Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 February 1941 — Page 1

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The Indianapolis Times

FORECAST: Cloudy tonight and tomorrow with light snow by tomorrow night; colder tonight with lowest temperature 10 to 15

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 301

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1941

Entered as Second-Class

at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

Matter

Nazi General Who Mapped 1940 Drive Reported In R

“BRITISH BLAST SUB BASE AT BRES

Stowe: ‘British Mastery of Africa May Be Key to War’

By LELAND STOWE

' (Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Inc.)

SQHORTLY betore the Mediterranean War started flaming with Italy’s invasion of Greece, I happened to have a long talk, in a Balkan capital, with a statesman of

international reputa-

of course,

will be most dubious for, the Germans.’

1 was intrigued by Luden-

dorff’s prophecy. And just as interested in my informant’s opinion (this was in October) that he thought the British would ‘probably lose Egypt, and maybe Gibraltar, but would still win a war which

‘was bound to be long.

tion. He told me about something = that Gen. Erich Von Ludendorff, probably the most brilliant military mind that the Kaiser and his Imperial Army ever had, had told him way back in 1924. (Ludendorff was quartermaster-gen-of. the German “Army in World War 1. He died Dec. 20, 1937.) “Ludendorff was talking about the next war,” the Balkan statesman said. “He declared it would be a war of slashing movement and speed; a war of air-

Leland Stowe, ace correspondent of The Chicago Daily News foreign service, has just returned to the United States after 17 months’ service in most of the crucial sectors of the war. Freed of the lim- “ itations of censor-

Mr. Stowe

ship and able to consider the whole - picture from the campaign in Finland to the and Libya. Stowe has been asked to summarize his impressions for the benefit of American readers.

paigns in Greece

This is the. second of his note-

worthy dispatches.

' As a matter of fact, he was conforming to ‘popular Balkan convic‘tions, both in regard to optimism over Britain's long-term chances and in regard to varying degrees of pessimism about the British being able to hold Egypt throughout this winter. Within six weeks the (Greeks had stopped the Italians and given the British a foothold in Europe. Within two months of this conversation Britain’s Middle East Army had taken

the offensive against

planes, tanks and light

artillery. In fact, he gave a detailed and absolutely accurate description of Hitler's blitzkrieg. He said Germany would conquer the entire continent of Europe. Then

he added a but . ..

‘But the decisive battles of the next war will be fought in 1 Africa, and the outcome

Libya, The defeatism

and fears which go many intelligent persons, experts and politicians, had entertained about Britain's position in Egypt were buried under a

series of astonishing

blitzkrieg thrusts which have now carried

Continued on Page One,

the British across hundreds of miles of

Second Socuom)

MERCURY DROP IS DUE TONIGHT

May Decline to 10 Degrees;|

Cold to Pay Only Brief Visit.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6am ....81 10a. m. ...#30 11 a. m. ./. 30 12 (noon) .

7a. m 8a m. . . 33 lpm. ....0 34

9a m. .

rs ie

Colder weather was moving in on Indianapolis today on the heels of a mass of cold air moving eastward from the Northwest. The local Weather Bureau predicted the temperature would drop to between 10 and 15 degrees tonight and would remain cold tomorrow. Light snow was forecast by tomorrow night. The colder

weather was not expected to remain much more than 36 hours. The cold that rolled out of the north yesterday had moved deep into the Mississippi River Valley and extended from the Plains Region to the lower river valley and over the Great Lakes today. Snow flurries accompanied the -dropping mercury in some regions. The U. S. Weather Bureau re-

ported that rain had fallen for more|Condition Serious, Hospital

than 24 hours in some sections of the West Coast and in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana.

