Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 February 1941 — Page 1
The Indianapolis.
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VOLUME 52—NUMBER 300
Leland Stow ~Duce’s Blunder Forcing Hitler Into Long Risks’
Leland Stowe has just returned to the United ‘States after 17
By LELAND STOWE Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Inc.
When 1 left Athens earl
y in January, Benito Musso-
lini was washed up and slapped down. Under the: coordinated blows of the inspired Greek Army and the extraordinarily effective
squadrons of
the Royal Air Force from the
British Middle-East command, the “in-
vincible legio
ns” of fascism had already
lost the Albanian war.
The fierce
e frosts of the Albanian win-
ter alone saved them from complete disaster, and that seemed merely postponed. Adolf Hitler was the only person who could
Mr. Stowe reverse this
decision. Today the situa-
tion is much the same, save for one big difference: Mussolini’s ‘colossal blunder has compelled Hitler to take very long risks in the one region where he has most wished to preserve tranquillity—namely, in the Balkans.
If the Nazis complete their occupation of Bulgaria and
“HALF OF
FDR ASKS NEW ARMY BILLIONS
Requests $3,812,311,197 For Air Corps Expansion And Other Defenses.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (U. P.). —President Roosevelt today asked Congress for additional Army appro-
priations and contract authorizations totaling $3,812,311,197. The request included $888,236,000 cash and $524,025,000 in contract authority for expansion of“the air corps. There was no breakdown on how the air corp allotment would be spent. But informed sources believed the air corps program called for 15,600 additional planes, including trainers, fighters and bombers. This would boost to 34,600 the Bumber of Army ‘platies now on order.
May Total $5,400,000,000
The new requests were reported to be the first portion of supplemental Army requests for the current fiscal year which are expected to reach about $5,400,000,000. Several of the items in the President’s request today previously had been included in the 1942 budget, which he submitted to Congress . early in January. Apparently because of the seriousness of the emergency, the President today requested they be added to the current budget for immediate use instead of waiting until the start of the new fiscal year July 1. An additional $600,000,000 in cash for speeding cantonment construction, expanding the Army air corps and bolstering Panama Canal and Alaskan defenses, is embodied in the fourth supplemental appropriations bill which the House Appropriations Committee plans to report to the House Wednesday. Floor consideration is tentatively scheduled for the same day.
Force of 2,000,000 Indicated
That bill also contains $898,000,000 cash requested by Mr. Roosevelt to strengthen American naval defenses, including base sites obtained from Britain in the Atlantic, and the eastern Pacific Islands of Guam and Samoa. The supplemental Army program is designed to provide full equipment for a potential force of 2,000,000 men, although only 1,418,000 actually are expected to be under arms by the end of the fiscal year, June 30. It would also boost the number of warplanes on order to 36,000, and double existing muni-tions-making facilities. The program would be so designed as to absorb some of Britain's arms requirements which may he met later under ‘the terms of the waraid bill
METHODIST PASTORS ASK LEND BILL GUARD
After a discussion lasting more than an hour and a half, Indianapolis District Methodist ministers today declared themselves against “the drift toward one-man govern- ' ment or dictatorship” in the leaselend bill and called upon Congress to amend it to permit Congress to participate in its administration. The ministers also declared themselves “against active "ous Tovored
in the European war,” but favor such aid to Britain as is possibl without risking “our safety and republican form of government.” The compromise motion drafted by the Rev. C. A. McPheeters and W. C. Calvert was debated heatedly and did not pass unanimously.
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
Movies Mrs. Ferguson 4 Music Obituaries. 2, Gi
Clapper seed 9 Comics seve 15 Crossword ... 14 Editorials ... 10 Fashions .... 12] Fin~ncial .... Pyle Flynn Questions. . Radio Mrs. Roosevelt 9 Serial Story.. 15
esseves
Forum ...... 10 Gallup Poll... 2 Homemaking. 12 In Indpls... 3| Side Glances 10 " Inside Indpls. 9 .. ne 12 Jane Jordan. 12 | Sports : Johnson
4Tobin to consider plans for mov-
attack Greece. upon her northern Thracian: boundaries, Germany will once more be fighting a war in , the west and a war in the southeast at one and the
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941
months’ service in most of the crucial sectors of the war, Freed of limitations of censorship and able to consider the whole picture from the campaign in Finland to the campaigns in
Greece and Libya, Mr. Stowe has
been asked to summarize his im-
pressions for the benefit of American readers. This is the first of his noteworthy dispatches.
same time. Will Hitler embark upon the dangerous gamble of a two-front war? If he does this at the expense of the gallant little Greeks, what are their chances of holding out? Can Hitler somehow put the breath of life back
into the strawman of Italian
fascism?
