Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 February 1941 — Page 1

FINAL

The Indianapolis Times |=:

FORECAST: Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow tonight and tomorrow; somewhat warmer tonight with lowest temperature about 25.

VOLUME 52—NUMBER 802

yon

Contract Announced For $11,000,000 Shell Case

NAZIS A

——

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1941

Lenten Observance Opens

. In the quiet sanctitude of St. John’s Catholic Church, a worshiper kneels in prayer, symbolizing Lent, a period of prayer and fasting in commemoration of the passion and death of Christ which began throughout the Christian world today.

® 8

Catholics Sirew Ashes in Ash Wednesday Ceremonies

‘God Uses Men to Change

Events,” Bishop Kirchhoffer

Says in Noonday Service.

The Lenten season was opened today with the observance of Ash Wednesday in many of the city’s churches.

In the Catholic churches, the ceremony of strewing ashes

on the

head as a sign of penitence was observed. The ashes are those made

by burning palms consecrated the preceding Palm Sunday.

The first

of a series of Lenten noonday services was held at St. John's Church.

9 HURT FIGHTING REFINERY BLAZE

Scientificp Corp. Loss May Reach $100,000; Flames Fed by Explosions.

The plant of the Scientific Oil Corp. at 1660 N. Luett St. was de8troyed by fire last ‘night with a loss estimated by company officials at between $65,000 and $100,000. Two firemen were injured as they fought the five-hour blaze, frequently intensified as drums containing 3500 gallons of oil exploded. Four 15,000 gallon tanks were saved. The injured firemen were John Friels, 43, of No. 24 Engine House, who was knocked off an empty drum by the force of one of the explosions and received an injured knee, and Volley Reiss, No, 18 En-~ gine House, whose feet were blis-

tered. Cause Undetermined

The origin has not been determined, according to R. L. Brace, plant manager. Mr. Brace and Charles Rainey, an employee, were inside the plant when an explosion set off the fire. The 4000gallon refinery machine was fully loaded when the ‘explosion occurred, ‘Mr. Brace said, and he and Mr. Rainey ran “for our lives.” Firemen were hampered in fighting the flames by the explosions, and they concentrated much of the water streams on the four storage tanks which were immediately outside the building. More than 5000 persons gathered to watch the spectacular blaze. The heat of the oil-fed fire melted 4- . by-6 inch steel beams and caused part of the roof to crash in. The Scientific Oil Corp. was engaged in reclaiming used motor oil. It had been in operation since early last fall and its contracts included one with the Allison division of General Motors Corp. Officers said no plans for rebuilding or continuing: operations have been considered. Emil Rahke is corporation president.

TRAIN KILLS FARMER - LA PORTE, Ind. Feb. 26 (U. P.). —Robert S. Brooks, 70-year-old La Porte County farmer, was killed instantly yesterday when his automobile was struck by a New York Central passenger {rain at a crossing in Pinola.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

13 a1 20 14

Mrs. Ferguson 1 Music ....... Obituaries .. > Pegler ...... 14 Pyle ......... 13 Ee oe 13, 14 Radio ....... 18 Mrs. Roosevelt 13 Schools 22 Serial Story. 21 Side Glances. 14 Society... 16, 17 14| Sports ... 10, 11

Clapper cece Comics ..cee. Crossword ... Editorials ... Fashions .... Financial ... Flynn ...eoe. 1 Homemaking. In Indpls.... Inside Indpls. Jane Jordan.

12 Culver

Besides the regular daily masses, special Lenten services will be held in the Catholic churches Wednes-

‘|day and Friday nights.

Holy Communion servi‘es were held in the various Episcopal churches. The Rt. Rev. Richard A. Kirchhoffer, bishop of the Indianapolis Episcopal diocese, spoke at noonday services in (Christ Church and was to give the sermon at 7:45 p. m. today at All Saints Cathedral. In his noonday sérmon, Bishop Kirchhoffer said that down through recorded history, God has worked through men. ‘Still Uses Men’ “To be sure,” he said, “there have been cataclysmic events, but look behind and through the events and there is a man or men involved in them. God uses’ men fo change events, raising them up in times of crisis, just as he sent a man named John to proclaim that greatest of all dramatic actions that was about to take place, “There was a man sent’ {rom God whose name was Moses, or Isaiah, or Paul, or John Wesley, or Abraham Lincoln, or Winston Churchill. Imperfect men, but mien #hom God used; men who stood and suffered for freedom, for justice] and for truth, and fought back those forces set upon exploiting men &nd shoving them deeper into misery and suffering. “God still uses, still neecls men for His use.” The special days observed during Lent are Passion Sunday, the fifth Sunday in Lent, March 30; Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, April 6; Good Friday, April 11, and Easter day, April 1s.

