Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 August 1941 — Page 1

The Indianapolis Times

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VOLUME 53—NUMBER 137

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1941

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

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Colossal Russia Goes Calmly About Its Work as Nazi Army Hammers at Gates, Says Steele

The favorite motif of the posters was a comparison of Hitler's

Russian morale stands high, reports A. T. Steele, expert on Asiatic affairs, who today files his first story from Moscow, where he will cover the Russo-German conflict as reportable from Russian territory.

By A. T. STEELE Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Ine.

MOSCOW, work of harvesting

predicted by Nazi propagandists. Whatever his Soviet morale,

Aug. 18.—Colossal Russia goes calmly ahead with the “the biggest grain crop since the revolution” withcut the slightest evidence that two months of Nazi hammering has vet brought even the beginning of the internal breakdown so confidently

territorial gains, Adolf Hitler terribly miscalculated Every non-Russian diplomat and observer with whom I have talked during my few days in the Soviet Union agrees on this point, that today Russian morale is excellent. This is borne out, too, by my own superficial observations during nine days’ travel across half

of Russia's enormous length. It took me just 14 days to reach Moscow by plane and train from

Chungking over one of the few remaining channels of entry into this country. Fewer than half a dozen Americans have so far made the Moscow journey over this route, but it is certain to become more frequently used. My fellow passenger was Ralph Ingersoll, New York publisher, Our Chinese plane carried us for two days from the Chinese capital across the bleached wastes of northwest China to the blistering central Asian town of Hami, in Sinkiang, or Chinese Turkestan. There we waited four days for a Douglas plane of the Sino-Soviet Aviation Co. which in less than a day transported us over the massive peaks of western Sinkiang to Alma-Ata, if Soviet Turkestan. There was no plane from Alma-Ata, so we boarded a train for the long hot journey over the treeless steppes of Kazakstan, around the southern tip of the Urals and through European Russia to Moscow.

I saw very little en that nine-day train trip to indicate that Soviet Russia is a country at war. For the first few days the vista took in only grasslands, grazing herds, plodding camels and little stations where Russians, Turks and Kirghis tribesmen sold milk and melons to the parched passengers. At the Urals we entered Russia's enormously rich and extensive grain belt where, in undulating fields of great size, collective farmers were harvesting the golden new wheat crop. Combine harvesters and horsedrawn mowers were conspicuous. In some places the reaping was done by hand. Women were preponderant in the fields. At least a third of the harvest in that zone is completed though in the Ukraine, farther south, it is reported almost finished. All the way through I got the feeling of a country going about its business with a complete lack of excitement. Only posters in the stations and occasional tearful farewells for conscripted peasants were reminders of war.

attack on Russia with Napoleon's

ill-fated adventure. One I recall

particularly depicted the ghost of Napoleon introducing the Nazi fuehrer to the shades of other historical figures who had tried to

conquer Russia and failed.

Impressive between the Urals and Moscow were evidences of

great industrial development, construction.

including vast enterprises still under All along the way we found Russia's complex transe

portation system operating with fair efficiency and without major

tieups.

Either because of the strength of the Soviet Air Force, which everywhere is active, or other reasons the Nazi have made little attempt to bomb deep in the Soviet rear. Not until we reached the outskirts of Moscow itself did we see the slightest evidence of bomb damage and even here it is astonishingly

small.

GERMANS FEAR WINTER STALEMATE

STATE LEGION Rain Rain, Don't Go Away

FACES HEATED BALLOT FIGHT

Lyons-Levine Battle for Committee Job Grows More Spirited.

