Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 December 1941 — Page 1

FORECAST: Partly cloudy to cloudy and continued unseasonably mild tonight and tomorrow,

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British Massing Reinforcements Af

VOLUME 53—NUMBER 223

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1941

. Entered as Second-Class

at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

ter Setback In Libya

Matter

PRICE THREE CENTS

| U.S. TO BOOST ARMY TO 2 000,000

DIGEST

.

Today's News In Five Minutes

U. S. DEFENSE appropriations rocketed to just short of 68 billion dollars this afternoon —double the money we spent in all of the first World War—as the House Appropriations Committee approved another eight and a quarter billion dollar outlay. (It is tantamount to passage.) All the new spending is pointed toward adding 306,800 officers and men to give us a 2,000,000 army; toward upping our air force groups from 54 to 84 (and adding some 16,000 . planes); increasing our armored divisions from two to eight; and arming 1000 merchant ships, as well as other substantial increases all along the line. ’

The Fighting

IN LIBYA, the German armies ‘momentarily were better off than

they have been. The British have |

exercised what they call a ‘withdrawal for strategic purposes, but the net is that the Nazis have the edge right now in the desert figkting. * * * * The Moscow situation was less bright for the Russians today. They admitted battling against a new German offensive, while Berlin was claiming its troops to be within 27 miles of the Russian capital. * * * * In the south of Russia, the Soviets still held the offensive, and were push‘ing the Germans back slightly.

The Far East

JAPAN SEEMED perturbed this afternoon over the unyielding attitude of the U. S., and while the Tokyo press continued to berate this Government, official Japanese sources stalled off action by saying they couldn't comment on Mr. Roosevelt's latest move because they hadn't been notified officially ‘yet. The President has asked for an explanation of the troop movements in Indo-China,

Ford's New World

HENRY FORD broke his silence on the world situation today by saying that the hope for the future rests in a “Federation of the World” with “no trade barriers, no armies, no wars.” He said, too, it could only come about through U. S. influence. To some this may be reminiscent of { the League of Nations theme.

Locally

THE ' INDIANAPOLIS baseball club changed hands. Ownie Bush and Frank E. McKinney took over from Norman Perry, decided immediately to change the name of Perry Stadium. * * * * A storm seems to be brewing over substandard housing, the result of a session of the Governor's Housing Commission last night. One city official said (1) 32 per cent of all houses here were substandard, (2) a fourth of all homes have no inside toilet, and (3) the vacancy rate is at 9 per cent, lowest in recent history.

All-American

THE UNITED PRESS today named its 1941 All-American team. The backfield: Virginia's Dudley, Minnesota’s Smith, Georgia's Sinkwich and Michigan’s Westfall. At one end was Bob Dove of Notre Dame. ;

TIMES FEATURES \ ON INSIDE PAGES

Amuyse..... 38,39 Clapper ..... 25 Comics ...... 47 Crossword ... 46 Editorials ... 26 Fashions ..32,33 Mrs. Ferguson 26{ Mrs. Roosevelt 25 Financial ees 43 Santa FEE EERE) 14 Gifts sess: 13-36 Sia Homemaking. = Inside Ind 25

Jane Jordan.. 33 Johnson '..... 26 Millett ...... 33 Obituaries ... 10 Pegler ,...... 26 Radio ....... 20

-|-Marks, Carnegie Corp.

CLAIMS UNFIT HOUSES HERE ARE OCCUPIED

Inspector Says Only 130 Of 660 Found Unsuitable Are Condemned.

By RICHARD LEWIS

Of 660 dwellings it has listed as unfit for human habitation, the City

continue to live, John Hoff, Chie City Health Inspector, told the Governor's Housing Commission.

Mr. Hoff’s testimony last night followed statements by the Citizens’ Housing Committee that: 1. Thirty-two per cent of all dwellings in the City containing half of the population -are substandard, according to WPA surveys. 3 One-fourth of all ‘homes in the City have no inside bath or toilet. 3. The City’s vacancy rate has fallen to .9 per cent, the lowest in recent history. . Urge Housing Authority

Representatives of the Housing Committee, the Indianapolis Federation of Civic Clubs and the Indianapolis Industrial Union ~ Council asked the Governor's Commission to recommend establishment of a local housing authority to deal with the housing problem, The hearing was punctuated with criticism of City efficials. Chief Inspector Hoff appeared in place of Dr. Herman G. Morgan, City Health Board secretary, who had been invited to testify. He described some of the houses under condemnation by the Health Department “as places where if youl put an animal in them, the Humane Society wouldn’t stand for it.” The inspector admitted that most of the dwellings condemned by the Health Department were tenanted.

