance’ in the Netherlands Bast Indies.” Pravda said that after Germany (had frustrated British-French plans in Scandinavia, the Allies turned to the Netherlands and Belgium and there received sympathy in ‘“bourgeois circles” which helped spread the war to the Low Countries, Germany, however, took the initiative and beat the Brifish and French at their own game, the newspaper added.

London Hears Italy Not

Interested in Trade Gain |

LONDON, May 16 (U. P).—¥Ex-| pectation that Ttaly might soon | enter the war increased today when | neutral embassies received a report | that ‘Count Galeazzo Ciano, Ttalian | Foreign Minister, recently had indicated to American Ambassador William Phillips at Rome that Italy was no longer interested in enlargimg Ttalo-American trade. According to this report Mr. Phillips suggested certain arrangements to facilitate a large trade.

plied, “Absolutely not.” But when I asked a general of outstanding judgment and experienced in breaking lines considered impenetrable, he said, ‘Probably the Nazis can break the Maginot Line if they are willing to pay the price in lives.” 1 prefer the second answer.

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back there for,” he said. ‘know that there is a definite use | for big airships in our system of de-

0 N New 1940

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Highlights of

WASHINGTON, May 16 (TU. U.) —Highlights of President Rosevelt’s special defense message to Congress today: “The clear fact is that the American people must recast their thinking about national protection.” = » LJ

“More than ever the protection bf the whole Western Hemisphere against invasion or control or domination by non-American nations has the united support of the 21 American Republics, including the United States.” » x x

“The Atlantic and Pacific oceans were reasonably adequate defensive barriers when fleets under sail could move at an average speed of five miles an hour . . . but the new element—air navigation—steps up the speed of possible attack to 200 to 300 miles an hour.” » » x

“So - called impregnable fortifications no longer exist. A defense which allows an enemy to consolidate his approach without hindrance will Tose.” »

x x

“I ask Congress not to take any action which would in any way hamper or delay the delivery of American-made planes to foreign nations which have ordered them. That, from the view of our own national defense, would be extremely shortsighted.” » ® »

“I believe that this nation should plan at this time a program that would provide us with 50,000 military and naval planes.” x *

“I, too, pray for peace—that the ways of aggression and force may be banished from the earth—but I am deter= mined to face the fact realistically that this nation requires a toughness of moral and physical fibre.” x x »

“Our ideal, our objective is still ‘peace—peace at home and peace abroad. Nevertheless, we stand ready not only to spend millions for defense but to give our service and even our lives for the maintenance of our American liberties.”

Demands Fast Action, Cites Midwest as Vulnerable To Bombers.

(Continued from Page One) (tack had increased from the aver-|

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hour at which a steam battle fleet! could approach our coasts, to the {blitz speeds of today—200 to 300 miles an hour by air. The President did not say how soon the 50,000 plane air armada should be ready, nor what part of the funds and authorizations sought

power. But it appeared that the United Statcs was about to challenge Germany for world leadership in the air. It was understood planned to use big sums now for pilot training; that most of the new planes would come later. ‘From the fjords of Greenland.” Mr. Roosevelt warned, “it is only four hours to Newfoundland: only six hours to New England. “The Azores are only 2000 miles from parts of our Eastern Seaboard and if Bermuda fell into hostile] hands it is & matter of less than! three hours for modern bombers to! reach our shores. “From a base in the outer West Indies, the coast of Florida could be (reached in 200 minutes. | “The islands off the west coast of | Africa are only 1500 miles from Brazil. Modern planes starting from | the Cape Verde Islands can be over Brazil in seven hours. |

| Tampico to St. Louis 2% Wours |

“And Para, Brazil, is but four flying hours to Caracas, Venezuela: and Venezuela is but two and one- | ‘half hours to Cuba and the Canal Zone; and Cuba and the Canal Zone | are two and one-fourth hours to Tampico, Mexico; and Tampico is two and one-fourth hours to St.| Louis, Kansas City and Omaha. | “On the other side of the continent,” Mr. Roosevelt continued, | “Alaska, with a white population of | only 30,000 people, is within four or five hours of flving distance to Vancouver, Seattle, Tacoma and Portland. i “The islands of the southern Pa-| cific are not too far removed from the west coast of South Am>rica tao prevent them from becoming bases of enormous strategic advan- | tage to attacking forces.” The Atlantic and Pacific ware

'DIRIGIBLE EXPERT

CALLED TO CAPITAL

LOS ANGELES, May 16 (U. P) — Commander Charles E. Rosendahl

{Jr., Navy dirigible expert, was hur[Tying to Washington today for pos{sible experiments with lighter-than-{air craft in national defense.