STAY IN PHILIPPINES, ARMY OFFICERS TOLD

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2¢ (U.P.).— U. 8S. Army officers who had been

scheduled to return to the United

States in the near future from the Philippines are being ordered to re-

main there in view of the Far Eastern situation, it was learned today. This was disclosed in a list of 66 officers, ranging from lieutenants to lieutenant colonels, who had been assigned to new posts in the United

States but who are now ordered to remain in the Philippines.

GOP IS AGREED ON $3,000,000

CUT IN BUDGET ,

Hopes to Avoid New Taxes In Balancing Finances, Harrison Says.

In the Legislature

The Hopper 9 Bills Go to Governor......

Bill to Hire Expert Killed... Other Legislature News .... 15

A reduction of at least $3,000,000 in the State's proposed $105,000,000 biennial budget has been agreed

upon by Republican majority members of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Roy J. Harrison (R. Attica), committee chairman, said today. - “Further reductions will be made by the committee before it reports out one or more of the three budget bills for House action tomorrow,” Rep. Harrison said. The Committee chairman asserted that the reductions already agreed upon and those that will be made tonight “will clarify the problems of balancing the State budget.”

Hope to Avoid New Taxes

Rep. Harrison and other leaders of the House and Senate majority said ‘they hoped to pare the budgets enough to preclude the necessity of passing any new tax bills. Republican majority leaders last week decided tentatively to offer a sales tax bill to replace the Gross Income Tax as a means of balancing the budget but the-plan was abandoned when opposition to it arose from many quarters. Budget experts had estimated that

the proposed reduction from 1 to |

per cent the Gross Income Tax levy for refailers would put the State “in the red” as much as $16,000,000 by 1943. Republican leaders, however, have shown no .disposition to reconsider the cut for retailers and are concentrating on budget cuts and other possible revenue increases.

Senate Helps House

The House-approved bill to cut the rate for retailers from 1 per cent to % of 1 per cent was reported out for favorable action by the Senate Finance Committee today. The Senate Committee made only one amendment to the House bill — a provision to include casualty insurance firms in the retail group rate of ¥% per cent. One of the revenue boost proposals being talked is a raise of from 1 to 2 per cent in the Gross Income levy on wage earners. This, the budget experts claim, would balance the budget. However, Rep. Harrison said Yovery effort will be made to avoid any new taxes and I believe we are going.to accomplish it.” Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee have been working with the House Committee on the budget cuts.

SNOWS FORECAST FOR CITY TONIGHT

But It Will Be Warmer, Bureau Promises.

TEMPERATURES

«Me ... 19 103. m ... 2 m ...19 lla. m ... 26 , Me ... 20 12 (noon).. 28 Mh... 23 1pm... 28

Occasional light snows and somewhat warmer weather are due here tonight, the Weather Bureau forecast today. Colder weather descended on the State last night, as forecast, but it was several degrees milder than expected. The cold weather extended from the eastern plains states to the Atlantic Coast and from the Great Lakes southward to the Gulf. Temperatures over the area were expected to remain low for at least the next 24 hours, with slightly warmer weather due in the western plains region tomorrow.

Quiz Chairman

Senator Thurman Biddinger

A public hearing on the petition seeking to unseat Governor Henry Schricker will be conducted by a 14-member legislative committee in the Senate chambers tonight. The petition was filed by Virgil Whitaker, Hammond attorney, who charged that more than 1500 aliens voted iu Lake County and because of this Mr. Schricker was not duly elected. Senator Thurman Biddinger (R. Marion), committee chairman, said the question of the committee going to Lake County to conduct the probe would be decided after tonight’s hearing.