By WILLIAM CRABB Times Staff Correspondent SOUTH BEND, Ind, Aug. 18. — The largest American Legion State Convention ended a week-end of hilarity today and turned to business —the smallest list of resolutions in the convention's history and its bitterest “political” fight. The only solemn note in the Saturday and Sunday music and fun was sounded by Federal Administrator Paul V. McNutt who warned that America is “close to war” and that “we can tolerate neither disaffection nor disunity.” The small list of resolutions indicates that the stand adopted by the | National Legion Convention in Bos-| ton last fall has “met with full pub- | lic favor,” said State Ce John A. Watkins. It is generally believed that | “politics” in the Legion are keener than in regular politics. The reason advanced for this is that members of both parties are active in the Legion and that when a Legion election campaign develops, the | “best brains™ of both parties merge; and then are pitted against each other. Battle for Prestige

Hence, political observers who have watched state campaigns year | after year say that the fight be-| tween Robert Lyons, Indianapolis

attorney and former Klan leader, and Isadore Levine, LaPorte attorney, for the post of national

FY H & +

on Weather Bureau instruments.

The tains made summer history here today—heaviest since June 11—and Fred Akelow, observer, recorded it atop the Federal Building |

Heaviest Fall Since June 11

HIGHEST LOCAL TAX RATES ON RECORD ASKED

Boost of 23 Cents Sought in City-County Levies for Center Township.

Taxpayers received bad news in big chunks today as City

rates for next year.

would call for a total Indianapolis in Center Township rate next year {of $3.4396—an increase of almost (23 cents over this year, and the lhighest in local history. Developments today were: 1. City Controller James E. Deery announced the Civil City's proposed budget for next year at $8.677.,747— an increase of $616,627—and its levy

and |. County officials revealed their tax|;

The requests—yet to be acted on |: by the various tax review bodies— |

(at $1.49—an increase of 23 cents. | 2. Fabien Biemer, {County Auditor, announced that {the various county budget requests, which are about $775,000 higher

than this year, would require a

cents higher than this year’ Ss county | ra Poér Relief Levies Down

3. Mr. Biemer set the

cents. This is 11.6 cents below She) ‘current rate.

"= cuts, stands as:

Unit Civil City ..... School City County Poor relief and re-

-.$1.26 96 43

$1.49 99

crs

chief deputy

County tax rate of 51.56 cents—8. 56

Center | Township poor relief and poor re-| lief bond levies at 13.4 cents and] {16 cents, respectively, a total of 20.4

With these requested rates set, | the 1942 levy picture, prior to budget | 1941 Asked 1042

5156

Clapper in London—— === Britain Disappointed; Wanted U.S. in War

Thought FDR-Churchill Parley Would Bring in New Ally; Russia Now Key to Victory.

By RAYMOND CLAPPER

LONDON, Aug. 18—(by wireless)—Those in America Who may read these dispatches from England are entitled to know at the outset under what conditions they are written. I went to the censor's office to ask about the rules. An official told me there was no censorship of political discussion or opinion or general speculation, but only of information concerning security. That is to say, military information. It was suggested that I forget about the censorship and just go ahead and write as I would at home. If anything in my copy should be questioned I would be notified and would have an opportunity to discuss the point involved. The British Ministry of Information is assist ing me in arranging my travels about England, and is being helpful in making appointments. Friends in the United States have been kind enough to give me some letters of introduction. Otherwise I am under no obligation here whatever, direct or indirect. Mr. Clapper 4 o »

Close Vote on Draft Jolts Britain

ENGLAND HAS been jolted hard by the recent close vote of the American House of Representatives on ‘the bill extending the service of the troops. The British public has had a wishful idea that we were on the way into war. This idea has been growing rapidly of late. Many who knew by word of mouth that Roosevelt and Churchill were meeti had expected an American declaration of war as a resuit. At the héight of.that rosy expectation came the one-vote escape of President Roosevelt from defeat—not on the question of going to war but only on the matter of extending by 18 months the term of the American draft army, England was stunned.