CITY SMOG SITUATION BETTER, POPP SAYS

Indianapolis has experienced a general improvement in smoke conditions as a result of a drive last year to clean up the heating plants downtown and on the near North Side, City Building Commissioner ‘George R. Popp reported to the Safety Board today. Mr. Popp’s report was made during a general discussion of the smoke and smog situation here in which Safety Board members tentatively agreed that drastic smoke elimination methods used by St. Louis are not necessary for Indianapolis. The City succeeded in “cleaning - up” heating plants in 49 business and commercial buildings which were large smoke producers, Mr. Popp reported.

TIMES FEATURES . ON INSIDE PAGES

If a Man Ever Earned a Nickel

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (U. P.).— Louis. Posner, a letter carrier, found a nickel on the sidewalk. He reported it to the office of the superintendent of his local postoffice who Sent him to Brooklyn Police Headquarters whereChief Inspector Louis Schilling assigned a patrolman to take him to The desk lieutenant of a precinct station who TFelephoned the Lost Property Bureau to ascertain whether a nickel had been reported lost, was told no, and made out several reports, finally. turning Posner over to ‘Detective James Horan who - questioned the idetterman about circumstances of finding ‘the nickel and also made out reports after which he escorted Posner To the lost property custodian where Posner handed over the nickel. If . no one claims it in six months it wil. revert to him. Cost to the city thus far: $25.

PEDESTRIAN HURT BY HIT-SKIP DRIVER

Attaches Report.

Richard Vernon, 61, of 948%; W. Pearl St., was struck by a hit and run driver today in the 900 block Massachusetts Ave. His condition at City Hospital was described as serious.

The case of Glenn Peters, of 448

N. Colorado Ave. alleged hit and run driver, was continued yesterday in Municipal Court 4 by Judge pro tem David M. Lewis until March 11. He was released on bond wheén it was lowered from $1000 to $800. Peters also is charged with reckless driving and driving ‘a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor. He is accused of driving the car that fatally injured George Serbinoff, 48, of the Westview Hotel, in the 500 block W, Washington St. Sunday. James Yoder, 836 Harrison St. charged with failure to stop after an accident, today was fined $25 and placed on probation for six months by Criminal Court Judge Pro Tem Robley George. Yoder struck Frank Frejie, 1131 Lexington Ave. a pedestrian, at East and Market Sts. on New Year's Eve, police said. Battalion Chief Charles Milender,

MURRAY-RAPS U. S. INDUSTRY

Tells Teachers Big Business Fights Better Wages, Any Curb on Profits.

ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Feb. 25 (U: P.)—Philip Murray, president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, charged today that big business leaders were attempting to keep defense wages stationary while insisting at the same time that nothing be done “to disturb the profit - making opportunities = of American industry.” : Mr, Murray, member of the Piltsburgh Board of Education, addressed the annual convention of the, American Association of School Administrators before which, earlier, Dr. John K. Norton -of Columbi a University’s Teachers’ Collee had charged that “muddleheaded patrioteers” were trying to “restrict education opportunity.” “Unfortunately,” Mr. Murray said, “the attitude of American industry today is one of absolute, positive refusal to make wage concessions of | any description. “They contend that if the wage structure is improved and men and women are given more money, it might result in something they call inflation. The country might go

haywire under the impact of infla-

tion. ‘So they suggest, these leaders of American industry, very bluntly, very boldly, that nothing should be done in the United States during the period of national defense to improve living standards or to increase wages, and at the same time nothing should be done in the United States by Government, labor, or industry to disturb the profit - making opportunities of American industry.”

HIGHER BUDGET GETS SUPREME SOVIET 0. K.

MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (U. P.).—The Suoreme Soviet today approved a 1941 Russian budget totalling 215,00(1,000,000 rubles (ahout $53,750,000,000) ¢ompared with a 1940 budge: of 179,000,000,000 (about $44,50,000,000).

Coming Home

Times Special WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.—Meredith Nicholson will fofmally retire as U. S. Minister to Nicaragua Thursday, when he leaves Managua, the capital, to return to Indianapolis. The State Department announced that the Hoosier author

and Mrs. Nicholson will leave Managua by boat for New Orleans, and then go to Indianapolis.

