Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 December 1940 — Page 1
FINAL | "HOME |
4
FORECAST: Cloudy tonight and tomorrow; not much change in ‘temperature; lowest tonight, about 35.
{ SCRIPPS — HOWARD §
VOLUME 52—NUMBER 251
EEP SHIPS HO
Convoys to Ireland Would Run Risk of Being Sunk, Papers Say
Vg
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1940
oS
Entered as Second-Class Mattef at Postoffice, Indianapolis, lnk
a
Ernie Pyle in England
{He's Impressed by
Village's Serenity
: By ERNIE PYLE I ENGLAND (BY WIRELESS)—When our plane landed from’ Lis- ! bon a score of British officials, all in raincoats and boots, came out in a motorboat and looked everything over, and a doctor took up the
forms we had filled out. Then we
all got into the boat.
The men chatted with us all the way to shore, and everything was pleasant. They said they would try to get us through the inspection in time to catch the mid-afternoon
train to London,
but they couldn’t promise.
It was raining. We walked a hundred yards along the docks, then into the main street of the little town. There were soldiers on the street, carrying tins hats and gas masks. There were women In
khaki uniforms,
and many people on bicycles.
All, the store windows were crisscrossed with
‘strips of paper.
This tends to prevent shattering
from the concussion of bombs exploding in the neighborhood. Strips of many colors, pasted in many designs, made the town look as though it had
been decorated
Ernie Pyle up for the war.
I wish you could see that village street.
for Christmas instead of patched It is
exactly like a picture from a Dickens novel—the gabled buildings, the language of the signs, the smoke from the chimneys were all the pure England of fiction, so peaceful, neat and secure. I had not been ashore
three minutes before I was in love
with England.
We were escorted to a big ground-floor room, the temporary office
of the British Overseas Airways.
There were easy chairs and couches
and a coal fire in the grate, and a boy in the corner was serving hot
tea.
It took us two hours to get through all the inspections. We were.
taken one at a time into a room where two men questioned us.
They
asked about our purpose in coming, about our money, about whom we knew, and so on. It was by no means a grilling. They did it in a way that made you feel you were just sitting there chatting. The procedure was more than courteous; it seemed genuinely friendly.
"And So the Final Leg of Our Journey Began’
AT E= that they went through
our baggage minutely. They even
read our letters. But so great is English courtesy that the cus- . toms man asked me to take each letter from its envelope for him He evidently thought it would be prying for him to do so! ° And then as train time drew near he said we would have to hurry to catch it, so he closed the bags without finishing the inspection, gave us advice about trains and the blackout in London, and hustled us into
a waitin We
eeSAW. Do.evidence of it. ......
The suburb was like a continuation of the main street of that
car provided by the air line. rove for 15 minutes through a thickly settled suburb. They told us bombs had fallen in the street a few afternoons ago, but we
first town—neat as a pin, snug, comfortable and beautiful.
The train came right on schedule.
Its cars were divided into
compartments, which you enter from the station platform instead of from the end of the car as at home. The porter, an old man, stowed our bags away carefully and told us just when we would get to London. It would be after dark, he said, and the Germans would probably be
overhead before we got there, but
he said for us not to worry. And
so. the final leg. of our long journey began. ’ My very first impression of England was of lovely, courteous people. And I don’t mean so much just to us visitors as to each other.
_ It is true that they are especially
nice to Americans just now, but I
noticed that they were just as thoughtful among themselves,
"War Has Done a Lot to English Character’
Y only contact with English people before had been in the colonies. |
I has assumed that the ordinary Englishman had the same personality as those in far-off lands who gather in the clubs and hotels of an afternoon for their gin and tonic and. who consider themselves
superior to anything else on land
or sea. But the character of the
Englishman in mass, at home, bears no resemblance at all to that. : He always seems to have a pleasant little. remark to make. He is
interested instead of blase. being alive.
