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

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The Indianapolis Time

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 188

FORECAST: Fair with possibly light frost tonight; tomorrow, fair and warmer.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1940

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

FINAL

HOME

PRICE THREE CENTS

London Aflame, Nazis

20,000 REGISTER HERE BY

Shouts from the crowd of “we are for your old man” brought that famous Roosevelt grin to Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr's face as be was registered here today by County Clerk Charles Ettinger Qe,

AXIS SEEMS READY TO TRY ‘KNOCKOUT

Italians Push Their

Offensive in Egypt;

Russia Admits Adding to Defenses

On Rumanian Border. By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor ees ‘A pause in Germany’s relentless aerial offensive against the British Isles late today permitted London to dig out from the debris of one of the worst attacks of the war. Berlin claimed that air fleets, attacking in mass forma-

tion, had turned the British

capital into “a large sea of

flames” that could be seen 60 miles away. So punishing was the attack that the Axis powers seemed on the verge of attempting their long threatened

knock-out blows against the British Isles and key points of the British Empire. This belief was intensified by a furious assault by unidentified enemy airplanes against the British fortress of Gibraltar.

A United Press correspondent, surveying the tremendous damage, reported that morale continued firm an dthat it would take a long time for German bombs to knock out London. Berlin, however, claimed that the Royal Air Force was offering less and less opposition to the hundreds of Nazi squadrons and that German air superiority was destroying the enemy’s defensive power and supply lines. .

Three Hospitals Bombed

Dispatches from the bombspattered capital said that the British took seriously Nazi threats that much harder blows were yet to be struck. But British sources denied that the nation’s ability to resist had been weakened and emphasized that Royal Air Force bombers were

striking back strongly. Most of the German bombs crashed into non-military objectives. Three London hospitals, three schools, a college and two churches were bombed. One of the greatest casualty traps was believed to have been an air raid shelter under a four-story music school. Twu or more bombs simultaneously struck the building and completely destroyed it and the shelter beneath. Today there was an immeuase pile of rubbish and materials piled on the spot, through which rescuers dug frantically for victims.

Moans Are Heard

No one knew how many persons. had taken shelter there. Out of the piles of rubbish, stonework, girders and concrete—in some places piled 50 feet high—calls for help and moans came this morning. By midafternoon as rescuers sweated at their work the few faint sounds that came from beneath this (Continued on Page Three)

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Clapper ...... 11jMusic ........ Comics ....... 18] Obituaries ... Crossword . . 17| Pegler . Editorials .... 12 Pyle Financial . 19| Questions .. Flynn ....... 12{Radio ....... Forum .... 12, 13| Mrs. Roosevelt 11 In Indpls. .. 3|Serial Story... 18 Inside Indpls.. 11|Side Glances.. 12 Jane Jordan.. 14| Society . 18 15 Movies ..... 7| Sports

FUND AIDS EYE $300,000 MARK

4th Report at Claypool Hotel Meeting Stresses Individual Gifts.

BULLETIN * Community Fund workers today reported additional pledges totaling $67,617.69, bringing the total reported to date to $323,107.89, or 46.9 per cent of the fund goal of $688,500.

. Indianapolis Community Fund workers hoped to report today new pledges of more than $45,000 to push the total subscribed over the $300,000 mark. The fourth report, which. marks the half-way point in the annual drive, was to be made at the Claypocl Hotel. The total to date is slightly more than for the same campaign period a year ago, but Harold B. Tharp, general drive chairman, reiterated that “there must be increased giving and new pledges” before the goal is reached. Today’s report has been designated as Individual Gift Day report. The Individual Gifts Division is composed of 600 men under leadership of Raymond M. Neff. The division’s quota is $45,425.

PROFIT-TAKING CUTS GAINS

NEW YORK, Oct. 16 (U. P.). — Profit- taking cut gains in the stock market this.afternoon after prices had advanced fractions to more than $1 during the morning. Most leaders held a portion of their early gains.