“I don't know what they want me “But I do

fense and for smaller blimps for patrol duty.” Commander Rosendahl, who survived the crash of the Shenandoah, was relieved as executive officer of the light cruiser Milwaukee, on extended maneuvers in Hawaiian waters, and ordered to return to Washington.

reasonably adequate defense par|riers against surface fleats, the | President told Congress, but no longer is that true. This emergency message, whipped | together in a series of White House | and other conferences as German | air power led the Nazi forces | through the Tow Countries and | into France, was addressad to our own people, but broadcast world.

| i

to the|

Broadcast to World

vee TOIARATOINS Roosevelt Calls for 50,000 P Defense Against Hemispheric Invasion

today would be earmarked for air-|

the Army!

and |

the physical, the ready, ability to meet those attacks and to prevent them from reaching their objectives.” He cited the repeated lessons of “nations that were not ready and were unable to get ready.” They were overrun by the enemy. United States airplane production

lage of five miles an hour by sailing has been stepped up from 6000 to| [fleets through the 15 to 20 miles an 12,000 planes a year, he said, large- | widespread,” Mr.

ly because of the placing of foreign

orders. He asked Congress not to!

take action which in any way would hamper or delay delivery of American made planes to foreign nations (the Allies) which have huge orders here or seek to purchase further units. “That,” he said, “from the point

of view of our national defense

would be extremely short-sighted.” Urges 24-Hour Production

Notable in Mr. Roosevelt's request |

for appropriations and authoriza-

{tions were items aggregating $200,-

000,000 to go directly to him for the improvement of national defense. “At this time,” he said, “T am asking the immediate appropriation by the Congress of a large sum of money for four primary purposes: “First, to procure the essential equipment of all kinds for a larger and thoroughly rounded out Army. “Second, to replace or modernize all old Army and Navy equipment with the latest type of equipment. “Third, to increase production facilities for evervthing needed for the Army and Navy for national defense. We require the ability to turn out quickly infinitely greater war supplies. “Fourth, to speed up to a 24-hour basis ail existing army and navy contracts, ‘and all new contracts to be awarded.

Asks for $896,000,000

“TI ask for immediate appropriation of $896,000,000 divided approximately as follows: “1, For the Army, $546.000.000. “2. For the Navy and Marine Corps, $250,000. “3. To the President, $100.000.000. “In addition to the above sum, I ask authorizations for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps to make contract obligations in the further sum of $186,000,000. “And to the President an additioal authorization te make contract obligations for $100.000,000.” Mr, Roosevelt said the people must “recast their thinking about national defense.” He cited the changed methods of warfare by Iand aid air, the “treacherous use

of fifth columns” and the lightning |

attacks capable of destruction hundreds of miles behind the lines, He told of parachute troops and their landings far within enemy

past few weeks have made it clear | |

to all of our citizens,” Mr. Roose-

velt said, “that the possibility of at-| :

tack on vital American zones ougnt |

‘to make it essential that we have Gob

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lanes as

|territory. He added that all up to the element of surprise and his pro-

posal for 50,000 planes—an ‘extra-|

[ordinary number—was to prevent {such surprise attack from reaching any objective in the United States. | And he said our responsibility ex[tends throughout the Western Hemisphere. “Our own vital interests are Roosevelt said. “More than ever the protection of the whole American Hemisphere against invasion or control domination by non-American nations has the united support of the 21 American Republics, including the United States. More than ever this protection calls for ready-at-hand weapons capable of great mobility because of the potential speed, of modern attack.”