Before discussing present actualities and immediate possibilities of the Greek struggle, it may be well to recall some things which should not be forgotten: Such as the
apparently hopeless outlook
for Greece when we went
dashing down toward Athens the first week of the invasion, which was also the first week of November,
At that time, there was
scarcely a military expert in
the Balkans who gave the Greeks a Chinaman’s chance ¢ stopping the Fascist invaders. Nobody believed in the
UROPE TO AID US’--HITLE
House Changes Gas Tax Plan To Give Counties 40 Per Cent
a
Rep. H. H. Evans
TEAMSTERS’ UNION MAY MOVE FROM CITY
Tobin Told to Investigate Costs in Washington.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ headquarters probably will be moved from Indianapolis to Washington, President Daniel J. Tobin revealed today. The union's general executive board yesterday instructed Mr.
ing and to investigate printing costs, rentals and the cost of constructing a new headquarters in Washington. He is to report at the next meeting of the board in three or four months. At the same meeting, the board confirmed Mr. Tobin’s nomination of his assistant, John M. Gillespie, as vice president of the. international union to succeed Thomas L, Hughes Sr., who died last week. Mr. Gillespite has been a resident of Indianapolis 25 years. “It isn't that we want to leave Indianapolis,” Mr. Tobin said. “It’s a case of necessity. | “We are forced to spend much of our time in Washington as a result, of the enormous amount. of legisla~| tion pertaining to our union and the necessity. of dealing with the various governmental departments and boards in Washington having to do with interstate traffic.” _ The union, which has had its headquarters here since September, 1903, has about 60 hearquarters employees, spends about $100,000 a year here for printing supplies and has deposits of about $6,000,000 in Indianapolis banks.
DROPS DEAD IN HOTEL Fred Lutz, 416 W. 39th St, dropped dead in a downtown hotel room today. Death was due to a heart attack, according to Dr. J. M., Leffel, deputy coroner. Mr. Lutz, a pressman at The Indianapolis Star,
‘Black Top’ Controversy Is Revived in Bitter Floor Debate.
| The! HOPPET +secessesssss Page 3
Wage Bill PasseS....s.... Page 8
“The House changed its plan for redistributing gasoline tax funds today amid a bitter debate which ‘revived Indiana's “black top” controversy. The distribution of gasoline funds 101i has been an issue between the city representatives and those from the rural areas. Distribution in the past has been on a basis of two-thirds to the State Highway Commission, onethird to counties for county roads after a flat sum of $2,000,000 has been given the cities.
oH $65,000 for City mulated at the beginning of the session, would have made the ratio 55 per cent for the State Highway Commission and 45 per cent for
counties, with $3,000,000 going to ing
the cities. A flat appropriation of $65,000 would go to Indianapolis. Last week, the bill was on second reading and rural and urban representatives could not agree, so the
measure was made a special order
of business for today. Rep. Elmer C. Weller (R. Dale) presented a “compromise” which he said had been evolved after-confer-erices with “all parties concerned, including the Governor.” a 3-Point Plan
This plan. would: 1, Make the distribution 60 per cent for the State Highway Commission and 40 per cent for the ceunties. 2, Leave the $3,000,000 flat grant ta the cities, as in the original bill. 3. Indianapolis would receive 50 per cent of Marion County’s share; second class cities would receive 20 pér cent of their counties’ share; third and fourth class cities would réceive 10 per cent of their counties’ (Continued on Page Three)
FUNDS FOR DEFENSE TOWNS REQUESTED
FE. D. R. Asks Congress to ‘Appropriate 150 Millions.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (U. P.) — President Roosevelt today asked Congress for an appropriation of $50,000,000 to provide needed ‘“community facilities” in areas where the national defense program has caused sudden population increases. In some of these communities, the Fresident said, improved streets, additional water and sewerage systems and better health, safety and vielfare facilities are needed for “the riew workers and their families,” The Government already is trying tp provide housing for them. He said that the communities themselves cannot be expected to finance all the needed improve¢iients, and their lack has “handi-
was 49.