Say; British Dig in Ruins

The Fire Station at Alabama and New York Sts. was so crowded with men waiting to register that accommodating firemen moved the

fire engines out into the street.

" Marion County Prosecutor David M. Lewis (right) came under

terms of the draft because he is only 31.

He was registered by Dr.

C. B. Chambers (left) at the Fire Station at 63d and Bellefontaine Sts.

ABSENT VOTER CLASH FLARES

G. 0. P. Worker and Ettinger Hurl Charges in Row: Over Mail Ballot.

A conflict over absentee voter ballots broke out today, Wilbur Royse Republican organization worker, ac.|cusing County Clerk Charles R. Ettinger of “attempting to disfranchise Republican voters,” and Mr. Ettinger, denying this, charging in turn that the G. O. P. county committee had violated election laws by “soliciting absentee votes.” Mr. Royse called on Mr. Ettinger today and demanded that an absentee voter ballot application be sent to Rembrandt Hiller Jr., a student, for whom Mr. Royse is acting as attorney. He contended that Mr. Hil-

ler had mailed his request to the Clerk on a form distributed by the G. O. P. county headquarters for such applications. The request was refused, the attorney said, with the statement that i% bore inadequate information.

Clerk Stands Ground Mr. Ettinger explained there are

two forms, one for government em-

ployees and requiring the signature of their superior, and another form for non-government employees requiring the signature of two freeholders. The information on the card doesn’t tell us which application to send,” he said. ] When Mr. Royse said, “I am now demanding that you issue an application to Mr. Hiller,” the County Clerk replied that his office was entirely within the law in rejecting the request. “You comply with the law and I'll comply with the law,” said Mr. Ettinger. “If youll come back tomorrow, I'll be glad to talk to you, but as chief registration officer I'm too. busy to argue with you today.”

Charges Discrimination

After he left the Clerk’s office, Mr. Royse told reporters that a former Democrat, now supporting the Republican ticket, had sent a similar card to the Clerk's office and ‘received his absent voter application. “They didn’t know he had switched over to the G. O. P.,” he said. Mr. Ettinger told reporters that the G. O. P. committee's action in sending out the cards was a “direct contradiction of the law which says it is a violation to solicit absent votes.” “I'm going to see Prosecutor Dave Lewis about this,” he concluded.

Mr. Mason

declare British war aims until the

carry the war more intensively against Germany and Italy before any advantage would result from an official announcement of Britain’s post-war desires. Always in a great war some pressure for peace is never entirely absent in any of the belligerent countries. Such movements tend to grow somewhat when there is a con-

Min a Forgan 1a| State Deaths. “ole

dition ado deadlock or when one side ther does Not quite see how

War Moves Today

By J. W. T. MASON United Press War Expert

The problem of placing before the smaller nations of Europe what they are to expect if Great Britain brings Germany and Italy to terms has begun to be discussed among the British people. There are recurring signs of a desire among the occupied countries of the Continent that the British encourage them to develop passive resistance by explaining how Great Britain believes Europe should be reorganized after the end of the war. Winston Churchill in the House of Commons yesterday refused to

British Empire's capacity to survive

is more generally recognized. That probably means the British must

it can gain the initiative or when economic. distress is increasingly felt by the populace. If strong leadership then shows itself the desire for peace tends to decline and the nation gets its second wind. There was no strong leadership in France last summer and the French people’s longing for ia: met no

{Coutingea n Fags Five)

sistance from me)

Call LI-648|

For Information

If you don’t know where to register today, call LI-6481, Selective Service headquarters. Eight telephone girls have been hired to handle the calls concerning draft registration. If the lines to Selective Service headquarters should be busy, call RI-1386, the county clerk's office.

SPIRITS HIGH ON

WILLKIE’ TRAIN

Better Campaigner Heads For Cincinnati Convinced That He’s Gaining.

