Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 March 1941 — Page 2

PAGE 2

BRITISH SINK 5 TO 8

ITALIAN

Hint Fascists Fired on Own Vessels; 3000 Dead; British Unhurt.

(Continued from Page One)

taken completely by surprise in the almost Stygian darkness of a moonless night. Reconnaisance planes had sighted the elusive Italian cruisers off the southeast coast of Sicily at the entrance to the Ionian Sea where Greek and Rogan galleys used to fight, last Thursday morning.

Friday morning destroyers sighted |

the battleship southwest of Crete, to the east. Reconnaissance planes flashed word that two battleships, cruisers and destroyers had been sighted farther north, going east.

Greeks Race to Help

The Italians turned and fled

westward.

The British fleet raced in pur-

Suit and ships of the little Greek|

Navy, advised of the prospect of a fight, at once proceeded at full steam to battle positions. Throughout the day, British torpedo planes from the new aircraft carrier Formidable attacked the battleship as it fled, hitting it at least three times. and lowering its speed from 30 knots to 15. R. A. F. bombing planes arrived and joined in a general attack on Italian cruisers and destroyers. The loss of speed to the Italian ships was such that shortly after 9 p. m. the heavy British fleet units arrived within range. One Broadside Is Enough

Three Italian cruisers appeared off the British fleet's starboard bow. The flagship, the great 30,600-ton Warspite with eight 15-inch guns, opened fire with a complete broadside. It reduced the crack 10,000-ton Italian cruiser Fiume to a floating hell with this first salvo. Two other Italian cruisers, the Pola and the Zara, appeared at the same time. Warspite, its sister ship Valiant and the 31,000-ton battleship Barham opened their full gunpower against them. They met the fate of the Fiume.

Battleship Is Damaged

British destroyers, racing in to finish the job, sank two Italian destroyers, the Vincenzo Gioberti and the Maestrale. The captain of the destroyer Havoc, which went in to finish off the Italian cruisers set afire by the 15-inch gun broadsides, radioed Admiral Cunningham, the commander=-in-chief: “I am hanging on to the stern of the Pola. Shall I board her or blow her stern off with depth charges?” Sir Andrew's reply was not disclosed—but the Pola was sunk.

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REICH CIVILIAN DAMAGE LISTED

Smuggled Stories Indicate Wide Casualties, RAF Tells Britons.

By WILLIAM H. STONEMAN { Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Dally News, Ine, LONDON, March 31.—It may now be revealed that not every bomb that the Royal Air Force has dropped on Germany since the beginning of the war has landed plunk on a military target. Answering the clamor of Britishers for reprisal raids on German [cities, the Air Ministry last night issued a lengthy communique indicating that German residential districts already had been plastered pretty thoroughly. “Stories smuggled out of the Reich tell of widespread devastation,” it says. ‘While our forces

as being more damaging to the enemy war machine, it is inevitable that other damages are inflicted because many of the important areas lie in thickly populated districts. Far greater punishment has been inflicted than is commonly understood.”

Terms Shelters Weakness

Berlin, it indicates, “has suffered cumulative damage and many civilians have been killed. Berlin's weakness is bad shelters and the majority of those killed were in cellars which collapsed. Likewise, it continues, the effect of the recent raids “has been staggering to Hamburgers. Near the targets, three blocks of houses, each about 200 feet long and a block of flats, 500 feet long in the St. Pauli district, were wrecked or burned out.” In Cologne, it states, “sound evidence exists of 400 houses destroyed in 100 fires.” ° At Bremen, it declared, “in a series of raids, 1000 people were killed and 7000 injured,” while in Hanover “in one night, 250 houses were destroyed and 250 people killed.” This information checks pretty well with reports brought here by private informants.

News Won't Satisfy

Even the Air Ministry can hardly expect this news to satisfy. It certainly does not explain the R. A. Fs failure to bomb Berlin during Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka's visit, something for which every man and woman in this country has been yelling. Nor does the communique reveal anything comparable to what the Luftwaffe has done to business and residential areas of at least nine British cities.