UKRAI

Prime Minister Winston

dispatches mentioned for the

FOR GIVES AIDS DATA ON PARLEY

Lease-Lend Funds, Says Barkley.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (U. P)). —President Roosevelt today gave Congressional leaders a detailed

Message Planned on New|

HINTS RUSSIAN ARMY ESCAPES

NE TRAP

Churchill Back in Britain, May Talk on Radio; Far Eastern Explosion Nearer as | Japan Protests U. S. ‘Hostage’ Charge. §

By JOE ALEX MORRIS

United Press Foreign News Editor

?

Churchill took personal come

mand of Great Britain's sweeping program for collaboration with America and Russia against the Axis today as Berlin

first time the possibility of a

“winter stalemate” on the Eastern Front. German armies were advancing in the Ukraine and to ward Leningrad sparked by a terrific Luftwaffe attack on Russians who, according to Berlin, were trying desperately, to evacuate the Black Sea port of Odessa in “another Duns

kirk.” Loss of the naval base of Nikolaev and the iron ore ree gion of Krivoi Rog was admite

ted by Russia. Moscow, however, said that rear guard fighting still was intense in the area and that the main Russian forces were being pulled back intact to new lines east of the Dnieper River. The significant Berlin dise patch said the Germans were trying to prevent this retreat to forestall possibility of a winter stalemate such as Britain and the United

State are hoping for. Gain on Other Fronts

A new German thrust against Leningrad was reported by British

| lief bonds ..... 41 204 | State ...cuiviices 5 15 |

executive committeeman is one of the “hottest” they ever have witnessed. An executive committeeman receives no pay and must defray his

Cheered by Farms and City

The heaviest rain since June 11 fell on Indianapolis and Marion County beginning early today and the Weather Bureau predicted it may

report of his meeting with Prime

Minister Churchill and informed them that “within a few weeks” he

_— $3.21 $3. 4956 ; will additional lend-lease

own expenses to the meetings. But the position’s prestige is great. And the Lyons and Levine campaigns have been building up in tempo for

continue sporadically tonight and tomorrow. The rain was greeted with cheers by farmer and city dweller alike. It did much to stop drought damage to crops and lawns and gardens, and | it eased the prospects of a serious water shortage in Indianapolis.

the climax on the convention floor tomorrow morning—final action of the delegates before adjournment of the four-day session. Delegates from the various districts were to caucus through today with both candidates appearing to plead for support. The 12th District—Indianapolis-— was to meet tonight with the Lyons forces attempting to woo its delegates back in their fold. A majority of the 12th District voted “unofficialiy” to support Mr. Levine, who has been executive committeeman since 1935, at a meeting

$2000 TAKEN IN

Forced to Floor by Masked Bandits.

in a slow patter which soaks into the ground and does the most good for growing things. Tomorrow may bring thunder showers and cooler weather.

4 The County Council went into! executive session with department] heads today in preliminary efforts

to pare requests. a By noon 63 of an inch had fallen p 9 > Hold Hearing Tomorrow

Councilmen set 9 a. m. tomorrow for a hearing on the Tuberculosis Fund budget, which asks increased personnel and salary increases for nurses. The Welfare budget—

MARKET HOLDUP

Employee at Hilgemeier Co.

in Indianapolis on the eve of the convention.

Hold Big Parade Today

The Levine backers took a preliminary poll of their support vesterday and some said the results were “too good.” It was evident they feared a last-minute “coup” by Lyons strategists . Both sides were concentrating on the 10th District, home of Cliff Payne of New Castle, the third candidate in the field, which is reported pledged to its “favorite son.” Observers said the result of the election might have its effect on the State political picture in the future. W. Carl Graham of Ft. Wayne appeared to be the only candidate (Continued on Page Two)

0. K. TUGWELL NOMINATION WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (U.P). — The Senate Insular Affairs Committee today approved nomination of Rexford Guy Tugwell, one-time brain-truster, to be Governor of Puerto Rico after questioning him

Two masked bandits invaded the City Market early today and held up the manager of the F. Hilgemeier & Brothers meat market, escaping with an estimated $2000 in cash and several checks. The holdup occurred shortly before 7 a. m. as Albert Bischoff. 50, of 2154 S. Pennsylvania St, manager of the packing firm's stand in the Market, unlocked the safe and prepared to take the Saturday receipts to the main plant for checking. Mr. Bischoff had just removed the money from the safe, located beneath the meat counter, and had placed it in a lard can. He still was down on his knees when he heard a gruff: “Stick 'em up and lie down on your back.”