Shortage Alters Policy

Mr. Hoff said that the housing shortage was such that the Health Department had adopted a liberal policy toward condemnations and “had to: overlook a lot of things.” At one point when he was asked | why the Health Department so far has failed to proceed against owners of slum property, Mr. Hoff was interrupted in his reply by Earl B. Teckemeyer, Indianapolis Real Estate Board president. “I ought to say, and I don’t like to interrupt, that Dr. Morgan has told me that because of the housing shortage it has been necessary to relax rules on condemnation,” Mr. Teckemeyer said. “I think that is what Mr .Hoff was bringing out.” “Yes,” said Mr. Hoff. “That is right.” Citizens’ Housing Committee spokesmen were Miss Emily J. research

analyst, and Mrs. Marie Burkett. In addition to the local housing authority, the committee asked the Governor's Commission to recommend housing for defense workers, on the estimate of the State Employment Service that 5000 more homes will be needed next year to house 17,000 incoming workers.

City Council Criticized

James S. Kraus, housing committee chairman of the Federation of Civic Clubs, said he believed the Health Department’s estimate of 660 houses unfit for human habitation was too low. Mr. Kraus asked the Commission to recommend to Governor Schricker that a shortage exists here and should be dealt with. Union speakers were Arthur Batley of the United Construction Workers, C. I. O.,, and Walter Frisbie, Indianapolis Industrial Union Council president. Mr, Batley asserted that a shortage in housing materials was handicapping building. He said that contractors were going out of business because they could not get supplies. This statement was challenged by

Builders Association president, and Mr. Teckemeyer, Mr. Tucker contended that supplies were available and Mr. Teckemeyer said the number of building permits for private homes is continuing to rise Mr. Frisbie assailed the. City Administration and City Council for failing to deal with the housing problem. Mr. Frisbie predicted that Cc. I O. labor “was in the mood to speak at the polls” because it was growing restless over the inactivity of local officials

18 SHOPPING DAYS to Christmas

Also GIVE U.S. Defense Savings BONDS and STAMPS

JW at STORES * *BANKS § oo Four pricey

Health Department has condemned | | only 130 in most of which tenants :

F. C.. Tucker, Indianapolis Home|

all the time.”

I Cararessnan Hopeful in Jap Crisis

Rep. John W. Boehne Jr. , , , “If I would vote according to my mail, I'd be voting against the way I vote

HIT AT STRIKES IN TEST VOTE

First Ballots in House Won By Advocates of Strong: Measures.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (U. P.).— Advocates of sirong measures to end strikes. in defense . industries won the first test vote in-the House| today. with adoption of a provision to ban importation of pickets to a struck plant. The vote was 105 to 68. The provision was-offered by Rep. Sam_Hobbs (D. Ala.) as an amendment to the anti-strike bill pro-

posed by Rep. Howard W. Smith (D. Va.). The Smith bill is the most drastic of all the proposals before the House. The vote was by no means a conclusive test on. the Smith bill itself, but indicated considerable sentiment for cracking down on union operations. Under the Hobbs amendinent no one could picket a struck defense plant except employees of that plant. This would prevent union members from other plants from trying to enforce the shutdown of the plant involved in ‘a particular labor dispute. By overwhelming voice vote the House then adopted an amendment by Rep. Martin Dies (D. Tex.) to deprive unions of their legal status under the Wagner act if they “knowingly or negligently” allow a Communist, a member of the Ger-man-American Bund or a person convicted of a felony to hold office.

FT. WAYNE GETS BIG DEFENSE FACTORY

FT. WAYNE, Ind. Dec. 3 (U. P.) —Stone & Webster Corp., Boston, will begin work shortly on an $8,000,000 defense plant corporation factory here to build turbo-super-chargers for airplanes. The plant, which will cost $25,000,000 when fully equipped, will

tric Co. The building will contain 560,000 square feet of work space and will be completed about July 1, 1942. It

peak production. Initial orders totalling approxiwmgiely $26,000,000 have been received. ’ ’ :

TEMPERATURES am ...47 10am ...49 am ... 48 1l a.m. ... 50 a. m . 47 12 (noon) . 54 am ... 48 lpm... 54

be operated by the General Elec-|

will employ approximately 4000 at.