The fleet picked up some 900 Italian survivors before it was compelled by German dive-bombers to leave 300 others behind, on rafts and in life boats. Before abandoning rescue opera= tions, the British commander-in-chief, Sir Andrew Cunningham, radioed the chief of the Italian naval staff at Rome giving him the position of the survivors and suggesting that a hospital ship be sent. A reply was received and it was therefore possible that some of the men may have heen rescued. Among the prisoners was the Italian Admiral Cantoni, who had commanded the cruiser squadron. Reports from British airmen indicated that the Vittorio may have sunk before reaching port. lt was last seen badly down at the stern. Air reconnaissance Saturday of the area in which the Vittorio was last seen showed several hundred men clinging to life rafts or floating on lift belts,

26 Ships in Fleet

There were at least three Italian battleships, nine cruisers and 14 destroyers in the entire fleet. It was believed that the three cruisers known to have been sunk did not see the British fleet until the 15-inch shells struck them. 1'hey fired but a Jew shots which seemed to be fired at random aad had no effect whatsoever. The chief gunnery officer of the Warspite said, however, that the Italian destroyers had fired torpedoes at his ship but had missed. There was no doubt that the ships claimed by Britain were really sunk. Survivors have been picked up from all of them.

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HANGING, FIRE STILL UNSOLVED

Words of Delirious Man Recorded; Dead Man's Kin Scoff at Suicide.

(Continued from Page One)

Donald, who has not regained consciousness. They asked St. Vincent’s Hospital nurses attending him to record every word muttered during his delirium. Besides the unblemished personal records of the two men, two other factors shroud the case with mystery. One is that detectives have been unable to match the “lid” which apparently was used to strike McDonald with any apparatus in the Polk plant. Another is the fact that McCoy was found hanging from a nail that was only five feet eight inches off the floor, while the dead man was nearly six feet tall and weighed 195 pounds. The tragedy was discovered shortly after noon yesterday when firemen were called to the third floor of the company’s garage at 1100 E. 15th St. While they were fighting the blaze, one of the firemen went to the second floor paint shop to open windows. He found McDonald, who was in charge of the paint department, on the floor by his desk with some canvas folded under his head. Meanwhile, Norman Marsh, 27, of 1640 N. Somerset Ave. returned to the Prolac department from lunch and saw McCoy's arm protruding from a little-used closet. He cut McCoy down, but McCoy was dead when police arrived.

Two Men Friendly

Arthur K. Group, 837 Bancroft St., company attorney, verified the statements of friends and relatives regarding the friendship of the two men. “We know of no personal trouble between McCoy and McDonald,” Mr, Group said. “Both were even-tem-pered and did their work in a fine manner.” Mrs. Ella McCoy, who was working in the company’s laboratory a half block away, said her husband phoned her about an hour before the fire and was in the best of spirits. He ‘ribbed” her for having to work on Sunday, Mrs. McCoy said. When she heard the fire trucks and later the ambulance arrive, she went down to the other building and learned that her husband had been “hurt.” She said her husband was “perfectly satisfied” with his job and that he and McDonald were the “best of friends.” Mrs. McDonald said her husband had gone to the plant yesterday to “get out some rush work.” Fire Chief Fred C. Kennedy said

convoys passing between Africa and Greece. But the strength of the Italians alsc presupposes an intention to challenge whatever British warships were guarding the ocean lane from Africa to Greece. The Italians must be presumed to have had some information about the approximate number of British ships they night encounter and they cannot have meant simply to have sighted them and then dogged back home. It appears, however, as if the Italians really had no fixed major plan of operations but were trying to catch a divided squadron of the British Fleet. The three Italian cruisers caught off guard and sunk perhaps were sent on a scouting expedition.

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JUGOSLAVS ASK NO-WAR TREATY

Eden Arrives at Athens as Balkan Showdown Nears; Dire Dawe Taken.

(Continued from Page One)

Jugoslav coup d'etat and the British naval victory was increasing. There was no attempt in Berlin to conceal the rapid deterioration of relations between Germany and Jugoslavia and all German citizens — between 16,000 and 20,000 — had been ordered to leave Jugoslavia immediately. All schools ordered closed. In Africa a British column was pounding along the railroad toward | Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, |

in Jugoslavia were

Dawa without a fight. Another column was pressing toward Asmara, capital of Eritrea, and chances seemed good that all Mussolini's East African empire would! be in British hands before the heavy spring rains start, Rome, however, said that there was an “epic battle” under way in Eritrea and that both sides had already suffered heavy losses. Full scope of the British naval success against Italy became apparent only today when fuller accounts were given by the Admiralty, and the Italian high command confirmed a major portion of the losses claimed by London.