Decries ‘Loose Talking’ Nothing could be further from the truth, Mr. Roosevelt assured ‘Con-

gress, than “loose talking and thinking” bv persons who say the Army and Navy are not first class [or that money has been wasted on them. He said our Navy is stronger than at anv tirne before, the Army at its greatest peace-time strength and the National Guard and Service Reserves better equipped and prepared than during any other | peace-time period. But he said every ‘week since the outbreak of war has brought new lessons. | “There are some who say that democracy cannot cope with the new techniques of government de-

veloped in recent years by a few)

countries,” Mr. Roosevelt said. “This I reject. | “I, too, pray for peace— | “Our task is plain, Our defenses must be invulnerable, our security absolute.”

Congress in Defence Mood

| But Congress already is in a mood to vote almost any amount for defense, and worry next year [about paying the bill. Tt may receive {still another request for defense money this session—probably for airplanes. However, a bi-partisan Congressional bloc, although still in a minority, is pressing for Congress to take a greater hand in guiding defense policy and te form its own program as to how the funds should be spent. This group feels that the nation has not got its money's worth for the record peace-time defense spending which it began seven years ago.

MASONS HONOR H. W. HELM

Henry W. Helm, 4132 Carrollton Ave. was awarded a 50-vear membership pin at the mesting of Marion

Lodge 35 F. & A. M last night. |menths in the Grant Circuit Court.

DOWNSTAIR

or |

PAGE §°

Mickeys’ Gone With Amo Wind

Gladys Troke and an uncounted number of other citizens of Amo, Ind., were watching the first out door movie of the season last night and Mickey Mouse was Cae

pering in the middle of an act. Suddenly the wind, which had been blowing hard all day, huffed especially hard and blew the sereen down. It also blew dust in the spectators’ eyes and mouths. They all ran for cover but found the going hard because of the wind. The gust was over in a little while and so was the show. Miss Droke reported the incident to The Times,

F. M. AYRES, 68, DIES AT HOME

Widely Known as Leader in Business, Civic and Welfare Work. (Continued from Page One)

April, 1919, and sent to Paris as thesdirector of Property Operations | {under the European Commission of the American Red Cross to supervise liquidation of surplus Red Cioss| supplies and materials in Europe. |

He remained in Paris until Oct. 30, | 1919,

aap sun bo Tene KILLED BY POLICE WW ent for ne Na-| ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE

president for Indiana of the Na-| tional Retail Dry Goods Association. | | He also had been a director of the, TERRE HAUTE, Ind. May 16 (U. old Fletcher Savings & Tiust Co. py ..A man believed to be Farl Active in civic affairs, he took a |i. oe : leading role in the building of the Wheeler of Bellaire, 0, was killed Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. DY police last night when he ate Mr. Ayres was president of the tempted to flee as they sought to | Murray Tavestment Co, and a mem- question him. He was identified by |ber of the board of managers of a social security card which was | Crown Hill Cemetery. For many issued May 6. | vears he was treasurer of the In-| Police said Wheeler alighted from aqianapolis Community Fund. = EU en. wi va : when he saw officers, clim ac Victor Wi Xwy Clb . into a freight car. They ordered all He was a member of the Indian- nren out but he dodged out the opapolis Chamber of Commerce, the pasite door and was shot down as Indianapolis Merchants Association, |e ran. Seven other men in the the Board of Trade, the University car were held on vagrancy charges.

Club, of which he was président in

1911; the Indianapolis Country Club, Woodstock and Indianapolis About Unilized WALLPAPER? Wo

| Athletic Clubs; the Yale Club of New York City and the Lafayette \ N whee » Koes

Club of Minneapolis, Minn. He also was a member of the executive committee of the Indiana | Lincoln Unicon, and for many years was chairman of the board of Park School. Besides his wife and the three children, Mr. Ayres is survived by a | granddaughter, Elise Ayres, and two sisters, Mrs. William B. Wheelock | and Mrs. Richard W. Smitheram, all of Indianapolis. | Private services for Mr, Ayres) will be held at 4 p. m. tomorrow im the Flanner & Buchanan Mortuary. | The Ayres store will be closed all | | day tomorrow.

| |

«ie RSP

URGES ELWOOD SUIT GO TO STATE COURT

Federal Judge Rabert C. Baltzell [today suggested to attorneys that [the state courts are the proper place to settle the validity of the purchase of the Elwood waterworks by the City of Elwood. | A citizens’ suit to declare the pur= chase illegal has been pending five

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