By CHARLES T. LUCEY Times Special Writer ABOARD WILLKIE TRAIN IN OHIO, Oct. 16.—A new buoyancy was visible in the Presidential campaign of Wendell Willkie today as he turned into a six-state Midwest area which may hold the answer to victory or defeat Nov. 5. Not since shortly after the Republican candidate left Rushville on his swing to the Pacific Coast has the Willkie campaign party been more encouraged. Reports to Mr. willkie show him on the upgrade in many areas and moving ahead of President Roosevelt in some states. The effect on the candidate's entourage has been electric. Improves as Campaigner

Here are some of the factors which cause Willkie leaders to believe their campaign is moving at a much faster clip than two weeks ago: 1. The tour through New England and New York, completed with a big meeting at Buffalo last night, was rated effective. Mr. Willkie drew enthusiastic crowds everywhere he went in New England. His welcome in central New York Monday was more restrained, but the upstate Rochester-Buffalo area gave him a tremendous greeting. 2. Mr. Willkie steadily becomes a better campaigner. He has developed a way with a crowd and is getting friendly hearings even in areas which are likely to be against him. His advisers recognize that his effectiveness on the radio does not match his personal appearances. Indiscretions of early speeches are not being repeated. 3. The Democrats have been driven to explaining—witness Ed Flynn, National Chairman, in his recent (Continued on Page Five) °

JAPAN GETS OIL LAND ON GULF OF MEXICO

Mexicans Also Considering Sale of Scrap to Tokyo.

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 16 (U. P.).— Mexico has granted to a Japanesecontrolled company a huge ‘“exploratory oil land” concession on the Gulf of Mexico, 425 miles from the Texas border and 1300 air-line miles from the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, and is considering the sale to Japan of 20,000 tons of scrap metal, now embargoed by the United States, it was disclosed today. Diplomatic and foreign business quarters were greatly interested in the disclosure, partly because the land is on the Gulf, from where any eventual oil would have to be sent through the Panama Canal to Japan, and partly because other foreign oil interests have explored the concession “area and decided

that, as regards oil, it was got promising, $e

IT'S ZERO HOUR

FORU.S. YOUTH

And 16,000,000 Respond; High, Low, Rich, Poor Begin a New Era. By LYLE C. WILSON

United Press Staff Correspondent First call, and millions answer. ~All day America’s young manhood is marching. Theyre a little out of step, but not for long. Zero hour moves westward with the sun and 16,404,000 strong they register for national defense. East side, west side, Main Street, farm: town hall, fire house, village barn—the young men gather to fulfill their responsibility to America. Johnny gets his gun if his number comes up. “Democracy is your cause — the cause of youth,” President Roosevelt tells them.

Across the Nation

Seven a. m. and they are lined up and waiting in the East. Another hour, another time zone and the Mississippi Valley is offering up its youth. Through the Mountain States the zero hour is moving, ‘up and over and down the Pacific siope. The machinery of national selective service is spinning coast-to-coast, Gulf-to-Canada. The world around us is on fire. This is the traditional American muster done to greater scale. But the: muster, all the same, that enabled Western pioneers to hold the plains states and the New Englanders before them to meet the Indians’ charge. America is mobilizing for defense. The President emphasized that. Here they come, there they go— 1,000,000 or more an hour for the national army of defense—all males, 21 to 35 years old inclusive.

The Rich and the Poor

All males—that is the way of lemocracy. The high and low, rich and poor, good and bad. The Rockefeller boys and the sons of their older servants. Bobby Feller signs on with a shotgun in the crook of his arm. Bobby's going hunting and if the draft gets him, okay. Tough, though, for the Cleveland ball club. Hour by hecur the lines form at 125,000 places of registration. It won’t be long, now, Johnny, if you are fit and free. Oct. 16, 1940—America at peace registers its young manpower for compulsory service. It IS happening here. Married or single, alien or citizen, the registration is all-inclusive ex-