Rome Admits Losses

British sources gave this recapitulation of Italy's sea losses: Three 10,000-ton eight-inch gun cruisers, the Fiume, Pola and Zara sunk; two destroyers, the 1729-ton Vincenzo Gioberti and the 1449-ton Maestrale sunk; a 35,000-ton Littorio class battleship seriously damaged by torpedoes; the 5069-ton sixinch gun cruiser, Giovanni Delle Bande Nere possibly sunk; another destroyer, possibly the Vittorio Alfieri, a sister ship of the Gioberti, probably sunk. The British said they suffered not a scratch to their ships or men except for probable loss of two airplanes. The Rome communique admitted loss of three cruisers and two destroyers and said it was believed that a heavy British cruiser was sunk and possibly two other cruisers damaged. The Royal Air’ Force pounded hard at the French invasion coast during the night, centering attack upon Brest, where it was said in London the 26,000-ton German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau now are harbored. The British did not claim hits on the two powerful Nazi sea raiders but said that bombs exploded around them, At Le Havre five hits were claimed on two German tankers, which were said to be! afire and sinking.

French, British Clash

In a second Mediterranean action the British and French had a brush over a French convoy which a light British naval force tried to intercept between Nemours and Oran on the Algerian Coast. The British warships drew off when French shore batteries fired on them and the Vichy Government today dispatched a sharp protest to London. The British charged that one of the French ships had a cargo of rubber which it was feared was destined for Germany. The Franco-British brush was not in itself important but in the light of the shattering blow to the Italian fleet it was assumed that German pressure to obtain the use of France's fleet to restore the balance of sea power in the Mediterranean was likely to be increased sharply.

the fire was incendiary, starting in a trash pile and spreading to wagons on the third floor. Fourteen wagons were destroyed and 30 others were damaged. Chief Kennedy estimated the damage tc the building at $2500 and Mr. Group said the other damage would be “considerably more.” Mr. McCoy was a native of Eldorado, Ill, and lived at Waveland and Crawfordsville. He had been a resident of Indianapolis 15 years, having served three years in the Army, Besides his wife, Mr. McCoy Is survived by two daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Josephine; a stepson, Charles Porter; his mother, Mrs. Bessie McCoy, all of Indianapolis, and two krothers, William McCoy of Hollywood, Cal., and Leland MecCoy of Napoleon, O. The body was taken to the Beanblossom Mortuary. Funeral services will be Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be in Floral Park.

War Moves Today

(Continued from Page One)

That would be a dangerous proceeding .in waters so close to Greece where it should have been assumed British ships would be in force, as long as troops and supplies are moving into Greek ports. Nevertheless, it is difficult to find any other reason for the strange division of the Italian Fleet. The consequence of the British victory has been to cripple the Italian Navy so severely that the British can either lessen their Mediterranean naval strength or else divide it more effectively. They can detach some ships for Atlantic convoy service or they can increase their watchfulness between Italy and Tripoli against the transport of German troops and supplies. The effect of the battle on Jugoslav opinion may well be considerably at this time when the Serbs are trying to persuade the Croats to accept a unified policy. Admiral Darlan cannot fail to be impressed by the display of British Mediterranean power in considering AngloFrench naval relations.

At ths same time, Yosuke Matsuoka, Japanese Foreign Minister, will have much to think about when he reaches Rome tonight and receives the news of British naval efficiency. His meeting with Mussolini can scarcely take place under circumstances less likely to impress the shrewd Japanese statesman with much remaining Axis strength in the Mediterranean.

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Combat Games Slated for Fort

A TEST TO determine the combat efficiency of the 201st Infantry, stationed at Ft. Harrison, will

be made at the local post April 28 and 29, Lieut. Col. Theron G. Methven, regimental commander, announced. The test will be conducted by a member of the staff of Lieut. Gen. Lear, Second Army commander, with headquarters at Memphis, Tenn. The 201st Infantry is attached to the Fifth Division for training purposes. The Fifth Division is a part of the Second Army. The inspection will complete the 13 weeks of basic training which the regiment has undergone since .coming to Ft. Harrison from West Virginia where the unit, a National Guard regiment, was inducted into Federal service. At the same time it was announced that Companies D, H and M and the anti-tank and 60 mm. mortar sections of the rifle companies of the 201st will go to Camp McCoy, Wis, for target practice on April 26.

3 MORE DIE IN COUNTY TRAFFIC

Deaths, Now 42, Top Last Year’s by 20; Four Others Killed in Indiana.

