Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 November 1940 — Page 1

The Indianapolis Times

FORECAST: Partly cloudy and slightly colder tonight with lowest temerature 15 to 20; tomorrow fair and rising temperature by night.

FINAL "HOME

PRICE THREE CENTS

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Hecwrrsiov] VOLUME 52—NUMBER 214

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

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1940

- sr :

NAZI BOMBS DEMOLISH COVENTRY

y 500 Planes

"1000 Killed or Hurt in 10-Hour Revenge Raid

JENNER GROUP NOW CONTROLS INDIANALG. 0. P.

As a Start, They’ve Taken Dominant Posts in Both Legislative Houses.

By NOBLE REED A new leadership has taken over the reins of the Indiana Republican Party. It is the illiam Jenner faction—the young State Senator and the group that backed him in| his unsuccessful bid for the G. O. P. gov-

ernor nomination. As a start, the group has gained complete control over the 1941 Leg- - jslature, with dominating roles in

both of the G.| O. P.-controlled houses. Senator Jenner's selection as President Pro Tem. of the State Senate is scheduled to go through this afternoon. 0 opposition was apparent as the Republican majority membership went into caucus at the Claypool Hotel today.

Millis Floor Leader Frank Millis Campbellsburg, who was Mr. Jenner's campaign manager in the vernor contest, was selected majority floor leader of the House of Representatives yesterday and was made a ranking member of the | House Steering Committee. Party leaders who supported Mr, Jenner's unsuccessful campaign for * the Governor nomination included: Burrell Wright, [Indianapolis attorney whose clienfele includes some rewery interests] Ewing Emison, long a power in pouthern Indiana. Republican circles; Harry Fenton, minority member {of the State Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and Robert Lyons, wealthy chain store attorney. Mr. Fenton formerly was State Committee secretary, Mr. Wright a former treasurer, Mr. Lyons has been an active be-hind-the-scenes leader in the party for years. He closed the gap between the Ralph Gates and Jim Watson factions, a breach that had threatened to wreck the party. He reportedly gave heavy financial support to Mr, Jenner's gubernatorial campaign. Look fo 1944 Race

"On the future calendar, the group is eyeing the 1944 Governor race, with Mr. Jenner again the candidate. Some say the young Shoals attorney is slated for the 1944 Senator race, but the best guess is that the Governor's chair is his goal. Factional disputes over today's selections of Senate leaders appeared to have faded before the caucus opened. Earlier Senator Thurman Biddinger, of Marion, made a bid for the caucus chairman post, against (Continued on Page Six)

U. S. PROTEST GIVEN SPAIN ON TANGIER

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (U. PJ). —The State Department announced today that the United States had lodged formal representations with the Spanish Government cover the action of Spanish military authorities in taking over control of ‘the International Zone at Tangiers last

weeks THe British Government also had lodged representations with the Spanish Government, notifying the Franco regime that it would not permit fortification of Tangiers which might threaten control of the Straits of Gibraltar, The American representations were made by American Ambassador Alexander Weddell at Madrid, upon cabled instructions from the State “Department.

STOCKS IRREGULAR NEW YORK, Nov, 15 (U. P.), — Stocks fluctuated irregularly today. Trading was slower than yesterday's pace. Many special issues gained on dividend and income news.

ETHEL MERMAN WED NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (U, P.), — ' Ethel Merman, musical comedy star, and William Smith, Hollywood agent, were married in Elkton, Md, at noon today, according to word received here. It was the first marriage for both.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Autos L...dee Comics ..ees Crossword ... Editorials ... Fashions ..... Financial .... Flynn Forum ...... Gallup Poll .. Homemaking. In Indpls. ... Inside Indpls. Jane Jordan..

Takes the Helm

William E. Jenner , . . he looks to 1944.

SUSPECT SEIZED DURING HOLDUP

Sent to Cafe to Quell Drunk, Officers Foil Gunman’s Plans.

Ten years of practical police experience stood Patrolman Charles Rusler in good stead last night when he found himself face to face with a bandit who pressed a gun against the officer’s stomach. Deftly, Patrolman Rusler seized the bandit’s gun hand and twisted it so that the gun pointed at the floor, Then he and his partner, Patrolman Arthur Schlangan, disarmed and captured the man, The scene was the Old Vienna Cafe, 111 E. Court St. Some one had called Headquarters from there, asking help because a drunk was pushing people around. By the time the patrolmen arrived a man they identified as William Hickman, alias Van Meter, had produced a revolver and had lined patrons and employees along the bar. However, he was standing in such a way that the officers could not see

man did not see or hear the police enter. oa He did not know they were there, and the police did not know he held a gun until Patrolman Rusler was immediately behind him and Hickman whirled and put the gun in the officer’s stomach, After Hickman had been disarmed and subdued, it was discovered that he was out on $5000 bond, and scheduled for trial next Tuesday in Criminal Court on a charge of armed robbery in connection with a taxicab stickup. Hickman is held on a $10,000 bond on a vagrancy charge.