‘lcept for those comparatively few

exempt because of their membership in or association with the -armed services or who are on an otherwise strictly limited essential list. There are 11 questions and the man gets a card. His card later gets a number and some 900,000 of those. numbers will call for guns. * Seven a. m. in the East. The nation’s greatest city puts 1,107,000 of its young men on the registration line. Town: halls and fire houses (Continued on Page Three)

BLANKET WEATHER TO RETURN TONIGHT

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

10a. m. .., : 11a. m. ... 53 ... 45 12 (Noon) .. 54 .5 1pm... 57

It will be chilly in Indianapolis tén night and there possibly will be another light frost, the Weather Bureau predicted. But tomorrow, it will be warmer under sunny skies. There was a light frost this morning as the mercury dipped to a

51

lv of 37 degrees, but the frost

wasn't toe. Buresu said.

or Victims

Secretarys of State are not exempled from the draft.

NOON

Indiana's

Secretary, James Tucker, 32, smiles as he fills out his card with the

assistance of Ferdinand J. Montani

at 3611 N. Capitol Ave,

490,000 HOOSIERS SPEED

Draft Facts

By UNITED PRESS Highlights of today’s registration: NUMBER 'REGISTERING— 16,404,000.

AGE LIMITS—AIll between 21 and 36. That includes those who have reached 21 today and those not 36 until tomorrow. EXCEPTIONS—Only active and reserve members of the. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and National Guard; the Public Health Service, Coast Guard, and Coast and Geodetic Survey; foreign diplomats and consuls.

HOURS OF REGISTRATION—T a. m. to 9 p. m. NUMBER OF REGISTRATION PLACES—Approximate=ly 125,000. PENALTY FOR NOT REGISTERING—Willful evasion punishable by five years in prison and $10,000 fine.

TRANSIENTS — Must register wherever they are today.

WHAT NEXT?--About 3,280,000 of today’s registrants are expected to prove to be Class I-A. About 800,000 of these will be put in training in the next 12 months. .

FOR JR. REGISTERS FOR DRAFT IN CITY

Crowd Cheers as He Signs At Downtown Fire House.

Before a cheering crowd of young Democrats, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr, son of the President, registered for the draft at the Fire Station at Alabama and New York Sts. at noon today. 5 Young Mr. Roosevelt answered the draft registration questions while news reel movie cameras clicked and crowds surged around the desk. The registration was conducted by County Clerk Charles R. Ettinger, director of the draft registration here. The President’s son gave his age as 26 and his residence address as Hyde Park, N. Y. Answering the question concerning as to whom will always know his address, he answered: “My wife, Mrs. Ethel Roosevelt.” When he appeared at the small registration office police had difficulty in clearing a path to Mr. Ettinger’s desk. During the proceedings several persons in the crowd said, “we are for your old man-—tell him that for us.” Mr. Roosevelt arrived by plane from New York City shortly before noon and was given a police escort to the registration office. He was greeted at the airport by a crowd of more than 100 Democrats, including State Chairman Fred F. Bays and Lieut. Gov. Henry F. -Schricker, the candidate for Governor. Immediately after the registration, Mr. Roosevelt was taken to the Indianapolis Athletic Club where a luncheon was given in his honor. He will speak at a Bloomington rally tonight.

STORM WARNINGS FLY

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (U. P.).— The Weather Bureau today ordered storm warnings displayed from Atlantic City, N. J., to the Virginia Capes. Strong northeast and north winds, shifting to Beet tonight; were forecast.

THROUGH R-DAY LINES

‘Work Proceeds Smoothly, With One Regis-

tered Every Seven Minutes; 64,000 in City to Be Listed by 9 P. M.

By EARL

RICHERT

‘With a grimness thinly-veneered with light-heartedness, Young Indiana marched to the colors today.

There was no fanfare, no ballyhoo.

prising speed and efficiency. By noon, an estimated

There was a sur-

20,000 of the 64,000 Marion

County eligibles had taken the first step on the short road that leads to the Army. Twenty-five per cent of the county’s

men between 21 and 36 years

STANDING ARMY, SAYS DRAFTEE

Long Wait Brings Terse Comment; Some Say They’d Like to Enlist.