URGE LICENSES FOR DRINKERS

‘Thirst Gadget’ Provision Put in Bill to Prevent Sales to Minors.

The way things stand now, Hoosiers who enjoy “bending the elbow” will have to show a license before they can buy their drinks. This “thirst gadget” provision was slipped into the Stout liquor control bill in the Senate yesterday just before it was sent to the House. It requires that a small card, purchased from the County Clerk, and showing the bearer to be over 21 years of ‘age, is to be presented bartenders whenever requested. Senator Clyde Black (D. Logansport), the bill's author, said the purpose of the amendment is to keep minors from purchasing liquor and to aid law officials in convicting liquor store and tavern keepers who sell to minors. Senator Claude McBride (D. Jeffersonville), asked Mr. Black “what would happen if I lost my permit to drink?” “Would you not be willing to go without a drink if you lost your card, knowing that minors could not purchase whisky illegally?” Senator Biack asked. He received a scattering of “no’s” for his answer. "Senator Albert Beveridge Jr. (R. Indianapolis) said he opposed the proposal because it was further evi(Continued on Page Five)

Dogs Have Their Day in Assembly

THE HOUSE today upheld the theory. that “every dog is entitled to his first bite.” This, said Rep. Emsley Johnson Jr. (R. Indianapolis), was the issue involved in a bill to make dog owners responsible for their canines’ actions. . But the “dog lobby” had been at work. Rep. Charles Bartley (D. Jasper) told the House members he had been home over the week-end and his dog had told him it was “a dog-gone foolish bill.” Rep. H. H. Evans (R. New Castle), described by Speaker James Knapp as the “foremost dog authority in the House,” said the bill ought to be just turned around. “Why,” he said, “I had a Boston Bull, and a fine dog he was, but one day he bit a isan and contracted hydro,

The hill was ned 36 to 31.

Auto Kills Pedestrian on Way to Church, Third of Family to Meet a Violent Death

On his way to devotions at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church last night, a 69-year-old pedestrian was

killed by an auto gt 30th St. and College Ave. The victim was Frank J. Keller, 4359 Carrollton Ave. He had told his wife, Lulu, that after closing his poolroom at 419 E, 30th St., he was going to church. Two brothers of Mr. Keller, the ninth traffic victim in the city this year, were killed in .acci¢ents. Lloyd was Killed six years aio when a train struck his autc at Culver, Ind. Oscar killed 30 years ago near hen a tear) of horses ran

away, throwing him beneath a wagon.

Mr. Keller was well-known in Indianapolis as a saloon-keeper before prohibition. For 15 years he operated a saloon at 114 E. Court St. and when prohibition came in, he turned it into a restaurant for a short time. Then he bought the old Princeton Hotel on 8. Illinois St. and after a short time sold the hotel and bought the poolroom on E. 30th St.. He ran the poolroom for more than 15 years. Born in Culver, Mr. Keller came to Indianapolis when he was 21.

Mr. Keller is ved by his wife,

five sisters: Mrs. Lena Gass, Miss Anna Keller and Mrs. Ross Etter, all of Huntington, Ind., and Mrs. Tillie Harmon and Mrs. Celestia Greeter, both of Chicago.

The body was taker to the Eawy Mortuary and the will be Friday morning. Burial will be at Mrs. Keller's home town, Oldenburg, Ind. In another auto-pedestrian accident last night, Mrs. Ruth Rodger, 3505 Washington Blvd., was struck at’ 34th St. and Washington Blvd.

She received a possibly fractured|

skull and at City Hospital her condition was 28 884

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis,

I S—

NO DETALS ON SITE, CAPACITY OR SIZE GIVEN

Several Hundred Jobs May Be Opened by Bridgeport Brass Co.

A contract for the construction of an $11,000,000 brass cartridge case manufacturing plant in Marion County, west of the city, was announced by the War Department in Washington today. The contract was awarded to the Bridgeport Brass Co., Bridgeport, Conn., one of the largest brass manufacturing companies in the country. The contract sum includes equipment and machinery. No details as to the exact location, approximate size, or capacity of the heavy war industry plant here, were announced.