FAST CONFIRMATION OF MILLIS EXPECTED

Madden Nominated to U. S. Court of Claims.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (U. P.). —President Roosevelt today nominated Dr. Harry A. Millis of Chicago as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, succeeding J. Warren Madden, whose term expired in August. At the same time Mr. Roosevelt sent to the Senate the nomination of Mr. Madden to a $12,500-a-year judgeship on the U. S. Court of Claims. The NLRB post pays $10,000. Dr. Millis, 67-year-old educator and veteran labor arbiter who was born at Paoli, Ind., was named for a five-year term ending Aug. 27, 1945. “Speedy Senate approval of his nomination was expected. Mr. Madden’s reappointment to the NLRB was sought by President John L. Lewis of the C. I. O., but bitterly opposed by President William Green of the A. F. of L. Mr. Green said he was “perfectly agreeable” to Mr. Millis’ nomination. It was believed that C: I. O. leaders would register no strong objection to the Hoosier.

By ROGER BUDROW Indianapolis has saved more money for Christmas shopping this year than ever before. : The unprecedented total, as reported by 31 banks in the city and county, is $1,234,998. That exceeds by more than a quarter million dollars the amount Indianapolis Christmas Savings Club members put aside last year. Another record was smashed this year, too. There were 5672 more members in the savings clubs than last year. The banks reported they had 31,840 Christmas accounts this year compared to 26,158 last year. Final payments to Christmas clubs are due by the end of this week in most instances,

. Johnson ..... 22(State Deaths. 9]

Speedway State Bank will lead off

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he was holding a gun, and Hick-|.

TRAFFIC DEATH GANIS LAID TO AUTO INCREASE

More Cars Plus More Mileage Means More Accidents, Police Claim.

By RICHARD LEWIS Two sets of figures today told a disheartening story of Indianapolis traffic:

Traffic deaths to Nov. 15, 1939. 47 Deaths to date this year 1

What's the reason for this drastic mortality speedup on Indianapolis streets? No one pretends to know the full answer. But one statistical fact is clear. Although there have been more deaths in the first 10 months of this year than in all of 1939, traffic accidents involving injuries are running about the same as last year.

Injuries in 1939 ........... Injuries to date in 1940.......

That means a higher percentage of traffic accidents are fatal this year than last. And the big question is “why?” Police have a theory. At least part of the answer, they think, may be found in the fact that there are more cars on city streets this year than last . , . than ever before.

License Plates Increase

The State issued 5504 more sets of license plates in Marion “ounty this year than last. In Indiana, the license plate increase was 36 000. Indianapolis, of course, is affected by state-wide traffic. . The additional cars are. driving more miles. Approximately 37,000,000 more gallons of gasoline were sold in Indiana in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period of last year. More cars plus more miles equal a greater incidence of gccidents, injuries and deaths. That's part of the situation. What's being done about it? »

Teaching More Children

Nothing spectacular. But official and civic agencies are redoubling their efforts to slow down the march of traffic deaths. The Police Accident Prevention Bureau is teaching more school children how to survive in traffic. Police know that unless this instruction gets across, one schoolchild in three will have a serious or fatal traffic accident before reaching the age of 21. That's the way traffic (Continued on Page Six)

Not the Way They Planned It

AFTER YEARS OF planned meetings that dragged on into the afternoon, the Park Board two weeks ago concocted and adopted a new plan of action, It was to (1) meet promptly at 9:30 a. m.; (2) interview employees from then until 10; (3) eliminate all personal conversa tions and tend strictly to board business from 10 to 11; (4) interview any community groups between 11 and 12; and finally (5) adjourn promptly at noon. The first meeting since then was held today. The following things happened: The board did not show up until after 10; (2) there was a good deal of personal small talk and the only employee waiting to be heard left before a hearing; (3) general business got under way sometime near 11; and finally (4) the meeting dragged well into the afternoon.

