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SCRIF PS — HOWARD |

The India

VOLUME 53—NUMBER 160

Here’s how the U. 8. fleet stacks up as the Navy takes over its fighting assignment to maintain “freedom of the seas”, Battleships on hand, 17; under construction, 15.

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FORECAST: Partly louis and warmer tonight and tomorrow ; temperature this afternoon 80 to 85.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1941

Destroyers, shown here during ‘maneuvers, are an integral part of a sea force on a war footing to track down submarines and serve

as convoys.

The U. S. has 168, is building 196.

CLAIMS $4000 DUE ON SLUMS

Delinquency Is Charged at * Hearing on Arrests for Failure to Move. The Citizens’ Housing Committee

charged. foday.

violatihg a Health Board exacuation order Wag, delinquent. more than $4000 in County taxes. * . At the same time, Albert Koesters, chief deputy. county treasurer, said

the same property was involved two years ago in the tax auction fight in which an attempt was made to purchase the land at $1 a parcel. Mr. Koesters said the auction was sought at that time by David F. Smith, brother of O. J. Smith who was’ ordered -to appear in Municipal Court today at a hearing

“for the 12 tenants who were ar-

rested earlier in the week. At today’s hearing, George ¥Eggleston, general counsel for the Indianapolis Tegal Aid Society, described the arrest, finger-printing and detention of the defendants as the “most unjust thing I have ever heard of in my life.”

Hearing Continued

Arthur Sullivan, attorney, ‘who said he represented O. J. and David Smith, told Judge Pro Tem George Rinier that his clients will “do everything in their power to find a place for these people to. live.” Judge Rinier continued the case until Oct. 11. The defendants were arrested Tuesday on orders of the Health Board who several months ago had labeled their dwellings “unfit for human habitation.” They were ta-, ken to police headquarters in a patrol wagon, nine were fingerprinted and they were held for four hours. They then were released on their own recognizance and ordered to appear in Court Wednesday. Judge Rinier at that: time postponed the hearing until today and ordered O. J. Smith, whom he was told owned the property, to appear in court with the defendants today. No charges were filed against Mr. Smith, Mr. Sullivan opened today’s hearing by saying he had not had time to prepare for the case because eviction proceedings are pending in some of the cases. He said it had been planned to sell the real estate. He stated that sometime ago the City and State Boards of Health had given orders that the places should not be used for rentals, but the township trustee “had requested that the order. be waived because they were unable to find a place for the poor people to live.”: “Mr. Smith never has been a law violator and has never received a traffic sticker,” Mr. Sullivan said. “Mr. Smith has never flouted the law and at this time we ask a rea(Continued on Page Two)

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TIMES FEATURES ON. INSIDE PAGES

Churches .... 12| Johnson s Movies 4| Music

seen

9{ Mrs. Roosevelt 7 8| Short Story . 14 8| Side Glances. 8 7| Society ...10, 11 .3|Sports:....... 45

Inside Indplis. 7! State Deaths. 11

STARTING IN MONDAY'S TIME

Civilian Defense Plan Ready If Bombers Imperil Indiana

By EARL

RICHERT

“Blueprints” of what Hoosier civilians will be asked to do in case enemy bombers either visit this country or seem about to do so have been drawn up by the State Civil Defense Council and, are being held

in readiness for any eventuality.

These plans, which are in accord with those drawn up by the National Civil Defense organization, are not to be put into effect, how-

that the property on B tennis Fere arrested for|

ra

§ POINTS GIVEN

ai "to ask them to do the wo lit needs to be done,” explains Clar-

Accept Report Holding They «Furnish Partial Basis “For Sound Peace.

By SEXSON E. HUMPHREYS Southern Indiana Methodists today went on recor&-as insisting that the eight war aims announced by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill be saved from the “betrayal” that met President Wilson's 14 points. Holding their annual conference in the Meridian Street Methodist Church here, delegates of 300 churches adopted a \report by the conference committee on the state of the church which said the Roose-velt-Churchill program furnished a “partial bases” for a sound peace. The Rev. Howard Lytle of Indianapolis was committee chairman. “We must insist on a peace which provides for the economic reorganization of the world and makes possible open access to raw materials and markets for all nations and peoples,” the report said. \ The civil liberties section condemned any attempts to abrogate Constitutional rights in the name of the “national emergency.” It petitioned Congress to amend the Selective Service Act to provide for Government maintenance of conscientious objectors in work camps, but recommended that until. this change is made a special collection for ‘the purpose be taken in churches. _ The report recognized “the right " (Continued on Page Two)

MERGER URGED FOR 3 ORPHANS’ HOMES

Economy Move Proposed by

‘Social Agencies Council.