capped ‘eur rearmament effort in sbme areaSX
Vote Probers May Check Lake County Records There
Unless the Legislature is willing
th pay transportation costs for 15
tons of records, the 14-meniber legislative committee investigation
charges in the suit to unseat Governor Henry Schricker may have to ‘go to" Crown Point to conduct its hearing. Walter R. Mybeck, Lake Couhty Clerk, wrote to Senator Thurman Biddinger (R. Marion), chairman of
sible co-operation to assist you in determining the truth of the tharges ‘against the people of Lake wounty. The committee had set Wednesflay night for a ‘public hearing of tharges made by Virgil Whitaker, Hammond attorney, that more than 1500 aliens voted illegally in Lake County. Mr. Whitaker filed a petition in the House, setting out the charges and demanding a contest to unseat
o|the committee, that only a small
part of the voting records could ie| brought .to Indianapolis by him and
there to examine the evidence. Senator Biddinger said he would
call a meeting of his committee to
Selomine whether the trip will be!
i
Governor Schricker. Mr, Mybeck listed dozens of large
7 | suggested that the committee go| steel files that would have to be
{transported to Indianapolis if all the records were examined. He suggested that the committee | soulcl make photostatic copies of the |records they want and take them
10i State Deaths et ale Mybeck offered. rovey pos. ' back to Indianapolis,
GOP SALES TAX APPEARS DEAD
Tonight on Ways to Balance Budget.
Republican leaders reported today that they have “practically abandoned” plans for a sales tax and will caucus tonight to decide on alternative measures to balance the state’s $110,000,000 budget. The G. O. P. appeared to be split into two groups, one favoring some new type of taxes and the other demanding that they keep their party pledge to pass no new taxes. The group which has been favoring the sales tax plan is expected to offer a compromise in the form of a proposed increase of from 1 to 2 per cent on the Gross Income Tax
ah
“ite ‘plan for “cHanging this for-|
This ples would leave the sale for retailers reduced from 1 per cent to 1 of a per cent as provided in the administration bill now pend-
Those favoring the gross tax increase for wage earners claim the increase to 2 per cent would produce $16,000,000 more revenue in the next two years, enough to offset the loss in revenue from retailers and balance the budget. The group opposing any new taxes, composed mostly of the pol-icy-makers, are arguing that the budgets can be reduced materially and that increased business conditions will boost the revenues enough to avoid any deficit. They claim that if a deficit does appear certain during the next year, a special session of the Legislature could be called to make adjustments.
Report on Opposition
More than a dozen Republican legislators, following week-end conferences here and in their home districts, -reported to their leaders that they would have to “abandon the sales tax idea or suffer certain defeat in the 1942 election.” Senate leaders said G. O. P, attorneys are drafting amendments to the House-approved bill which cuts the rate for retailers to 12 of 1 per cent. They said the new proposals probably would be ready by tomorrow, but declined to reveal what changes would be made. The bill has been held by the Senate Finance Committee for several days. Meanwhile, Governor Henry F. Schricker termed as “childish buckpassing” charges made by Republicans during the week-end that their budget dilemma was caused by “years of reckless spending under Democratic rule.” In a formal statement yesterday, the G. O.P. charged that the “budgets have been built under years of reckless spending and rapid ex(Continued on Page Three)
Willkie to Talk
In Legislature
WENDELL WILLKIE, who returned last week to Rushville to rest, think and inspect his five farms, is to speak to a joint session of the Legislature tomorrow morning. Following the speech, Mr. Willkie is to leave for New York where he is to talk tomorrow night. The 1940 Republican Presidential candidate spent yesterday resting in Rushville at the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Cora Wilk. Following a reunion dinner with relatives Saturday evening in a Rushville hotel, Mr. Willkie and his brother Ed of Chicago, shot a -game of pool. The game drew a sizable gallery.
10 IN TRUCK DROWN MONTREAL, Feb. 24 (U. P.).— Provincial police announced that 10 men were drowned and five others saved today when -a truck owned by the R. Brunnelle Ice Co. crashed through the ice into the ‘st. Lawrence River near here.
REDS, SWISS SIGN PACT
MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (U. P).—A trade agreement between Russia and
Switzerland was signed here this afternoon,
——— | tt
TIN
Party Chiefs to Caucus}
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.
Greeks—except themselves. But the Greeks believed, and how. And that little item, the item of an entire
- people’s moral fiber, made
all the difference in the
world. Every Greek we met—in truth, virtually every Greek I ever met—was as full of confidence as David, sort-
ing out his stones by the brook and going forward to fight :
Goliath. The Greeks simply
knew they could lick Musso-
lini’s rhetoric-fed divisions, and that was that. If the enemy had been German regulars, they would undoubtedly have felt less confidence, but they would certainly have fought with the same kind of superb cour-
age.