He is considerate, and he seems to enjoy
An English friend of mine says all this is true about his people. But he says further that it is truer now than ever before. He says
the war has done a lot for English character.
He says it has drawn
the people together, made them prouder of each other, made them humbler within themselves and hence both mellower and stronger. Anyway, I know that in all my traveling I have never visited ‘a new country that in a few hours filled me with the warmth that I feel for
England.
We rode in luxury on our way to London town. We rode in a private compartment. We smoked, and read London newspapers, and drank tea, and ate ham sandwiches. We traveled through a magnificently green countryside. The fields ore like parks than real farms. looksd ars a beautiful afternoon, not tao cold. If would rain a little while, then the sun would come out bright. : i Our first three hours in England had been so pleasant, the country (Continued on Page One, Second Section)
- Rain Falls on Most of U.s.: Errol Flynn's Yacht Is Safe
(Photo, Page Three)
By UNITED, PRESS
Rain fell over most of the United States today, with storms most “intense in the southeast corner and along the northern border. A new gale was reported forming 500 miles out in the Pacific as film actor Errol Flynn's yacht, unreported for 11 days with seven men aboard was forced back into Los Angeles harbor by the storm in mid-ccean. Mr. Flynn was not aboard, but had planned to join the crew in
NO INTERRUPTION TO SPRING’ IS FORECAST
Temperature of 35 Is Likely For Tonight.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES 6a. m. .... 40 10 a. m.... 7a.m. .... 40 11 a. m.... 41 8a.m..... 39 12 (noon) .. 41 9a.m,,...40 1pm... . 41
41
If this keeps up, we should have spring by February. The Weatherman said today he could see no cold wave on the way to interrupt Indianapolis’ springtime winter, He predicted “not much change in femperature” tonight or tomorrow. He said it would be cloudy tonight and tomorrow with the lowest temperature tonight about 35.
AUTO KILLS PEDESTRIAN
HAMLET, Ind. Dec. 28 (U. P.).— Walter Sikoroski, 67, was killed last night as he walked along the highway near his home by an automobile driven by Orval Hanselman, of
op
|Daytona Beach. Alabama
Honolulu next week to make a film short.
The southern storm moved up from the Mississippi River delta and traveled northeastward over Alabama causing rainfall over tmost of the eastern half of the nation. The Weather Bureau hoisted warnings from the Virginia Capes to Block Island. : Along the southern coastal area east of Galveston, Tex., all shipping was halted because the wind had churned the Gulf into mountainous waves. High winds whipped the Florida coast and minor property damage was reported at Miami and power lines and buildings were reported wrecked. Rains continued falling on the West Coast, already drenched by a fall of several days. Rivers were running high, but damage reported was not extensive. Salvation Army kitchens were opened to feed workers and familes whose homes had been washed away at Redondo Beach, near Los Angeles. : " The disturbance which crossed the Washington coastalihe Thursday moved eastward over the Dakotas, carrying rain to the northern Rockies and plains states. The Middle West, caught between the southern and northern storms, reported rain and light snow with
slightly lower temperatures
DENS COMBINE T0 BALK THAT 6.0.P. KNIFING
Republicans Headed for Trouble, - Bays - Says; Court Fight Looms.
By NOBLE REED Democratic minority leaders in the Legislature have drawn their battle lines for a “last ditch” fight against G. O. P. proposals to strip executive powers from Governorelect Henry F. Schricker. At a legislative caucus meeting here yesterday, Democratic leaders organized a minority:fight that may be taken to the Indiana Supreme Court if the Republican majority pushes through the Legislature its Reorganization bill, creating executive boards with G. O. P. controlling memberships. “The Republican leaders. are headed for trouble if they attempt to make governors out of the Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer and Lieutenant Governor,” declared State Democratic Chairman Fred F. Bays. “Under the State Constitution the Governor is the chief executive and the Legislature can’t change it.”