Struck on Nose

The manager said he was a little slow in complying, and one of the bandits, both of whom brandished blue steel revolvers, struck him on the nose. Then the gunmen discovered the

money in the lard can and, admonishing the manager to “keep lying there,” sauntered out of the

extensively about his social and political views.

building. They were not noticed by several other stand operators who were in the building at the time, nor by Harry H. Hilgemeier, 36, a member of the firm, who was waiting out- . |side to drive Mr. Bischoff to to the 18 plant.

10

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

Movies ...... Obituaries ler PYIE .....ete Questions

Men Seen Earlier

John Howard, the City Market engineer, told police that a short time earlier he found two roughly a] Jyessed men in a lavatory at the 5 |east side of the Market building and ordered them to leave. With-

“en

Se Se Glances. .

—Rumors Hermann wounded during a British air raid

had been killed or wounded have circulated in the past but none

which would require a 4.5 cents levy increase—was set for hearing at 9 a. m. Wednesday. County Council’s budget review 8a. m .... 62 12 (noon) . session, which Rg last all 9am ...62 1pm... 68 yeek centered around salary in- * creases. These, with increased personnel requests and allowance for next year's election, account for virtually all the budget increase.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6am ....64 10am ....63 Tam ....62 lam... 64

The farmers say the rains will do some good to corn, pastures and soy beans, and that they will set up a good September tomato crop, usually regarded as the best tomato month. H. S. Morse, Indianapolis Water Co. vice president, said that the rains definitely eased the water situation by doing away with the necessity for sprinkling lawns and gardens. If the rains are general, and extend to Anderson, Noblesville and Muncie, then they will help even more, he said. Mr. Morse reported to the Works Board Friday that unless there were good, long rains very soon, the City would have a serious water short-

saw fit.

over the 1941 budget request. The record-breaking civil (Continued on Page Two)

560 ENGINES IN JULY

age. Meanwhile, there was a joyful search in many homes for raincoats and umbrellas which haven't had much of a workout lately. The rain began shortly after midnight and continued more or less regularly from then on. Lawns already had achieved a new greenness by time to go to work.

Knudsen Says.

A total of 560 Allison liquid-cooled warplane engines came off the assembly lines in July, a new record for monthly production, according to OPM Director William S. Knudsen, The OPM chief made the disclosure at ceremonies dedicating the new Buffalo, N. Y., plant of the Curtiss-Wright Corp. at Buffalo, over the week-end. “Allison is well on its way to its projected peak of 1000 motors per month,” Mr. Knudsen said. Until recently, production of fighter aircraft, including the Alli-son-powered Curtiss P-40, had been retarded by a shortage of Allison engines, but Mr. Knudsen said that no one is short of that engine now.

Report Goering Injured by R.A.F.

CAIRO, Egypt, Aug. 18 (U. P). that Reichsmarshal Goering had been

on a German airdrome were circulated in British army circles today but lacked any confirmation. (Several reports that Goering

has ever been substantiated. About three weeks ago Goering participated in awarding a special decoration of Lieut. Col Werner Moelders and photographs

The County Oouncil was to meet this afternoon with County Commissioners to ask the commissioners for a detailed report on how they intended to spend gasoline tax funds —estimated at $400,000. In the past, the commissioners budgeted the gas tax for highway purposes as they

The Civil City’s $8,677,747 budget request, which will go to City Council tonight, is an increase of $616,927

City

SET ALLISON RECORD

Local Plant Nearing Goal,

FDR and Churchill . . . they disappointed British.