Freedom is something which Greeks have always
been ready and willing to purchase with their blood. They don’t expect to get it or keep it in any other way. Just before leaving Greece I had a half-hour conversation with (the late) Premier, (Gen. John Metaxas.
‘Next Theater of War?
Britain’s co-ordination of her
here, are only 11% hours by air from
If Greece falls, British would
probably still keep Crete base
Alexandria
African and Aegean fronts and a
German drive through Bulgaria into Greece are likely coming events
in the Balkan theater, where a new stage is set for war.
This map
shows the routes a British expeditionary force could take to aid Greece and paths of invasion German troops may use.
NEW COLD WAVE MAY AVOID CITY
Warmer Tonight; Snow In Sight Tomorrow.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES 6a.m......2 10a.m.....35 7a.m ....25 1la.m..... 36 8a.m..... 27 12 (noon)., 36 9a.m..... 32 lp.m ... 36
Indianapolis probably will miss the brunt of a new cold wave moving eastward from Montana and Wyoming, the Weather Bureau reported today. The temperature in North Dakota was below zero again today. J. H. Armington, local Weather Bureau meteorologist, said the effects of the cold mass will be felt here with a mercury. drop late tomorrow afternoon or night, but he said it will have moderated by the time it reaches Indiana. Slightly warmer tonight, with occasional snow flurries tomorrow was the forecast.
ALFONSO STILL LIVES; HAS RESTFUL NIGHT
ROME, Feb. 24 (U.P.).—The family of former King Alfonso of Spain concealed from him today hundreds of messages of condolences from abroad, inspired by erroneous reports that he had died. The former King, suffering from heart attacks, rested well during the night. Dr. Cesare Fruguni issued a bulletin this morning saying Alfonso’s condition was “unchanged.” (At Buenos Aires, Argentina, the |Cox. Spanish Embassy insisted on the veracity of its report that Alfonso was dead.)
WILLIS ON AIR TONIGHT WASHINGTON, Feb. 2¢ (U. P). —Senator Robert A. Taft (R. 0.) announced today that among opponents of the BritisH" aid bill who would speak tonight are Senator]. Raymond E. Willis (R. Ind), Mutual. He will talk at 45 (In- - Sisngpolis Tune),
Hub of U. s. Near Washington, Ind.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (U. P.). —The cen'er of population of the United States, as well as the capital of the nation, may be a city named Washington. Preliminary estimates of 1940 population trends lead Census Bureau officials today to believe that the geographical hub of all inhabitants may be near the city of Washington, Daviess County, Indiana. Bureau geographers have not yet finished their task of locating the exact center, which in 1930
was fixed approximately three miles northeast of Linton, Ind. Washington is some 30 miles south of Linton. : One trend seems to be definitely established. For the first time since the original census in 1790, the nation’s westward population shift has slowed practically to a standstill. Since 1890 the center of population has been in 'Indiana.
SENTENCE TEXAN IN
SON-IN-LAW’S DEATH |,
FT. WORTH, Tex., Feb. 24 (U. P.). —Fourteen-year-old Virginia Ruth Brewer today heard her father sentenced to 99 years in prison for killing her husband. She sat dry-eyed while Judge Willis McGregor imposed the sentence on Earl T. Brewer, 40-year-old farmer convicted of the jackknife slaying of 19-year-old H. Glen
She said she was sorry her father had to go to jail but she had no regrets for having married Cox. “I'd elope and marry Glen again even though I knew father would receive a 99-year sentence for istalibine him,” she said.
STOCKS ARE FIRM NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—Stocks were firm in slim trading today. Operations in the steel industry advanced to 96.3 per cent of capacity.
PRICE THREE CENTS.
This was the first time, I believe, that he had received a foreign correspondent since the war began. It was New. Year's Eve and two remarks which he made then ime
pressed me particularly.
“No, I don’t deserve any Gen. Metaxas said.
credit for deciding to resist,” ¥ “I knew that any Greek, from any part of my country and from whatever walk of life, if °
he had been in my place at that moment, would have taken the same decision. I knew that no Greek could possibly surrender his freedom without having fought to preserve it. That’s why it wasn’t difficult to decide. For the Greek people there was no other course.” Premier Metaxas spoke very quietly. , Then he addeds “After all, for us—who are Greek Orthodox by religions
death is only an episode.”