Can't Do If, Says Chambers
Under the proposed G. O. P. bill, the newly-elected officers, all of whom are Republicans except Mr. Schricker, would share about equally on four executive boards, controlling the State Government. “I've studied the Constitution for 25 years and I'm sure that the Legislature cannot legally strip the Governor of his powers to administer and enforce all the laws,” as-
-|serted State Senator Walter Cham-
bers, of New Castle. Others who attended the caucus were Mr. Schricker, State Senators Roger Phillips, of New Albany, minority floor leader; Charles H. Bedwell, of Sullivan; Walter Vermillion, of Anderson; Claude McBride, of Jeffersonville; Milford Miller, of Evansville; Von Eichorn, of Uniondale; Thomas Hendricks, of Indianapolis; Charles Morris, of Salem; Frank Seng, of Jasper; Blaze H. Lucas, of Gary, and Thomas Conroy, of Gary.
Agree on Legislation 1
They formally agreed to sponsor legislation discussed at a previous |caucus three weeks ago. These Democratic bills include proposals for fixing a limit of $100,000 on the campaign expenses of any state political organization and $100 per 1000 population for county committees; repeal of the poll tax law; a state-wide primary law for nomination of all state candidates, and free textbooks for schools. Meanwhile, State Republican Chairman Arch N. Bobbitt is expected to call the G. O. P. majority leaders in the Legislature for another caucus next Monday or Tuesday to complete drafts of their reorganization bills. -
HINT AGREEMENT ON GOUNTY PATRONAGE
Hohlt, Democrat, Meets With Republicans.
A bipartisan division of County Commissioners’ patronage reportedly was in the making today as one Democratic and three Republican officials went into conference. The conference, it was reported, was to perfect a working agreement between Harry F. Hohlt, Democratic holdover commissioner, and
missioner-elect. At present the Commissioners Board is composed of three Democrats—Mr. Hohlt, William A. Brown and John S. Newhouse, Mr. Brown and Mr. Newhouse were defeated for re-election. this year by Mr. Ayres and William Bosson Jr. Mr. (Continued on Page Three)
PRICE RISE SPREADS TO ALL STQCK GROUPS
NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (U. P).— War stocks were in demand today and the price increase spread to all groups, despite some profit-taking and selling for tax purposes. Trading was moderately active.
TIMES FEATURES -' ON INSIDE PAGES
Churches ose er 5 Music ese sane
Comics ....... 13|{Pegler........ Crossword .... 12| Questions .... Editorials ,... 8|Radio Financial ...,. Forum .....ess In Indpls. .... Inside Indpls.. Johnson .....
“ste ce
7| Society . 8 :
William T. Ayres, -Republican com- |
Clapper ....... 7|Obituaries ... 11 8 1 ¢| by President Roosevelt was sent to 9| Mrs. Roosevelt 7
8| Serial Story.. 13 3|Side Glances., 8
Sports ........ 10 Fd ol State Deaths. 11 | Mrs. Ferguson 8lAlL 5
with war.
Unmechanized War: Desert Push
BR
This striking scene of contrasting light and shadow on Egypt's desert looks too placid to be connected Yet these Tommies and their donkeys, loaded with supplies, play a vital role in the British push against Ifaly’s desert legions. *
DIES AID ON WAY
Definitely Assigned to Probe _ Pelley Sale of Equipment To Losey.
A Dies Committee investigator was en route by plane to Noblesville today as Carl Losey, head of the Fellowship Press, Inc., prepared to publish the first issue of the firm’s new magazine. It was learned in Washington that the Dies agent definitely had been assigned to investigate the re-
ported sale by William Dudley Pelley, Silver Shirts founder, of his printing . equipment to Mr. Losey. The committee, however, did not
tor who. is on his way to Indiana from Texas.