A plan to merge three Indianapolis orphans’ homes into one and close the plants of two of the institutions is under consideration as an economy move by the Indianapolis Council of Secial Agencies.

“Under the plan, the Indianapolis

Orphans’ Home, 4107 E, Washington |

St., ‘and the Evangelical : Lutheran Orphans’ Home, 3310 E. Washington St., would be closed, The General Protestant Orphans’ Home, 1404 S. State Ave., would remain the only privately supported children’s institution in the city, with the exception of Catholic agencies. The combined institution - would be supported by the Indianapolis Community Fund. At present, the Indianapolis Home and the Lutheran Home receive Community

§| Fund support, but the oe anivy

Home does not. It has been suggested that the vacated plant of the Indianapolis Home be used as a He ad Youth

1! Administration women's dormitory

and the vacated plant of the Lutheran Home be used to house Juvenile Court, now cramped in tne basement of the Courtnouse.

ever, until the situation grows much graver than it is now. “We are ready to go when we think it is worthwhile to ask civic- | minded le to take on added re“unless ence A. Jackson, State Civil Defense director, Here roughly is the Indiana civilian program contemplated in case the country enters the war or seems to be closer to the brink than it is now: First, Governor Schricker, acting

State Defense Council, will name defense directors in each of the State’s 92 counties. And the mayor of each city will head a special! committee of city officials whose official duties involve them in the defense program. These officials include the Board of Health head, the fire chief, police chief, park superintendent and city school superintendent. The county director will. name a county civilian defense ‘council. Members will include the county commissioner selected by the Board of County. Commissioners, the county health officer, a representative of the county Federation of Women’s Clubs, the county superintendent of schools, the county agricultural agent, the county welfare director and the civil defense director of each incorporated town in the county. The city civil defense director is (Continued on Page Two)

Russian Embassy

‘Gassed' in Berlin

BERLIN, Sept. 13 (U. P)—A" huge white cloth sign ‘inscribed with a red skull and cross-bones was nailed by workmen across the Russian embassy in Berlin today, “Beware! Danger to life! Closed! Warning!” said the sign in red letters, “This whole building is under gas. Unauthorized standing in front of this building is forbidden.” The sign was signed by Erich Hartmann, licensed vermin exterminator.

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6a.m ...54 10am ... 66 9am ...5 1am... 173 8am ...58 12 (noon) .. 75 9am ...62 1pm..17

DENVER, Sept. 13 (U. P)—A battle line was drawn today along the continental divide from Mexico to Canada in.an ‘effort to keep bubonic plague from reaching the Mississippi Valley and the crowded tities of the East.

humans so far but eight cases have been found in squirrels and woodchucks and Dr. R. L. Cleere, secretary of the Colorado Board of Health, said *the nation is Tipe for an epidemic.” " “Once the plague gets among tb Eastern rats, an epidemic is likely,” he said. “We know we have the infection in some roden’s now and

If approved, the consolidation plans’ will go into effect | Nov. 1,

cated rats, it is only one step away | h from humans, »

upon the recommendations of the:

heriff,

The plague has affected no

once the infection reaches domesti- | tion

REPORT 80,000

NAZIS FLEEING

Central Counter - Attacks Seem Successful for Both Sides.