I don’t think I have spoken to anyone here who has not mentioned it and asked in bewilderment how it could have happened. Then came the eight-point Roosevelt-Churchill statement as another blow, It said nothing about America going to war, The sense of letdown was acute. Upon landing at !lockland, Me., Mr. Roosevelt said the United States was not closer to war as a result of his meeting with Churchill. So there 1s no longer any reason for the British public to nourish false hopes about the imminence of American entry into the war. 2 2 8 ” » ”

High Officials Grew Optimistic

NOT ONLY the British public but high officials of the British Government had allowed themselves to become overoptimistic, but before Churchill left for the meeting with Roosevelt, American officials had made it emphatically clear to him that he must not expect any war commitment from Roosevelt. The political situation in the United States was carefully explained, and the practical difficulties in the way were emphasized. Well-informed British officials are probably reconciled to this situation, because after all they finally understand the enormous part that America, even though not at war, is playing in the war against Hitler. They are fully appreciative, I am sure, for they know all too well that without the aid now being given it would be impossible for them to make an effective resistance against Hitler.

s = =» i 2 =» =

Russia Now the Key to Victory

BRITAIN IS BETTER able to reconcile itself to its recent awakening as to America’s reluctance to go fully into the war, because of the fact that Russia has opened an entirely new and unexpected vista looking toward ultimate military victory. Russia is now the key. All preparations are being reshaped to support the unexpectedly effective resistance which Russia is putting up. Harry Hopkins had a large part in bringing about this shift. He and Ambassador Winant conceived the idea of the recent flight to Moscow. Hopkins returned convinced that with British and American aid Stalin would fight to the finish, It will be a long, hard fight, in terms of years perhaps rather than months. The coming three-power conference in Moscow is to lay the foundations for this prolonged effort to make the eastern front a decisive front. The nature of the war against Hitler has thus undergone a sudden and radical change. The front has shifted the other side of Germany, and there it is now proposed to fight it out until the German army is annihilated. For the first time a practical means of doing this is available. This new prospect, supported by intensified resistance in the Far East, by the increased bombing of Germany, by the gradual improvement of the situation in the Atlantic, has given England a new buoyancy, and with what seems to me to be excellent reason. These new hopes rest on much sounder ground than the previous ones, which depended on the doubtful chance of a future A. E. F. fighting again in France.

EMPLOYMENT FALLS IN U. S. SILK MILLS

WOMAN DIES IN CRASH

‘LAFAYETTE, Ind, Aug. P.) —One person was killed and two

[funds to finance a bigger flow of

request

material aid to Britain and her allies. At the same time, the White House announced that Mr. Roosevelt signed on Saturday the bill deferring from military service all men who were 28 years old or more on July 1 and permitting discharge of most of the 112,000 selectees over 28 now in the service. Sometime today he was expected to sign the bill extending the term of all Army men by 18 months. If ne does not act on it today, it will become a law without his signature.

Budget Message Likely

Senate Democratic Leader. Alben W. Barkley (Ky.) indicated that the one concrete development from the 80-minute meeting with the President to the new Lend-Lease request. “The budget bureau is studying the Lend-Lease question and after it completes its study in all probability there will be a budget message,” Senator Barkley said. He added that he felt it would be a maiter of at least a few weeks before the President is ready to send such a message to Congress. “Nobody at the conference knew how much the new request will involve,” he said. Mr. Roosevelt made his report on his hostoric meeting at sea to Senator Barkley, Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Chairman Tom Connally (D. Tex.) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chairman Walter FP. George (D. Ga.) of the Senate Finance Committee, Acting (Continued on Page Two)

NAZIS EXECUTE FIVE

sources to be developing in Esthonia and around Lake Ilman, but London experts were uncertain whether this offensive could be dee veloped into a serious threat to the second Swvviet city. The Germans also reported gains toward Moscow with the encircle« ment of strong new Russian forces southeast of Smolensk, where 10,000 Russians were reported. captured, Nazis estimated enemy casualties there at probably 20,000. The Prime Minister returned ta England by way of Iceland on the battleship Prince of Wales after his conferences at sea with President Roosevelt and was expected to make a radio speech probably tomorrow.