Raps Subversive Groups
Mr. Losey said the first issue of the publication, reportedly to be known as “The Crusader,” might be off the presses by the first of next week. Mr. Pelley and Mr. Losey spend their time in Indianapolis and Noblesville now. . Meantime, Governor Townsend declared in a prepared statement that “there is no place in this state for Silver Shirts or any other subversive organization. “I feel that it is the opinion of the people of Indiana that there is no place in this state for any organizations or groups which advocate in principle, policies or practices any un-American doctrine,” the Governor asserted. He: did not mention by name. Denies Stephenson Report
Mr. Pelley’s organization, the Silver Shirts, branded a Fascist organization by the Dies Committee, also . charged with’ being antiSemitic. : It has been reported that D. C. Stephenson, former grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, turned down an offer to become connected with the Pelley-Losey enterprises. Stephenson hopes to be paroled soon from the Michigan City prison. Yesterday Mr. Pelley reportedly denied that such an offer had been made by him to Stephenson.
LEMONS IN LONDON START MARKET RIOT
LONDON, Dec. 28 (U..P.).—Shoppers today literally mobbed vendors selling newly arrived shipments of oranges and lemons, rarities in British markets. » At Croydon Market women exchanged blows their efforts to reach a vendor selling fruit. Hats were knocked off and clothes were ‘orn. The vendor, his hands scratched and bleeding, sought a policeman. When he returned the women had vanished—and so had his oranges and lemons.
GUARDSMEN CALLED FOR DUTY ON JAN, 17
Indiana's 6000 National Guardsmen will be called for service Jan. 17. Information of the order signed
Mr, Pelley
the Adjutant General's office today by . Secretary of War Henry Stimson. Induction of the 38th Division and the 113th Air Corps division of
oy
TONOBLESVILLE|
release the name of the investiga-|
‘apolis, are fhe architects and en-
6 Boys Lose 6’ Guns in 3 Days
SIX INDIANAPOLIS boys today lost the custody of six BB guns—three days after Christmas. Mrs. Harry C. Hopp, 1053 E. Ohio, told police. that two windows in her house were broken by BB shot. Police rounded up four boys with four guns, disarmed them and turned the weapons over to the boys’ mothers for future ‘custody. ‘Mrs. Margaret Smythe, 3142 Guild Ave, reported that a plate glass window in her house had been damaged by BB shot. Police rounded up two armed boys and disposed of the weapons in the . same manner.
CITY FIRM GETS HUGE ARMY JOB
J. L. Simmons Co. to Build Most of Madison, Ind., Proving Ground.
A contract. for the bulk of the construction of the Madison, Ind. ordnance proving ground has been awarded an Indianapolis firm, the J. L. Simmons Co. Inc. general con-. tractors. The War Department said the $4,183,770 contract will be shared by the J. C. O'Connor & Son, Inc, Ft. Wayne. From other sources, however, it was learned that the total contract will be approximately $8,000,000, with possibly two-thirds going to the Simmons concern. Russ & Harrison, also of Indian-
gineers. | Administrative and employment offices will be set up at Madison. Construction will include 120 miles of railroad track and sewer, water and lighting systems. Key men of the Simmons organization already are at Madison, W. E. Mohler, vice: president and general manager, said. He added that the O'Connor firm. will construct the roads and lay the railroad tracks. The Simmons company was conractor for the International Harvester plant here and the Coliseum. The War Department also placed orders for $272,323 worth of pack saddles with the Jefferson, Ind. quartermaster depot and for $127,000 worth of artillery ammunition with the U. 8. Machine Corp., Lebanon,
ARMY MAY SEND BRITISH PLANES
Destroyers Also Mentioned . In ‘Tide-Over’ Program Studied by U.-S.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (U. P)). —Administration quarters are considering informally the feasibility of .supplying Great Britain with some Army planes and additional destroyers to “tide them over” until American armaments production
picks up, it was learned today. The plan originated among officials concerned with the defense program and British aid but has not yet been submitted to President Roosevelt for a decision. Whether the proposal—certain to face at least nominal opposition from some generals and admirals—will win Mr. Roosevelt's ultimate approval is a matter of conjecture and may hinge on war developments. The proposal stems from a prevalent belief in many Government circles that the next few months will be critical for Britain and that there is an acute need to supplement British arms orders with existing equipment. : Tomorrow at 8:30 p. m. Mr. Roosevelt goes on the air to report to the nation on the “present emergency” and to give some specific information on administration plans to help Britain—including his
own plan for the United States to|
loan or lease war materials to the British. At the same time he may answer scattered Senatorial suggestions that he sound out the European belligerents on the feasibilty of a peace movement at the present time. He declined at his press conference (Continued on Page Three)
Wartime Golf Rules Posted
LONDON, Dec. 28 (U. P.).—A golf club near London has posted the following wartime rules: “l. The position of known delayed action hombs will be marked by red flags placed.at a reasonable but not guaranteed safe distance. “2. A ball removed by enemy action may be replaced as near as possible to where it lay, or if lost or destroyed, another ball may be dropped not nearer the hole without penalty. “3. Competitors during gunfire or while bombs are falling, may
Ind. /
take cover without penalty.”