HULA FOR AUSTRALIANS HONOLULU, Nov. 15 (U, P)., — Three hundred Australian and New Zealand fliers and mechanics, forbidden to come ashore ‘because they were uniformed belligerents, were entertained aboard their ship today by 16 hula girls and native musicians. The fliers are en route to Canada aboard the CanadianAustralian liner Awatea to complete their training,

by mailing its checks to club members on Nov. 18—next Monday. But the big flood will come Monday, Dec. 2, when all the other banks are to return savings to club members. Checks will be mailed by all banks with two exceptions. Northwestern State Bank and Central State Bank patrons are to collect their Christmas savings in person at the banks. This was the first year the Indiana National Bank had a Christmas Club. It enrolled 220 members who saved approximately $85,000. Fletcher Trust Co club members topped the list. Some 14,000 members deposited $525,000, that compared with 13,000 members and $475,000 last year Some bankers reported their increases this year came because more

people had Christmas Club accounts.

On Mediterranean Beat

This British battleship, its side. bristling with guns, is one ef the

reasons why the Italian Navy remained snuggled in

where the English fliers flew in to

Taranto Harbor spread-damage. © :

Reporter Tells How British Trapped Snug Italian Fleet

Planes, Entering Taranto to Drive Out Il Duce’s Ships, Remained to Effect Their Destruction.

By RICHARD

C. M’'MILLAN

United Press Staff Correspondent WITH THE BRITISH MEDITERRANEAN FLEET, Nov. 14 (Delayed) —It can be told now that when the air arm of the fleet bombed Taranto Harbor Monday night most of Italy’s Navy—hundreds of fighting ships of all sizes and descriptions—were riding.at anchor there. And lined up in.battle array, just outside the harbor, virtually the whole British Mediterranean fleet—rows of battleships, cruisers, destroyers

BOY HERO OF HOLDUP IS INJURED BY AUTO

Robert Neffle “Unconscious In Oxygen Tent.

An Indianapolis boy hero lay in an oxygen tent at Methodist Hospital today, unconscious from traffic accident injuries, and fighting for his life.

He is Robert H. NefTle, 14, of 355 W. 30th St., who, four years ago, tracked a streetcar baudit and brought about his arrest. For this he was rewarded by Indianapolis Railways, Inc. Last night, Robert, who has long been interested in mechanics, had ridden a homemade one-cylinder gasoline propelled scooter from his home to his old neighborhood, ‘in the 40s around Boulevard Place. On his way home he was struck by a car at 42d St. and Boulevard Place. Robert received a basal skull fracture and probably other serious injuries. He has not regained consciousness. He is a pupil in 8A at School 43. Four years ago he was riding his bicycle and saw a man get off a street car carrying a gun. The man ran down an alley and Robert followed on his bicycle. Several blocks further on, after the man had concealed the gun and slowed to a walk in the belief that he had eluded all pursuers, Robert notified a pedestrian who called

police. The man was captured.

Here's Another Bright Note for City Stores:

and other craft stretching for 25 miles—stood in wait. The airplanes were sent in pri-

marily to rout the Italians from their sung harbor for a fight. The destruction they did with bombs and aerial torpedoes was to have been only incidental to a naval battle such: as the world never had seen, if the Italians had accepted the challenge. They didn’t accept it even though their force outnumbered the British even when ‘the airplanes got through with them.

I saw and heard the airplanes take the challenge to Taranto from the deck of a British heavy cruiser. The fliers did their job, and all but two of the planes came back. Then, like a policeman on the beat, we steamed back and forth between the Greek islands and the heel of the Italian boot for more than 24 hours waiting for the Italian ships to come out. They never did. The British stand before Taranto was the final phase of a 3000-mile sweep of the Mediterranean, from end to end. I accompanied it all the (Continued on Page Three)

4 HURT AS ROOF OF THEATER COLLAPSES

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 15 (U. P.).— Four persons were slightly injured but nearly 200 others escaped -without harm last night when the roof of the Alvin Theater collapsed and fell to the basement of the building. Warned by plaster which began to fall at least 25 minutes before the roof gave way, ushers saved all but four of the small dinner-hour crowd from harm by herding them back under the steel-pillared balconies and roping off the danger area.

Christmas Savings Spurt Quarter of Million

Others reported a greater proportion of larger accounts than formerly. It was conceded generally that the increase is due to the fact that more people had jobs or better-paying jobs than last year, In the past it has been found that 32.4 per cent of the nation’s Christmas savings will be spent on Christmas gifts. On that basis, about $400,000 will be spent here in yuletide shopping. On an average, the nation put 26.7 per cent into permanent savings, 14 per cent for year-end bills, 9.7 per cent for taxes, 9.3 per cent for insurance premiums, 4.2 per cent for education, travel and charity, 2.3 per cent forr mortgage interest and

1.4 per cent for other purposes, 73 t 4 .