SHUN ISOLATION, WILLKIE PLEADS

Addresses Legislature as Spectators Jam House Galleries, Aisles.

Wendell Willkie asked the “people of -indiana not to take the. path-of isolation that refutes “the principle that made Indiana and these United States great.” He spoke before the Indiana Legislature with several hundred spectators crowding the galleries and aisles in the House chamber. Republicans and Democrats alike cheered him vigorously as he took the rostrum, accompanied by Governor Schricker, Lieut. Governor Charles M. Dawson and House Speaker James M, Knapp. The crowd chuckled when he opened his talk by remarking he had just returned from London but “the accuracy of the bombs there was far from being to that of the tomatoes last fall.” “Everyone Wants Peace”

He asked the Hoosier lawmakers to refrain from public discussions and public performances of a political nature in the present situation or “the people will blow politics out of the window.” Also, he asked them to “forget old personalities and emotional . arguments which accomplish naught.” Speaking of our international problem, he said there is no issue of war or peace. “Everybody wants to stay at peace —nobody wants to go to war,” he said. “The issue is how best we can stay at peace. Men who stand in public rostrums and call one group warmongers and another group appeasers are enemies of American democracy.”

‘Cites Argument

Mr. Willkie said that on one side is the isolationist argument that America is 3000 miles from the war; that the conflict is only one of ageless conflicts of Europe and we should withdraw within ourselves and make ourselves so strong no one would attack us. The other argument, he said, is that America has a-stake in freedom throughout the world, and what affects one part of the world affects the rest. “I believe in the second of those theories,” he said. : He asserted that the isolationist theory would cause the 17. S. to triple ifs national debt, with chaos as the result. “Democracy cannot live if it withdraws within itself,” he said. “We must enlarge our trade areas where free trade can function. If the totalitarian powers prevail and take over the British Navy, Canada and the United States will be -surrounded by a tetalitarian world.” Mr. Willkie expressed his wholehearted approval of the Lease-Lend Bill pending in Congress.

| tion in the final 11 days of the As-

3-POINT ‘MUST LIST DRAFTED

Liquor, Budget, Tax and Rest of Decentralization Top GOP Program.

Five .subjects will be given the right-of-way over all other legisla-

sembly, G. O. P. leaders said today. This “must” list includes liquor control, budgets, taxes, reapportionment of congressional district and the remaining bills.

the Steering Committee's program, p~rty leaders said.

Final Drafts Expected

Final drafts of the budget and tax bills are expected to be agreed upon by the majority leaders not later than tomorrow night. Congressional reapportionment is ready for final passage in the House and then must be approved by the Senate. Several “decentralization” bills still are awaiting final O. K., and are expected to be cleaned up this week. The major item is the merit bill, which has been held up by a House committee after receiving Senate - passage. Several amendments proposed by the American Legion have caused the delay.

Leader Taken to Task

Action on the party’s liquor control bill, introduced by Senator Orvillee T. Stout (R. Vincennes), was expected today. Mr. Stout said he would ask that, the bill be passed under suspension of the rules. Then it would go to the House, where a committee is expected to.amend it to make it conform more closely with G. O. P. platform pledges. Also pending in the House is a fair trades act sponsored by liquor interests. ‘Meanwhile, the Republican floor leader in the House was taken to task. today by one of his own party

FOR ASSEMBLY

“decentralization” | : =

Most of the several hundred other| bills will be shunted aside, except] those that can be passed in the next| : few days without interfering with| =

Decision Waited

This is the most recent photograph of Adolf Hitler to reach the U, S.

NAZIS TRICKLE INTO BULGARIA

Army Officers Take Over Resort; British Envoys Burn Private Papers.