By JOE COLLIER

The Great American Wisecrack was in evidence here today as men between 21 and 36 registered for the draft, which to most of them was strictly. an unknown quantity. As early as 6 a. m., some men had gathered at the precinct registering places—a full hour before the legal time. Some of them had to get to work early and hoped for early registration. Some of them were merely very, very curious. At one fire station, 11 men had

lined up well before 7 a. m. and the 3

registrars and firemen were hastily setting things in order.—At first the men in the line were quiet. Then, as the time wore on, they developed: a camaraderie. After a while one cracked: “Looks like it’s the standing army, to me.” : » 4 8 A man who might have been on either. side of the draft age, from his appearance, walked into a registration room in a school building on the east side and was greeted by a friend who was one of the registrars. “You don’t have to register do you, Bill?" the registrar asked. “I don’t HAVE to, I GET to,” he replied. 2 nn B® Registrars report that in several instances men who have registered have made this parting shot: “How can I get this over right now? I'd like to enlist and have the training new.” They were advised to see their Army feciuiling office. 2 8

One young oy who said he was a drug clerk arrived in high good humor at a station and announced to all and sundry that he knew what would happen to him. “I'm in the army now, just the same -as,” he said. “Do you know (Continued on Page Three)

NAZIS ‘WON'T TALK’ ON AMERICAN DRAFT

" BERLIN, Oct. 16 (U. P.).—Nazi sources refused to comment today on the United States draft registration or on President Roosevelt's radio speech that foreign aggressors had made it necessary. “United A States conscription is purely an American matter which is not our concern,” a spokesman said. “We do not even take any position regarding arguments with

which Jousestpiion was effected | lwith which Ls supported. :

of age had filled out their selective service cards in the

first three hours.

It was the same all over the state, Young Indiana—490,000 strong— had a job to be done, and appar= ently wanted to get it over with as quickly and quietly as possible. - Of course they were grim. If they hadn’t realized it before, it was suddenly emphasized that within a few weeks, 11,000 of them will be rookie soldiers. And another 11,000 will follow them in a few months.

3000 Registration Places

| And as they filed through the state’s 3000 registration places, they knew that 16,000,000 other youths were doing the same thing all over the hation, with the same chance of being called to service in Uncle Sam’s first peace-time draft army. At the county’s 330 registration spots, weary workers who had been turning out registrants at the rate

of one every seven minutes welcomed the brief breathing spell after 10

They knew another rush was coming during the lunch period. They knew, too that a bigger one was in store for them when the factories, stores and office buildings pour out their hundreds of employees from 4 Pp. m. on. Open Until 9—Or Later

The registration places will be open until 9 tonight—Ilater, if necessary, to take care of all who are in line at that time. For the orders are: “Register.” Charles Ettinger, Marion County Clerk in charge of registration, was elated. During the first hour there were the usual bobbles, and a few who had volunteered as "clerks failed to show up. But on the whole, things went smoothly. The registrars knew their jobs and the young men knew what was expected of them. When: situation arose, Government officials provided help to take up the load. At the Federal Building, Postmaster Adolph Seidensticker turned over postal clerks at hourly intervals to assist in the work. At one time 15 clerks were aiding the registration. City, County and State offices worked with skeleton staffs as employees were released to aid in the important job. In many places, long lines of waiting youths greeted the officials when they opened registration boeths at 7 a. m. Some had arrived as early as 6 a. m. Two of the busiest spots in Indi anapolis - were the fire station: at New York ‘and Alabama Sts. and the Federal Building. At 7:45 a. m., the engine house was filled to overflowing. Fire officials were asked to

(Continued on Page Three) or

Other Draft News—

Text of Roosevelt address. .Fagel3 Summary of Willkie talk. Pagel