These words have re-echoed in my mind ever since, On every sector of the Albanian front, everywhere be-: hind the lines and from Salonika to Thebes and Athens (Continued on Page One, Second Section)
T0 BEGIN
Adolf Hitler warned the
sent against Britain, . -
the Pacific but admitted that
to the Asiatics. Matsuoka did
BERLIN, Feb. 24 (U. P.).—Adolf Hitler said today he is prepared to pit “half of Europe” against Great
Britain, that unprecedented sea warfare is about to begin with the month. of April bringing “other things”—nature not specified—to the enemy. The Fuehrer spoke to ‘his old party comrades in the Munich beer hall where 21 years ago today he founded the National Socialist Party. He left no doubt that the launching of an all-out offensive against Britain is only a few weeks or days distant. He said: 1. Only two hours before he spoke he was advised by the Reich Supreme’ Naval Command that 215,000 tons more of British shipping had been sent to the bottom by Nazi submarines and airplanes. 2. Italy has occupied British war and. merchant shipping in the Mediterranean while Germany this
marine crews now ready for agtion. 3. German submarines and Stukas will sink British ships wherever they appear—whether in the Mediterranean or the North Sea and Germany will strike at Britain “where it reaches toward the continent.”
Fascist military
Mr. Mason British Army in Italians by more than two to one.
difficult to understand how II Duce hopes to stimulate Italian morale by such a public confession of the| combat and leadership qualities of the Fascist Army. Mussolini declared that only during the period between October, 1937, and January, 1940, 14,000 officers and 396,358 soldiers, with great
Libya, Since January, 1940,
8 - « v i iw
past winter has trained new sub-|-
SE ———————————
INTENSE SEA WAR
IN APRIL,
FUEHRER ASSERT!
Churchill Reported to Have Rejected Japan's . Offer to Mediate; All Signs Indicate Axis Hour to Strike Is Near.
By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent
world today that his spring
blitzkrieg is about to strike Great Britain and that he is pre pared to mobilize “half of Europe” to achieve victory. The German Fuehrer said Germany this winter hag {builtrup unprecedented submarine fleets which have now beet
Hitler emphasized and re-emphasized the fierce nature of the coming sea struggle but gave no hint of Germany's other plans for the spring offensive to which, he said, he looked forward with confidence,
Churchill Rejects Japan’s Plea
While Hitler talked, it was reliably reported that Prime Minister Winston Churchill had given to Japan a rejection of the offer of Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka of Tokyo's services in mediating the war between Britain and Germany,
Matsuoka himself chalked up a big Japanese claim in -
it was not always possible to
conduct actual “political affairs according to advocated ideals.” He said that “the white race’”’should turn over “Oceanig’
not set the limits of “Oceania
(Continued on Page Three)
'| Feel Fit” Hitler Says
4. Germany wants no part of American or British gold and will not tolerate dictation of her eco nomic policy “by New York bankers.” Germany must have equal economia rights with the rest of the world. 5. Britain may attempt to carry the war {to the European continens if she wishes but Germany is pree pared to “mobilize half of Europe” to win victory. 6. An “American general” told a House committee that Winston Churchill had warned him in 1936 that “Germany is too powerful and we must destroy her.” Hitler said he, had recognized “these enemies”
before they did. “Wherever British boats appear,” he said, “our submarines will be ready for them,” he said. “I am grateful,” Hitler said, “that once war was unavoidable I could live to carry it on and to do so while I felt still fit. “Right now.with spring coming on I feel particularly fit. “I rely on the best armed force of the world—the best Germany ever had—numerically strong, well equipped and with good leaders.
“Our armaments preparation is (Continued on Page Three) .
War Moves Today
By J. W. T. MASON United Press War Expert
Benito Mussolini, “firmly in the eye,” has explained the Libyan catase trophe in a manner that normally would increase rather than diminish Italy’s uneasiness concerning
looking the Italian people
competence.
s While declaring that the Italian General Staff's work. in Libya had resulted in a “miracle,” I1 Duce incautiously Jet 1 rout the fact that the victorious
Lipya was outnuntbered by the
This confession, which finds place in Mussolini's long speech before the Black Shirts of Rome, hardly sustains his promise of victory. Is.
Italy was preparing to
were transported te the Lie front. & In addition, Italy is known have had considerable forces oF: tive troops in Libya, The total o
quantities of supplies, were sent to|bat nein of the Italians. u
long before and started to rearm
©