By HUGO SPECK United Seen Staff Correspondent SOFIA, Feb. 25.—Gen, Von Griefenberg, who reportedly co-ordinated German Army, Navy and air force action for the drive on the Lowlands last spring, was said in authoritative quarters to have arrived today in Rumania. . Von Griefenberg, chief assistant to Marshal Siegmund von List, who already is said to be in Bulgaria, reportedly arrived at Sinaia, a fashionable resort town 70 miles northwest of Bucharest. Other German staff officers were said to have taken over the entire resort of Tcham Koria, 431% miles

(Continued on Page Three)

The Legislature

The Hopper Redistricting Map .....Page 4 G. O. P. Hacks at Budget. .

....Page 3

Recall Household Tax-Slash

Aviators Ask Safety Measure Page 13 Schricker Vetoes Eighth Bill Cai eiansnisvees %......Page 13 Pass Law to Aid City’s Growth .............Page 13

NAVAL EXPANSION BILL IS APPROVED

Senate Group Puts 0. K. On Guam Defenses.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (U. P.). —The Senate Naval Affairs Com-

mittee today unanimously approved a $242,000,00 Naval Expansion Bill including authorization for $4,700,000 of limited fortification work at Guam. It was one of two bills to authorize expansion of naval bases and shore facilities which came up for consideration today in Congress. The bill considered by the House would supplement the larger bill by authorizing several Projects which were requested after the House acted on the bill now before the Senate committee.

DU PONT GETS DIVORCE

RENO, Nev., Feb. 25 (U. P.) —William du Pont Jr.,- horse-fancier and member of the du Pont industrial

Austin du Pont. He charged extreme mental cruelty.

EXTENDS LICENSING PLAN WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (U. P.) — President Roosevelt today extended the export licensing system to include beryllium, graphite electrodes

and aircraft pilot trainers.

»| cause armed conflict with Germany.

family, today divorced Mrs. Jean, L.|

from Sofia, as a base of operations in Bulgaria and the British legation was reported burning its confidential documents in preparation for a Nazi invasion, Sofia’s largest hotel, which always printed its menus in Bul.garian, German and French, printed them today in Bulgarian and German only. (Budapest reported that German road building experts had started an intensive overhauling of the Bulgarian road system to facilitate troop movements, taking advantage of a thaw. For weeks snow made road work impossible. The Germans were said to be concentrating on north-and-south roads, toward the Turkish.and Greek frontiers, to be using Bulgarian labor.) "Officials denied the' Germans had taken over Tcham Xoria, but refused me a permit to visit the resorts. According to information from other sources the Germans have taken over all of the approximately 200 villas, owned by rich Bulgarians, in the resort and King Boris’ own villa. On the diplomatic side, well informed sources understood that Russia had now made it evident to all Balkan Governments that it would not intervene in Balkan events in .any way which might

Loses in Race To Save Baby

A RACE to. Riley Hospital to save the life of 2-year-old Jeremia Bennett was lost yesterday when the child died in his mother's arms en route. Jeremiah was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bennett, who live on a farm near Acton. He had been ill two days and, becoming alarmed, the parents call a physician yesterday. The ohysician found the child dangerously ill of pneumonia and ordered him taken to Riley Hos-, pital immediately. Mrs. Bennett bundled up the child and started for the hospital in a car. When she arrived, physicians told her Jeremiah had died on the way.

Keep It Quiet, Boys=Car Tag Deadline’s 3 Days Off

INDIANA MOTORISTS have only three more days to acquire 1341 license plates, but the newly

reorganized State Auto License

“I guess we will have a rush,” replied Mr. Skillen to a query. “We usually do. I guess we can take of that.”

“Well, now, wait a minute,” said Mr. Skillen. There was another whispered conference in which “around

There was. Will the branch license stations be open after March 1?