(Continued from Page One)

head-on. The accident occurred on Road 67 about 100 feet east of Post Road. State Policeman Victor Waller reported that both Mr. Reeves and Mr. Pearce apparently were driving in the center lane of the three-lane road. Mr. Pearce is reported in critical condition at the Ft. Harrison hos-| pital with a skull fracture. Mrs. Pearce was treated at City Hospital for minor injuries but was released | to go to the Fort hospital to be | near her husband. In Mr. Reeves’ car were Miss Doris Allen, 18, Alexandria, who suffered a leg fracture, a concussion and possible spinal fracture; Miss Mary King, 18, Alexandria, concusison, jaw fracture and cuts; | Richard Helm, 19, Kokomo, and Miss Catherine Baxter, 17, Alexandria, minor injuries. The Pearce family was en route from their home in Tennessee to Detroit where Mr, Pearce had obtained employment. Mr. Zander died when his car was in collision with an auto driven by Richard Barnett, 3056 Central Ave. The Zander car was traveling north on Emerson Ave, and Mr. Barnett was driving east on 21st St. The impact hurled both cars across a drainage ditch and into the yard of a nearby residence. Both Mr. Barnett and Miss Peggy White, 18, of 1500 Shadeland Ave., a passenger in his car, are in Methodist Hospital with injuries believed serious. Mr. Zander, a machinist at the Grapho Products Co., is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Verna Zander; a brother, Robert Zander, and a son, Ronald. Services will be at 2 p. m. tomorrow in the First Church of the Nazarene, with burial at Washington Park. Mr. Hilkene, who is in critical condition at Methodist Hospital, was struck by a car driven by Mrs. Evelyn Acree, 35, Shelbyville, as he crossed U, S. 40 at Cumberland last night. His skull was fractured, his left leg and his back injured. Four persons, three of them soldiers from the fort, were injured Saturday night when their car struck a culvert abutment on 46th St. near the Ft. Harrison Road. They were Ptivate David C. Young, skull and jaw fracture; Private Allen Bentley, concussion and possible skull fracture; Private Lawrence Hartkins, concussion and elbow fracture, and Miss Maxine Ann Foster, 46th St. and Road 67. Two men were hurt last night when their car struck an abutment in W. Washington St., 6200 block. Earl Lewis, 40, Plainfield, the driver, told deputy sheriffs he didn't know how the accident occurred but believed he might have fallen asleep. His left arm was broken. A passen=ger, Marshall Sallee, 24, of 731 Lexington Ave., suffered a fracture of the right leg.

HARVARD ACCEPTS RECORDED THESIS

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (U. P.).— Typing or writing in longhand seemed slow to Leon A. Danco, a Harvard freshman, so he submitted a 2,000-word English composition on a home-made phonograph record. Dr. Claude M. Simpson Jr. his instructor, gave Danco a passing grade after listening to the record, but forbade any repetition of the stunt. “For one thing,” Simpson said, “how can you correct spelling and punctuation in a theme like this?”

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MARTIN NAMED HEAD OF BOARD

Succeeds to Fox Vacancy in| Industrial Group; Probation Unit Selected.

(Continued from Page One)

that unless some court action is| taken, Mr. Martin will have only a month to serve in his new position. It was discovered last week that a law repealing the present State Industrial Board had been passed over

the Governor's veto, while another G. O. P. measure recreating the board had reached the Governor during the closing hours of the session and had been vetoed by him. Action on the latter measure cannot be taken until the next session of the Legislature. Thus, unless the validity of the G. O. P. repeal bill is tested in court, the state likely will have no industrial board after May 1, the effective date of the repeal measure.

‘Nothing to Lose’

Mr. Martin's friends pointed out, however, that he has practically nothing to lose by taking the new job since the attorney general's office also will be abolished if the court upholds a Republican law. The latter law is among those being tested now, and the Democrats think that if they can win it, they can also win a suit to be filed later on the Industrial Board measure,

CHICAGO RECTOR LENTEN SPEAKER

The Rev. Ray Everett Carr, rector of St. Peter's Church, Chicago, will speak at the noonday Lenten services in Christ Church on the Circle starting tomorrow and continuing through Friday. The Mr. Rev. Carr will have as his theme “Living in Our Kind of World.” His topics for each day’s service will be “Strengthen the Things Which Remain,” Tuesday; “The Inexorable Law,” Wednesday, “A Faith Which Will Save Us,” Thursday, and ‘‘Christianity and Crisis,” Friday.

FOR

MAGAZINE BANNED

Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times an I

representations made to the French Government by United States Ambassador William D. Leahy, illustrated published in Paris, today was forbidden circulation in the unoccupied zone for the next two months.

tivated by Jacques Delesdain,

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1941

issue, entitled “Honneur au Drae eau.” Delesdain referred to the Admiral’s “intrigues in Vichy” and “his buying of consciences.” The Vichy Government he described as being influenced by “Leahyists and Gaullists.”

ON LEAHY PROTEST

The Chicago Daily News, Inc. VICHY, March 31.— Following

CHICKEN THIEF IN CLOVER MOBILE, Ala. (U. P).—John Robbins, Negro chicken thief, re= ceived 140 days “plus three months” for his fowl-filching propensities.

The judge sentenced him to Atmore because they “raise plenty of chick=

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