From Union
CHICAGO, Dec. 28 (U. P.).— “King” Alexander the First of the Kingdom of Alexander was held under $1000 bond in Chicago today Federal authorities were
cession” as grounds for draft evasion. * Te : The “King,” Alexander Reichert,
simply « because he didn’t register under the provisions of the tive service act ‘en Oct, 16. I when he gave ‘his for n
were
the a
dubious about the “right of se-|
tein, O., was arrested |
'King' Alexander Secedes
fo Avoid Draft
snag when it came to location for the kingdom, but wrote the Secretary of State.asking for a strip o land, just anywhere, and “tem porary right of habitation.” . Thus far, he told U. S. Commissioner Edwin K. Walker, the a Tar ft “I've never had a country app before me,’
selec- | “Case contin But.
_ PRICE THREE CENTS -
/ iy |
SEAWAR
‘Yes, Say Diplomats in
Answer to Wheeler Request. By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS Times Foreign Editor |
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.— The quickest and surest way for the
IS KEY,
BRITISH CLAIM; | LONDO COULD DEMAND FOR PEACE GET| USINTOFIGHT?!
RAIDED
Bulgaria Spurns Pact; Norwegian, French’ Ports Bombed.
By JOE ALEX MORRIS
United Press Foreign News Editor The Axis press today raised a chorus of warning to the United States against any new plan to aid Great Britain, particularly any attempt to utilize Ireland as a gateway
for American supplies, and | British sources again emphasized their view that the war
at sea now. overshadows all other fronts.
United States to become involved in the European war, in the opinion of some of the more level-headed advisers of the Administration, is
Britain,
Senator Burton K. Wheeler (Di Mont.) has suggested that “the President should make a determined effort to bring the warring nations. together” before any additional aid is granted to Britain, “He should insist that a just peace be worked out.” |
have two agreed to a negotiated peace until both were convinced that the cons
mate. The present war, it is almosi universally agreed, has not entereci any such phase. !
Horns of a Dilemna
Peace at. this time, therefore, would be possible only under ore of two conditions: ! 1. Britain might have peace bj agreeing pretty much to Hitler's terms, by participating in another Munich. i 2. Germany can have peace by quitting while she holds most of the high cards. If she would get ouf of Norway, Denmark, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Holland, Belgium -and France, Britain might possibly put her name on the dotted line. But few, if any, well-posted officials here believe that either Ger: many or Great Britain is prepare to consider any such proposal &: this time. . ] For Britain to quit now, she would almost certainly have to abandon her €riends on the Continent. For Germany to quit, she would have to give up the domination of all Europe, Africa and the Near East which she now believes (Is within her grasp.:
Pressure Would Be Needed
Were the United States, therefore, now: to try to “force peace in Europe’—a phrase attributed to the anti-war group here—it would have to resort to some kind of pressure. There are no indications, hoviever, that the Administration is planning to make itself responsible for any peace overtures at this time. Before it acts, it will have to have some very definite information thiit one side or the other is ready jo cease firing. il
Ses 1.