Site Investigated

have known that the huge Eastern company had been investigating Indianapolis as a possible site for a plant, but that company officials had not formally contacted Indianapolis officials on the plans. It was believed here that the Indianapolis plant would employ several hundred persons and be designed as. one of the largest cartridge cases producing units in the United States. If the plant is established here, it will be the first auxiliary plant in the Middle West provided by the Eastern firm. One Indianapolis civic official, who declined to be quoted, said that he learned the brass plant would also be designed as a permanent peacetime industrial fixture to the city, to be converted to commercial manufacturing after the defense

emergency.

May Be Permanent

It was considered probable that the plant would be constructed on or near a railroad line, and because of this fact, some were of the opinion the new unit might be located between Speedway City, site of the famed Allison plant, and Flackville, Location of the brass plant here would be the fourth major defense project to be located in Indianapolis in the past four months.’ Plans are now foving swiftly for construction of a $6,000,000 Naval Ordnance plant at 21st and Arlington Ave. a propeller manufacturing plant in-the old Marmon plant buildings by Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical Corp.,’and remodeling of the old Fairbanks-Morse plant on Northwestern Ave. for a chemical warehouse.

DENIES U. S. HAS CENSORSHIP PLANS

Mellett Says His Agency Is ‘Informational.’

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (U. P.).— The House Committee on Executive Expenditures, by a vote along party lines, today approved a bill to make the Office of Government Reports permanent, after receiving assurance from Director Lowell Mellett that the Administration has no plans for censorship. The committee approved the measure two hours after opening hearings. Mr. Mellett was the only witness, appearing after Chairman James J. O'Leary (D. N. Y.), author of the bill, read a message from President Roosevelt urging its adoption. The bill would also authorize annual appropriations of $1,500,000 for the agency. Mr. Roosevelt advised the committee that defense preparations had increased the work of the agenzy. Mr. M:llett described the functions of his agency as purely of an informational nature—giving the President, Government officials, private businessmen and newspapers co-ordinated reports on Federal activities. In response to questions, he told the committee that the Administration has “absolutely no plans” for consorship of press or radio.

STUDY OF WELFARE BOOKLETS IS URGED

A resolution providing for the ap« pointment of a House-Senate committee to investigate the expenditure of funds by the State Welfare

the Senate this afternoon. The resolution, drawn by Senator

that the character,

ment be

the booklets were “a waste of the taxpayers’ money and they influ-

lic feeding tro STOCKS LIGHT, FIRM

Stocks Armed today att

Civic and city officials said they ||

Department was to be introduced in thr

purpose and costs of the various | publications issued by the depart-|,

ence old People io come fo the pub- es»

Ind.

PRICE THREE CENTS

Plant Here

D BRITISH CLASH IN AFRICA

GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY

IN LIBYA WHILE ENGLISH

Freed of the to consider the

Mr. Stowe has

- The third of Mr. Stowe . .

water.

period in Finland and the remainder in Sweden and Norway. It seems to me a great error to lump the Finns and the Scandinavians together as if they were cousins. The Finns have about as much similarity to their Nordic neighbors as the Turks have to the Italians. In language, in character and in code of living the Finns are utterly different. Geography and the Arctic winter seem almost the only important things which link them, in some degree, to

Stowe: ‘Scandinavian Blackout Came From Selfishness, Flabbiness’

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. :

limitations of censorship and able whole picture from the campaign

in Finland to the campaigns in Greece and Libya,

been asked to®summarize his im-

pressions for the benefit of American readers.

his noteworthy dispatches follows:

By LELAND STOWE Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Ine.

HEN my editor asked me to do an article on “Scandinavian Twilight,” he must have wanted to assure me of an exceptionally warm welcome in some parts of the Middle West. This is not a happy topic. I would much rather avoid it, for I know it is impossible for me to discuss it—out of my own experience and observations— without being misunderstood and without getting into hot

I spent nearly six months of last winter and spring in the three northern countries: About two-thirds of that

“

“When I think of the Finns . .. I think of a people who are alive today because they have always known how to die.”

the Swedes and Norwegians. When I think of Sweden I think of a people who were determined to remain neutral at whatever cost and are still neutral—at a cost which they have barely begun to feel and realize. When I th'nk of Norway, I think of a people who put: their trust in pacifism rather than preparedness, a people who had never been taught that if you want freedom you must be ready, first and foremost, to defend it yourself. When I think of Finland, I think of the gallant three million. I think of a little people who have fought giants

all down the centuries and are alive today because they (Continued on First Page of Second Section)