Every American should know -what Hitler is preparing for the world! How he intends to undermine our Government. What is the real purpose of the German-Amer-ican Bund? All these questions are answered in “The Voice of Destruction”

In The Times

Beginning Monday

BRITAIN DEALS NEW HAVOC IN RAID ON BERLIN

Greeks Near Main Italian Supply Base; Wait Axis Mediterranean Blow.

By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor

A fleet of 500 German airplanes unloaded a million pounds of explosives on the British airplane center at Coventry, Royal Air Force bombers hammered again at Berlin and Greek troops today were reported endangering Italian Army supply lines in

Albania.

The Nazi 10-hour “earthquake” attack on historic Coventry, resulting in 1000 civilian casualties, was one of the most terrific aerial assauits of the war on a comparatively small industrial target, but the London’ Air Ministry said that British bombs falling the same night on the German capital had set fire to railroad stations and the Tempelhof airdrome. Hamburg, Bremen Attacked In addition to giving Berlin the worst raid of the war, the British Air Ministry said its bombers attacked Hamburg and Bremen and 26 enemy-occupied airdromes, harbors and shipping in ports from Narvik, Norway, to Lorient, France. R. A, F. fliers said great fires in Berlin were visible 30 miles away. Intensification of the aerial war and new advances by the Greek Army that reportedly threatened to sever the main road from the besieged Italian base of Koritza to the sea appeared to mark the beginning of a new phase of war. British sources, considering Adolf Hitler's conferences with the Soviet Premier, a journey by the Spanish Foreign Minister to Paris and a conference of German and Italian military leaders today at Innsbruck, were prepared for an (Continued on Page Three)

BANDIT GETS $700 AT UNIONS OFFICE

Cashier Thinks Fast but Ruse Fails.

A Hhandit escaped with $700 in funds of the United Rubber Workers’ Union 110 this afternoon despite the nervy atempt of a quick-think-ing cashier to foil him. The bandit walked into the union’s office at 203 S. Noble St. drew a revolver and forced the cashier, Miss Catherine Inman, to let him in the cashier’s cage. There he scooped up $700 in currency and forced Miss Inman to go to the phone and call a taxicab. While waiting for the cab, the bandit sat and talked to her. When Robert Collins, 23, of 58 S. Chester St., walked in to pay dues, the bandit ordered Miss Inman to wait on him. On the receipt, the cashier wrote: ‘Call police—I'm being held up.” A moment after Mr. Collins left to call police, the taxicab arrived and the bandit escaped.

Promised LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6a.m, .... 23 10am. .... 24 Ya.m ...- 24 11am .... 2% S8a.m..... 22 12 (noon) .. 29 9a.m..... 23 1p.m.....30:

Some relief from the current cold wave, which is unusual, but not unheard of in weather history, will come tomorrow night, the Weather Bureau predicted today. But tonight will be somewhat colder, with the lowest temperature between 15 and 20. The lowest of the last 12 hours, was 22 at 8 a. m. today. Temperatures here today were 14 degrees below normal, but the same condition existed over much of the United States. In Florida, for instance, temperatures were 10

to 30 degrees below normal and in Oklahoma 26 degrees below normal. )

hair. Gis Today it had joined the

STRIKE CLOSES ~ PLANE PLANT

Work Halted on 80-Million Defense Orders at. Vultee Factory on Coast.

DOWNEY, Cal,, Nov, 15 (U, P.).— A strike over demands for a wage increase today closed the big Vultee aircraft plant and stopped work on $80,000,000. worth of orders for warplanes for the United States and Great Britain. ’ The strike—first in a plant working on vital defense needs since the defense program caused a step-up in production—was called by the United Automobile Workers. Union leaders said 3000 of the 3700 production workers joined the walkout. An increase of 25 cents an hour in minimum wage scales was demanded. i The night force started the strike at 7 a. mi. (Indianapolis Time) when the men laid down their tools and filed out of the big plant. Orders to form a picket line were blared from a sound truck and within a few minutes the men were picketing every gate of the big plant. - When day shift workers arrived they took over picket duties and at 7:30 a. m. the union said 1300 men were “on the line.” Wives of the workers manned portable kitchens and served breakfast and hot coffee. There were no demonstrations. “It is quite obvious that the plant will be unable to operate,” a company official told the men. “The plant it tied up tighter than a drum.” The National Defense Commission in Washington was in constant touch with the situation.

GREEN SAYS A. F. L. IS UNITED IN DEFENSE

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 15 (U. P.). —President ‘William Green today pledged full assistance of the American Federation of Labor to the national defense program and to supplying war materials to Great Britain, but slapped at the C. I. O. in so doing. “A spirit of harmony, unity and goodwill prevails at this convention that is in sharp contrast with the rebel, rival movement that is meeting in another city,” Greén told the annual convention of the building and construction trades department

of the Federation.