OIL TANKER IS SUNK; 9IN U.S. CREW LOST
Ship Believed Sent Down By Raider or U-Boat. =
NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (U. P.).—A radio message from the captain of the Standard Oil Co. tanker Charles
Pratt revealed early today that dill but two members of the 42-min American crew were rescued whin the ship sank off the African coast last Saturday. i Cause of the sinking was not mentioned in the message from Capt. E R. Blomquist of Severn, Md., to the offices of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, whose subsidiary, the Panama Transport Co., operated the tanker under the Panamanian fig. It was believed, however, that a Geiman submarine or surface raiger attacked the ship, ; lost, according to
for Washington to deliver a peace: “ultimatum” to Germany and Great
- Never in history, it is pointed out,| powerful antagonists
flict had become a hopeless stale:
£(U. S. FAMILY SPENDS iper, |
[cA synchronized, campaign burst forth in the press of both Italy and ‘Germany attacking suggestions that
‘the United States might send British
‘supplies to Eire in American. vessels for re-shipment to Britain.
An authorized Nazi spokesman
| said that the German press—in
declaring that if United States ships sailed in or out of convoy to Ireland they were liable to be sunk—had
the correct proportions.” He said he had “nothing to add thereto.” Japan’s Entry Hinted “Virginio = Italian commentator, asserted that
such a move would violate U. 8. neutrality and warned that any
the United States would bring Japan into the war under the terms of the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo military alliance. !
States seizure of Axis ships American ports would be a violas tion of neutrality. The Axis comments were said to be based on suggestions which had appeared in the American press that.some such move as the Ireland trans-shipment ‘plan was. contemplated in order to aid Britain in her fight against the German countere blockade. The invocation by Gayda again of the threat of Japanese entry into the war directed attention to unconfirmed rumors from Manila that German ships in Japanese and Jap-
armed and provisioned for possible raiding activity against British shipping in the Pacific.
“War of Nerves” Resumed
A Pacific raider, presumably Gere man but flying the Japanese colors, shelled the isolated island of Nauru in the South Pacific yesterday. The Manila report alleged that some German ships had already slipped quietly out of Japanese ports, pos
sibly to rendezvous with Nazi sea
raiders already in ''ie area. The British re-emphasis on the importance of the war at sea was offered by way of comment on the current flurry of rumors and ree ports from Europe and particularly the Balkans of German troop movements. : London attributed these reports ;t0 a new war of nerves and suge gested that many of them were German inspired in _ hope that Britain will disperse her forces. Other developments in the war today: : A heavy fleet of German bombers
night in the most punishing attack (Continued on Page Three)
DELAYS SENTENCING OF QUINN, BLUESTEIN
The” sentencing of Thomas’ M. Quinn Sr., former Center Towne ship Trustee, and Frank Blues stein, former ‘relief grocer, was postponed today until 9:30 a. m, Tuesday by William BE. judge pro tem in Criminal pS Quinn has pleaded guilty ‘to ofe ficial neglect and Bluestein to a charge of filing a false relief claim and false pretense. ? The delay was requested by Judge Reiley, who said he had been so busy with another case in ‘which he is a defense attorney that he fas 0} had Sine to study a physis cian’s re on Quinn's physical condition. : BAUER
Reiley, ‘Court.
,
$310 YEARLY ON FOOD
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (U. BP.
| —The average
, D spends. $123 exch year in
TA hy Le bs TAR
SR
“clearly discussed the situation in:
flagrant violation of neutrality by :
- Gayda also said - that United in
anese-controlled harbors are being.
bombed London for four hours last
VA TOR A Nl Ny iy HE 5!
Aa
EE LRA
rg CT
~“Gayds, authoritative = TH
Eins SEA NA RIN ON Se
ak REET
RE
a
J Sul