2000 Turks

ANKARA, Turkey, Feb, 26 (U. eign Secretary, Gen. Sir John Dill,

political and military problems The cheering continued while and other Turkish and foreign notables were greeting the visitors and thereby incurring a displeasure Germans showed openly. Eden at once made an appointment to visit John Van A. MacMurray, American Minister to Turkey. The British Foreign Secretary’s welcome was made more enthusiastic when he greeted Saracoglu and other Turks in Turkish. After entering the British Army at 18 in the last war, and winning the Military Cross for gallantry in action, ‘he returned to school’ after the war fo specialize in Oriental languages at Oxford.

John Van Ness (R. Valparaiso), will|giqs ask

eviden Senator Van Ness asserted that the visit,

Cheer Eden

P.) —Two thousand cheering Turks

broke through police lines today. to welcome Anthony Eden, British For-

Chief of the Imperial Staff, and a

big party of aids to the capital for conferences with Turkish leaders on

Foreign Minister, Sukru Saracoglu

FARM WOMEN URGE WORK FOR RELIEF

Send Sales Tax Protest to General Assembly.

The Socail and: Educational Department of the Indiana Farm Bureau, In¢., today went on record in favor of h requiring every able bodied person to perform some consiructive service: return for Teliet assistance.” ‘More than 1200 women are at- °

NEW YORK, Feb, 26 (U. P).—|

FORCES SEIZE NEW BASE |

Capital of Italian So- ; maliland Falls in

"210-Mile Dash.

On War Front Today’s War Moves Page 3 R. A. F. Flies to Attack...... 8 Ludwell Denny ......ceee0ee.'3 Other War News .....iv0.:... 3

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent

Italy’s African Empire was crumbling today under smashing British blows despite land aid rushed to North Africa by Germany. Setting a speed record that topped that of the . Libyan thrust of the Imperial Army of the Nile, South African troops swept up the Indian Ocean Coast of Italian Somaliland to take the Capital, Mogadiscio, and 3000 prisoners. In three days the British forces dashed 210 miles north in Somaliland with the aid of naval forces . that cruised along the African coast _ bombarding the hard-pressed Ital jans and destroying their suppliés

and ammunition dumps, The success gave the British & base from which they may drive another column north into Ethiopia, which already is punctured at half a dozen places by British offensives and those of Ethiopian rebel allies,

Axis Claims African Victory

British operations in Libya were cloaked in mystery. Communiques from Rome and Berlin claimed that German land scouting forces clashed with British - tank units south of Benghazi and’ won a skirmish. No mention of the encounter came from Cairo and speculation con= tinued on ‘the possibiiity that Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell may be transferring some of his forces elsewhere, possibly in an attempt to block Nazi

| offensives in the Balkans.

A rumor from Budapest, possibly the most rumor-ridden Capital of the Balkans, said that German troops already were moving into Bulgaria and that some 12,000 or 13,000 crossed the frontier last ° night. This rumor had no cons. firmation from any other source. Budapest often is selected by the Germans for distributing sensa«

{tional propaganda.

Turk Attitude Suits British

The British Parliament was told by a Government spokesman that Nazi preparations for occupation of Bulgaria are well advanced and that Britain is fully satisfied ‘with the attitude of Turkey. At the same time A. V. Alexane der, First Lord of the Admiralty, told the House that three Italian battleships are still out of action as a result of the British torpedo plane attack at Taranto. The capture of Mogadiscio places all important ports of Italian Somaliland in British hands. : Mogadiscio lies about one-third of the way up the Indian Ocean coast of Italian Somaliland. However, the remainder of the colony . is wild, little inhabited and has no ports of consequence. It would be possible for the British to drive straight up dhe coast, eventually reaching British Somaliland, now occupied by the Italians. | However, a thrust inland into uy licpia would appear to be more e -

Bears Out Duce’s Claim /

It- is presumed, although there has been no British mention of this factor, that ‘naval units have ; co-operating in the British

DAMAGE HEAVY IN | 25:CAR DERAILM