“You can always get them at

EDEN IN

London’s Hopes for - Center on Ankara;

acts had occurred. swiftly drawn, particularly at

submarine base at Brest.

in Turkey. Headed by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and the Chief of the Imperial Staff, Gen. Sir John G. Dill, a British delegation arrived by plane at the Turkish frontier

and hurried on to Ankara.

On the outcome of the Eden-Dill conferences with the Turks may depend whether Britain will be able to maintain a Balkan front against Germany regardless of Nazi penetration of Bulgaria. The reports from Bulgaria indicated gradual intensification of German activity surrounding that country. A tight censorship was effective which tended to distort or mask the fragmentary bits of news which seeped through. : However, the reports left no doubt

SOFIA, Feb. 25.—The blitzkrieg

and Foreign Minister Ivan Popoff are supposed to have already formulated the resignation of their Cabinet, which will be handed to King Boris as a gesture of protest. A military Cabinet with German liaisons is expected to follow, and Boris is said already to have definite names under consideration. The invasion probably .is a military operation dictated by Hitler's new task of beating England in Greece, but it has been preceded by a long and painstaking Nazi invest-

REPORT CRUISER STRUCK IN RAID;

TURKE}

Balkan War Fron§ : German Claims in

Sea War Are Ridiculed. '

By HARRISON SALISBURY H United Press Staff Correspondent

Today was the day selected by some Balkan prognoss ticators for a German move into Bulgaria, but reports indie cated that despite the’ customary jittery rumors no overt

But lines for the big spring offensives were being

sea, where the British replied’

to Adolf Hitler's threats by blasting heavily at the German

The biggest news from the Balkan front appeared to be arrival of a top British military and diplomatic mission

that each day finds more Germans in Bulgaria and preparations fure ° ther advanced for marching in, : All German soldiers on leave in Norway were ordered to report to military authorities—an order which might indicate that some Nazi move is in the offing. However, the great publicity given the order seemed'to indicate. that propaganda rather than military necessity wags involved in the instructions. The British formally rejected the mediation offer of Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, who already is in political trouble at home for have ing made it. The House of Come mons was told that because of nature of the cause for which tain is fighting, a cause “affeeth the whole future of nots id there can be no question of comproe . . mise or negotiation at thig time, The whereabouts of Gen.

ment of Bulgaria politically and

conference with President Roosevelt,

Leader Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky, Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Speaker Sam Rayburn and House Democratic Leader John W. McCormack of Massachusetts conferred for approximately 90 minutes with Mr. Roosevelt. “We hope to get through by Saturday,” Mr. Barkley said, “but of course we can’t be sure of it. “I haven't seen any evidence of filibuster.” - Meanwhile, Senator James E. Murray (D. Mont.) called for prompt

enactment of the bill, asserting that

Mr. Mason

Last year's unfortunate date fixing for his arrival in London, however, has had some repressive result’s on Hitler's methods of advance announcements, It seems safe to assume at least

(Continued on Page Three)

Bulgaria Ripe for Nazis

By GEORGE WELLER Th Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Ine. :

in slow motion, which probably wil}

roll into Bulgaria some time this week, differs markedly from the iron wave that obliterated Holland, France, Belgium, Denmark and Luxems bourg- from the role of free countries. Preparations on the part of both Germany and Bulgaria have been carried out minutely, even to the detail that Premier Bogdan Philoff

able exploitation of every British opening. In Bulgaria Britain has for months" been fighting a defensive and Yeu treating battle. The British have not gifen up Bulgaria, but another traveling bag is packed after each strained intere view between the British Minister, George Rendel, and the Bulgarian Foreign Minister. Whether the British situation is beyond rescue is a question difficuls (Continued on Page Three)