‘Some Relief’ From Cold

City Tomorrow

The first snow of the year floated down on Indianapolis yesterday, but only the sharp eyes saw it. It was merely a trace, although some sidewalks were pale with it this morn-

ing. ¢ The cold spell caught many motorists unprépared, and even today a good many of the filling stations were working at top speed to ptrotect cars against freezing up. The Weather Bureau in Chicago reported: Warm wind soyt of the southwest today drove numbing cold from the Great Plains and slowly moved eastward over the Central States, Masses of warm air, originating on the Rocky Mountains’ eastern slopes, hoisted temperatures from 30 to 35 degrees in some sections of North and South Dakota, melting

SNOW over some Creat Plains reas,

AIRCRAFT PLANTS RUINED BY MILLION POUNDS OF

PLOSIVES, BERLIN SAYS

Famous Cathedrals, Churches and Hospitals ~ Struck as Aerial ‘Earthquake’ Crashes

Down on City of 167,000.

COVENTRY, Nov. 15 (U. P.).—Squadron after squad. ron of German airplanes dive-bombed this ancient indus trial city for 1014 hours in an attack which ended early today, leaving at least 1000 casualties and wrecking the town as thoroughly as an earthquake. Five hundred Nazi planes were reported to have taken part in the continuous all-night attack, dropping an esti« mated total of a million pounds of high explosives. The survivors of the Nazi air fury today wandered through broken streets and row after row of houses and buildings shattered to matchwood and rubble by the ex« plosion of thousands of bombs. : : The history of this present-day industrial center of 167,000 population dates back to a medieval past brightened by the famous ride of Lady Godiva clad only in her golden

company of such targets of

the German Luftwaffe as Warsaw and Rotterdam,

Nazi bombers roared over in formations that swooped in dive-bombing attacks every,

three minutes, released theig

cargo of explosives and . zoomed again to head back ta a home base, » 4rd

Houses Wrecked for Blocks T¥ .

The thousands of high explosive bombs and incendiary missiles rained

down upon hospitals, churches, ho« tels, theaters. banks, stores, offices and block-after-block of homes of Coventry’s thousands of factory workers and middle class families, Today it seemed that every street in the city was pocked by bomb craters. In some places the bombs had fallen so thickly that it was almost impossible to tell where the street once had been and where the rows. of little houses had stood. Observers could stand on long streets and as far as the eye could see every house on both sides had been damaged or blasted to bits by bombs.

Cathedral's Beauty Gone

In the heart of Coventry thers stood at sunset last night a cathee dral—St. Michael’'s—a masterpiece of the light and lacely Gothic. Its central tower rose 303 feet from the pavement, a marker plainly visible over the low rooftops of houses and factories. ! Today that tower, spattered and pock-marked, still: stood, but the rest of the cathedral was a pile of mortar, glass, timbers and dust at the tower’s foot. Rescue workers rushing into the stricken town from the adjoining industrial cities of the western Midlands—a | region comparable to that of Pittsburgh or northern Ohio in the United States—said the town looked as thaugh it had been shaken to pieces by un earthquake.

People Wander in Streets 1

Through the streets people wane dered, many of them walking about with the aimless, vacant stare of those stricken by a tragedy which the mind could not yet compre= hend. Some stood beside the few relics of their household goods, snatched from a burning home amid the rain of bombs and anti-aircraft’ shrapnel during the hours before: dawn, Others poked about in the jums= bled wreckage of what had been their homes, looking for some few articles which might be salvaged. Enemy aircraft were reported again this afternoon over the Midlands district but after the hell of the night and early morning there were few who paid heed to mere “reports” of enemy planes. Families huddling in the base ments of their homes and backyard garden shelters were forced to flee from their houses when incendiary bombs started huge fires that leaped from house to house.

Revenge For Munich Blow

Many families, driven from their houses by fire, made their way to public air raid shelters. Bombs crashed down on four such shelters, taking a heavy toll of life but authorities said more persons would have been killed nad they stayed in their homes. No reports indicated what damage had been inflicted upon the aire craft factories and industrial estabe lishments which employ the bulk of Coventry's population. HE Berlin, however, referring to “greatest raid in the history of aerial warfare,” claimed that all large and small airplane factories had been virtually wiped out. The Gers man report said that the Morris, Bristol, Rotler and Napier airplane factories had been blasted. ! The Nazis made it plain that the attack was in revenge for the British

(Continued on Page Farka)