By UNITED PRESS Germany and Russia today re- ( a tremendots

‘battle on fhe A I Settor a Fite: . : in which both sides claimed ‘suc-

cesses. The operations, which may be the most important of the war, extended from the Kiev area northeastward to the Bryansk sector and involved offensive drives of great strength by both sides. Attack and counter-attacks developed as follows:

Moscow said that a great Red Army offensive had smashed from the Bryansk area southwestward through Tubchevsk, smashing two German’ tank corps (possibly: 80,000 men) and three infantry divisions, recaptured 25 villages and continued pursuit of the enemy across a country-wide desolated and set ablaze by battle, Berlin said that German armies pushing southeastward from Gomel were approaching Konotop, about 100 miles northeast of Kiev; and the Russians admitted loss of the important town of Chernigov in this offensive. The two attacks are closely related. If the Russians can go on they may pinch off the German push southeastward. If they fail to continue, however, the Germans not only would threaten Kiev but might collapse the whole Russian opposition in the Ukraine, For this reason, London experts regarded the operations as the most important of the war and described the Red Army situation as serious.

Convoy Toll Rises

In the Atlantic, the Germans|; claimed that their U-boat attack on a 40-ship British convoy now ‘had claimed 28 British merchant ships of 164,000 tons and three warships, probably small corvettes. British planes bombed Mannheim and Frankfurt in Germany, Catania in Italy and Cherbourg and St. Nazaire in occupied France. Allied bombing of occupied cities has been one of the factors in rising antiNazi feeling. Dispatches today told of increasing guerrilla fighting and violence not only in Norway but in Jugoslavia, where some 308 persons were reported killed recently at Tabar, and in Rumania, where the proNazi Government was forced to warn that Communists would be shot on sight.

The barrier will be drawn by extermination of all rats along the continental divide, he said, and State and Federal officials have ordered a. general extermination campaign. The disease has been found in no rodents east of Colorado and North Dakota and in no rats at “There is siothing to get pariicky about so long .as we keep it from the rats,” Dr. Cleere said, “We're $3ing 10 40,Vak Ry. geiting ria of

“The first step will be to improve city and town garbage collection and disposal systems and ‘eliminaof dumps. City and county health authorities will recommend

establishment of ‘rodent free zones’

S—QUE

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

Uncle Sam’s naval air strength includes six aircraft carriers

"and 3000 planes, 10,000 planes.

» 8

338 Major Ships inU.S. Navy Guarding ‘Freedom of Seas

By CHARLES T. LUCEY

The immediate goal is 12 aircraft carriers and

Times Special Writer

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.—A great, gray fleet of 338 major warships and hundreds of smaller patrol vessels, growing mightier daily as new men-of-war go down the shipways in as $10,000,000,000 drive for a twoocean Navy, today took up its fighting assignment of maintaining the

| “freedom of the seas” defined by the President.

Back of this fleet—already rated by U. S. Naval men as the world’s

+L i * Hitler Must Choose Whether To Abandon Half of

U-Boat Zone.

By LYLE Cc. WILSON Vaid Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Sept.. 13.—The United States Navy today faced the first all-out test of its Atlantic patrol in the shoot-on-sight hunt for the submarine which sank the American-owned cargo ship Montana in the North Atlantic. The vessel, which flew the flag of Panama, was torpedoed midway between Iceland and Greenland day béfore yesterday—approximately 12 hours before President Roosevelt announced that U. S. naval and air forces would protect merchant ships of all flags in that area. The 26 officers and crewmen, none of whom were Americans, last were reported. adrift in open lifeboats. The series of recent incidents involving American-owned ships and Axis submarines revived unofficial discussion of the advisability of arming the U. S. merchant marine, but official quarters discounted suggestions that any such action was likely in the near future. One member of Congress mentioned the issue in conversation with President Roosevelt Thursday, it was ledrned today. The Montana was the second freighter flying the Panamanian flag to be sunk in Icelandic waters. Another sinking in that area might (Continued on Page Two)

2 BRAZIL MEN KILLED AS CAR OVERTURNS

Times Special BRAZIL, Ind., Sept. 13.—Two men were killed early today when their car went out of control on Road 40 five miles west of here. They were Ernest Renfro, 28, and George Thompson, 28, both of Brazil. State police ‘who investigated said the car left the road and rolled over.

MEN 1ORFT

{Bubonic Plague Discovered in Squirrels: | Battle Lines Are Drawn to Prevent Spread

around cities and towns to keep the plague from spreading from wild rodents to urban rats.” The disease is transmitted between rodents and from rodents to humans by fleas. In humans the

disease gets into the bloodstream

and affects the glands. Frequently it develops into pneumatic plague which affects the lungs and is more contagious and ‘ “dangerous even than bubonic. Bubonic kills about 75 per cent of its human victims, Dr. Cleere said, because no vaccine is known for treatment.