Eden to Moscow?

Churchill was expected to send Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden to Moscow to participate in conferences with Josef V. Stalin and high American representatives. Britain already had concluded & $40,000,000 credit. agreement to fae cilitate Russian purchases of neede ed supplies, some of which are en route, and had joined with Moscow in attempting to bolster the Near Eastern front against Germany by warning Iran to oust most of about 4000 Nazi technicians. Threats of a new war explosion increased in the Far East. U. 8S. Ambassador Joseph Clark Grew held an unusually long cone ference with the Japanese Foreign Minister, Admiral Teijiro Toyoda, which was reported to be of “Ute most importance.” Not Hostages, Says Tokyo Japan prohibited foreigners from leaving the country without special permission, the press denounced Britain, the United States and Russia on charges of encirclement

of Japan and fear of a crisis—espe«

18 (U.

FOR AIDING RAF CREW

Dutch Give Fliers Food and Money for Escape.’

BERLIN, Aug. 18 (U. P.).—Five Netherlands citizens have been sentenced to death by German courtmartial for diding the crew of a British bombing plane, which had made a forced landing, in an attempt to escape, it was announced today. Announcement of the death sentences was made by Gen. Friedrich

cially over war shipments to the Soviet Union by way of the Japan Sea to Vladivostok—was increased sharply. The Tokyo Foreign Office proe. tested the insinuations of the Amere ican State Department Saturday that the 100 Americans who were stranded in Japan by refusal to pere mit the S. S. President ‘Coolidge to stop there were being held as “hose - tages.” The Foreign Office said that its refusal was based on a desire to avoid a “sensational” evacuation which might arouse the American people. At almost the same moment Secretary of State Cordell Huli his press conference that Japa |

German commander

Society ...10-11 Sports. ...... 6-7 State Deaths: 18

Christiansen, has given ‘no satisfactory explanae tion of its action. , On the aerial front, Moscow ree ported failure of another German thrust at the Soviet capital and the British air force again struclg at German war industries, bombe ing Bremen, Duisberg and othe points in western and northwest«

em Germany, ; ¥ .

of the ceremony were distributed.) British officers who were taken prisoner during the fighting and released after the French capitulation in Syria, said that they had been told on several occasions by Frenchmen that Goering was One i og oi od was that Ga lost both legs,

out replying, he said, they started west through the building toward the only entrance open at that hour of the day Mr. Bischoft said he saw two men fitting the description walk through the meat section of hoe market as

others injured, one seriously, in an automobile collision southeast of Lafayette today. Mrs. Harry Gardner, 65, of Ladysmith, Wis., was killed and her husband seriously injured in a' headon collision with an automobile driven by Garvih Keith, Niles, Mich., who is stationed at the naval recruiting

It also was revealed at Buffaio that the new and more powerful Curtiss model P-40-D (Allisonwered) known to the British as ttyhawk, already had advanced to the P-40-E model and that a still further advanced model, the P-40-F, R Sox flying with Packard- built -Royce engines, instead of the Allison.

»

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (U. P.).— A special survey of 338 silk hosiery mills by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed today that employment declined from 113,785 to 109,584 during the, week following the Government order freezing all supplies of raw silk.

in chief in Holland, in' a decree published in German-controlled Netherlands newspapers. The persons sentenced to death were charged with having given the six men of the British bomber crew civilian clothes, food and money. The Britons were captured the same day, it was said.

Inside Indpls. : 8 Jane Jordan . 11 Johnson .... 10

«fessons in Love.” The Times new daily, serial, begins today on Page 15.