Filibuster Threats Ignored

WASHINGTON, I"eb. 25 (U. P.).—Democratic leaders, after a long

said today they were still driving

for Senate passage of the British aid bill by Saturday despite opposition threats to filibuster against any speed-up in Senate procedure. Chairman Walter F. George (D. Ga.) of the Senate Foreign Relde tions Committee and pilot of the bill in the Senate, Senate Democratio

a Hitler victory would mean the end of free enterprise and lead to estabe | lishment of totalitarianism, Ae munism and socialism in the United States. i “There can: no peace for our own 5 i country if Hitler wins, his system is at war with ours and we will eventually clash,” he said. hh Senator Murray was joined gi ¥ Senator W. Warren Barbour (R, N. J) in another speech prepared . for delivery this afternoon, in (Continued on Page Three)

War Moves Today

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

Uncertainties in Hitler's mind regarding a.new air blitzkrieg or an attempted invasion of Britain

activities and on the superiority of Germany's nomic system based on repudiation of gold, as present means of winning the war. If a repetition of last summer's air offensive and an attempt to land an army in Britain were Germany’s next offensive steps, the Fuehrer would have followed his previous prophetic methods in Intimating whag | was coming, as long as he was sure of the results. 3

the British aviation defense and 2 IH open the way to an invasion : tempt, This year, it would appear Hitler's address, his reliance

because |

of Engine .House 2 escaped injury 4 hen Bust car struck one that had rolled from its parking place in i Pegler 12 the 2200 block College Ave, today. phi Ine movie iii Jey Pyle Tatra 11 The chief was on the way to a fire|

‘blue and white plates on his car Questions,. 11, 12] 2 3845 College Ave. after Friday midnight deadline, Radio .... 6

: Not the Bureau, Mrs. Roosevelt 11 Despite the possibility of a Serial Story.. 19

: deadline rush, the situation in the . Side Glances.. 12

Bureau, as described by Deputy Johnson 12| Society ... 14, 15| Holiness Pope Pius XII said today| License Commissioner Charles School News.. 7/Sports .... 16, 17|that the a resulted from lack pf

Bureau isn’t worried. After all, the Bureau reasoned,

250,000” was audible. “Now that figure,” said Mr. Skillen, “is about about 250,000.” The next question: How many motorists now have 1941 plates? , 88 THERE WAS a pause. “That would be around 850,000,” replied Mr. Skillen. “You see it isn’t so bad. We : add any more people to han h, you see.” Anything : else?

the State House, you know.” What about the branches? “Oh, in Indianapolis? Well, let's see. They'll be open until March 10. Better not publish that, though. You know how it is. They might not. gd “They'll get arrested, won't they?” “Oh, yes. The law will be strictly inforced,” said Mr. Skillen. “You can say they ought to. get their plates right away.”

on: an intensified submarine off sive, designed to prevent Ame supplies reaching Britain and 3 ing the British to capitulate throug starvation. 2 The Fuehrer tells the Gern people about great numbers of x submarines with newly ft crews, waiting to start their d dations. But, there must be ’ Germans who remember last y assurances from the same sour * (Continued :

that the German General Staff is uncertain about the advantages of challenging the British in the air again on any scale commensurate with the efforts of last August and September. If Germany has abandoned hope of air mastery over Britain, then an invasion likewise must have been written’ off, unless the British relax their vigilance. Last year, the Fuehrer’s hope of victory was based on the superiority of his air arm which was to

Mrs. Ferguson 12 Music ........ Obituaries ....

Clapper ...... 11 Comics ...v.. 19 Crossword ... 18 Editorials .... 12 Financial .... 8 Flynn ........ 12 Forum ..,.... 12 In. Indpls. ... 3 Inside Indpls.. 11 Jane Jordan... 14

~u 2 =»

HOW MANY Indiana motorists have not yet got their new plates? Mr. Skillen was asked. “Well, now, just a minute,” he answered. There was a whispered conference in which someone said: “Oh, tell them about onethird.” ; “Why,” Mr. . Skillen continued, “about one-third.” How many is that?

POPE BLAMES GODLESSNESS

VATICAN CITY, Feb. 25 (U. P.). —Talking to a group of priests, His

Xow

witli