The last epidemic a the United : occurred in San Francisco

States in 1902, Dr. Cleere eid although 30 cases in humans have been re-

ported along the Pacific Coast in

strongest Single sea, force—were 400000 men in shipyards working the #elock i on the. Atlantic, Pa{cific ‘and Gulf ‘Coasts. ; smaller cl 2 bo ; 436 v have been laid year and 213 new vessels have. joined the Navy. Since Jan. 1 more than $85, 000,000 has been ‘spent in eipanding shipbuilding facilities.

Destroyers Top List

In the fleet today are 17 ‘battleships, six aircraft carriers, 37 cruisers, 168 destroyers, and 112 submarines. Building, in these same major categories, are 15 battleships, 12 aircraft carriers, 54 cruisers, 196 destroyers and 74 submarines. Two new 35,000-ton battleships, the North Carolina and the Washington, eacn mounting nine 16-inch guns in triple turrets, have been commissioned and will join the fleet in the next few months. Four more of the same class are due for completion in 1942, and keels have been laid for four 45,000-tonners. Seven more battlewagons of 50,000 to 60,000 tons have been authorized. Total number of naval planes on hand early .this year was under 3000. The immediate goal is something close to 10,000, and the ultimate objective 15,000 planes.

Best Aviation, Too

: Naval aeronautics ehieftains have hinted recently that diversion of planes to England. is a serious check on the U. S. Navy’s air expansion program. But authorities contend our naval aviation is the best in the world. : But it is to the patrol force operating in the Atlantic to which President Roosevelt has assigned first responsibility for meeting German or Italian vessels that enter American waters—and the main striking power of the United States Navy is kept in the Pacific. Strictest naval secrecy surrounds information on the exact composition of the Atlantic Fleet. But it has been strengthened substantially since this country turned to the two-ocean Navy policy. Up to that time the Atlantic Fleet was built around our three ‘oldest battleships, the New York, Arkansas and Texas. But today it is understood to include some of the newer cruisers, at least two aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines, patrol planes operating from the various bases, and necessary auxiliary craft. The Navy's pilot-training program calls for about 6000 pilots by the end of this year, and eventually about 17,000 for the ultimate 15,000 Naval aircraft.

U. S. SHIPS IN SUEZ ‘ESCAPE BOMB RAIDS

SINGAPORE, - STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, Sept. 13 (U. P.) ~—Crew members of the American freight steamship Bienville, 5401 tons, of Mobile, Ala., said today that German or Italian planes repeatedly bombed a Suez Canal harbor in which five American ships lay. The fliers failed to hit any of them though ay Sewein ships were 5 e crew said the Axis planes bombed the harbor every ‘lother night for two weeks. “They were rotten shots,” one [crew member commented. Informants said a South African port at which the Bienville called

the last eight years.

Was crowded. witli ships carzying terials.

JAPAN SEEKING

was $138 or 123 per cent.

FINAL ‘HOME

PRICE THREE CENTS

Some Military and Psy Seen for Germans

formal declaration of war agai

» ss =»

PEACEIN CHINA

Tokyo Urges Nanking to Sign; Pact Would Affect U. S.

TOKYO, Sept. 13 (U, B.).~Usually reliable informants said today|:

i ‘the Chinese Government and {the

-sponsored Naniugy regime, set up in an attempt to dermine its authotity, were nearing an ‘agreement by ‘which ‘a ‘unified Chinese government - would - be established. Any such agreement necessarily ‘would mean the end of the ChineseJapanese war, and also would be an essential part of any long range Japanese-American agreement on general Pacific problems. It was impossible to confirm the statements of the informants. But there have been circumstantial indications that any agreement would be welcome to the Japanese. (The agreement would really be between China and Japan, for the so-called Nanking regime merely purports to rule in Japarnese-occu-pied China.) (The United Press Shanghai Bureau, which quoted Nanking regime informants as confirming the Tokyo report, said Nanking leaders were opposed to any agreement now, knowing their own political eclipse would be certain.) (It was said at Shanghai that Japan was putting pressure on the Nanking men to reach an agree ment.) As part of any agreement, Japan

NAZI POLICY OF ‘1 FOE AT TIME MAY BE JUNKE

chological Advantages in Declaration of -

Belligerency Against America.

By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor °*

Adolf Hitler may be debating today whether to make 2

inst the United States.

The belief in high British circles that Hitler eventually might seek important psychological and military advantages by declaring war on the United States, if he were convinced that it is inevitable anyway, was no secret last spring when [ was in London. The same view has been expressed private. ly in Berlin by authoritative German sources. “ Now, President Roosevelt's seizure of the initiative by,

ordering American warships to shoot first at Axis sube marines in defense of Western Hemisphere waters has ree sulted in a statement in Berlin. that Hitler is compelled. to take “appropriate” retaliatory/: measures. ; These measures, it is emphasized significantly by the Nazis, will be “determined by us, ’—that is, by Hitler. No military ruler ever faced decision more certain to influence the future chapters of history

is.doubly significant”tor Hitler timé when the Red Army's

-|ance to his hitherto invincible gions is stirring trouble throughout German-occupied Europe and pers mitting time for the American in dustrial machine to be geared to war production, ;

Convoying ‘Modernized”

And this decision—which wanted to postpone—has been force closer by a series of fateful, pers haps unavoidable, events: i First, Mr. Roosevelt adopted toe talitarian tactics to put American production (including delivery in Britain and Russia) behind the war against Naziism and to seize the initiative from Hitler by ordering & shooting war against Axis subma~ rines in American waters. This in effect, a modernized version convoying, of delivering the goods. In many ways, the Chief Executi: has gone as far in support of th anti-Nazi armies as the U 8 States would have been able to gO now even under a formal declarae tion of war. Second, Hitler must halt the flow of goods from the “arsensdl of mocracy” or face the increasingly grave danger of losing a long war,

would withdraw its troops gradually | Th

from China... The sovereignty of the Chinese government would be conceded and Japan would receive preferential economic concessions in China. , CHUNGKING, Sept. 13 (U. P.).— Authoritative © Chinese informants said today that Tokyo reports of negotiations between the Chinese government and the Nanking regime were untrue.

BUICK RAISES PRICES 8.9 T0 15:9 PER CENT

Higher Material, Operating “Costs Are Blamed.

FLINT, Mich., Sept. 13 (U. P.) — The Buick motor division of General Motors Corp. today announced price increases from 8.9 to 15.9 per cent on its 1942 model cars. Harlow H. Curtice, president and general manager, said prices would range from $1046 for the business coupe in the 118-inch wheelbase series to $2667 for the limousine in the 139-inch wheelbase group. Average price boost in Buick’s most popular lines, Mr. Curtice said, He blamed higher material and operating costs for. the increases which, he said, fave been held “to a min:

the eat Dr Ee PET Was vision. Although few manufacturers have disclosed 1942 model prices,

they are expected to average 15 to 25 per cent higher.

WARN GULF COAST OF GALE

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 13 (U. P.). —Northeast storm warnings were

face of a

ordered extended today from Lake Charles, La., to Sabine, Tex., in the|’

have centered on keeping America passive; reducing American aid the Allies to a minimum.

Prestige Involved .

Third, in order to attempt effec tively to interrupt the flow of supe plies to Britain: and Russia the Gere :

they would) the orders which Mr, Roosevelt gave the United States Navy to shoot them on sight inside the vast Western Hemisphere zone,’ Failure to invade this zone in order order to attack ships en routs to Britain would limit the Axis une derseas boats to a compara small part of the Atlantic between (Continued on Page Two) :

2 MECHANICS HURT IN FIRE AT GARAGE

Two mechanics at the Madden Copple garage, 733 N. Capitol Av were burned today when a from a torch they were using to cut a cable ignited a bucket of paint thinner. , Leo Hayward, 31, of 5421 W. Washington St., grabbed the bucket and attempted to carry it out-doors, but the flames ignited his clothes, Ed Frame, 37, of 2115 Gent Aves

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 ( 13 (. —President Roosevelt, accom] by defense chiefs, Jaks today for | week-end Chesa)

its center.

60 to 75 miles per hour winds at