Wild Bowling Balls Miss Him

WHEN LIEUT. Charles Weddel, head of the Juvenile Aid Department, saw three bowling balls rolling at him . yesterday at Maryland St. and Virginia Ave., he did what a bowling pin can’t - do; ‘He ducked. So well did he ‘duck that ‘he didn’t get - the license number of the car from which the balls came when the car door flew open. An hour later, Jack Hunt, of 17 N. Arlington Ave, who man-+|. ages the Fox-Hunt Recreation Alleys, appeared at. police property. room, and claimed the balls.

BUSH, MPKINNEY BUY. THE INDIANS

They'll Change the Name Of Perry Stadium; Seek Field Manager.

By EDDIE ASH Owen J. Bush and Frank E. McKinney, prominent Indianapolis baseball figures and the new owners of the local American Association club, today set out to name a field manager. - Attending ‘the minor league convention .in Jacksonville, Fla., they were right. in the middle of ‘an army of job-hunting pilots and were expected to name their man before the end of the week. Messrs. Bush and McKinney late yesterday exercised their option to purchase the Indians from Norman A. Perry Sr. They bought the franchise and the player reserve list and will lease the ball park on a rental basis from Mr. Perry. The deal includes everything except real estate, but the name of Perry Stadium is to be changed. The purchase price was undisclosed. -Bush is to serye as Tribe president and McKinney as vice president and treasurer. The latter is president of the Fidelity Trust Co. Al -Schlensker, present, secretary of Police Chief Mike Morrissey, is to serve as Tribe road secretary. Dale Miller, who has been Tribe secretary several years, loses out in the general shakeup and it is reported that Jim Pierce is to displace Al Ritter as club trainer. The 1942 team is to train at Cocoa, Fla., where Miller completed arrangements for the camp some time. ago, Messrs. Bush and McKinney purchased the Indians without benefit of a direct player agreement with a major league team. Instead, they are going to gamble on contacts and promises of player assistance

(Turn to Page 40)

BOEHNE SEES PEAGE TREND

Points. Out Nippon Envoys _ Still in Capital in Interview Here. (Another Story, Page 11)

——

RUSSIANS HoLD

BACK GERMAN MOSCOW: PUSH

Nazis Continue Flight in - Rosotv Area; Axis Has ‘Edge’ in Desert.

On Inside Pages

Details of Fighting ...... Page 17 60 On Trial in Italy ......... 9 Today's War Moves 9 Alaskan Defenses .....eeeteee 29 By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign News Editor The trend of battle for Libya appeared to be shifting to the advantage of the Axis—at least momentarily—today and on the eastern front the Red Army reported that it was fighting off three strong German drives toward Moscow. The city of Taganrog is believed to be in Russian hands again, Soviet sources said, as & result of the Red Army counter-offensive smashing

the Germans back from Rostov over a 100-mile road toward Mariupol. Fighting in the North African desert was less intense as the British fell back for “strategic re-dis-position” of their forces following an “Axis break-through in the Sidi ‘Rezegh area south of Tobruk. British reinforcements were re-

|ported pouring into the vast, shift-

ing battle area but positions remained confused.

". British Are Retiring

. Rep. John W. Boehne Jr, veteran Hance ‘Congressman, came to Indianapolis from Washington today to address the State Chamber of Commerce and brought the encouraging news. that there seems to be a trend towards Japan backing down. He cautioned, . however, in an interview that “the AmericanJapanese situation is loaded with dynamite ‘right now’ and that the whole . affair is just sitting on a pin point.” Navy Is Prepared

As the basis for the viewpoint that Japan may be preparing to

‘| backtrack somewhat, Rep. Boehne

pointed out that there has been no answer from the Japanese Government to the U. S. demands which were presented last week and that Japanese Ambassadors Nomura and Kurusu have shown no indications of leaving Washington. He asserted: that he was convinced ‘that the President and Secretary of State Cordell Hull “would never” back down on the policy to aid China and that they intended to use all possible means to keep open the Burma Road. ; “Our Navy is prepared to defend our position in the Orient and just Wik that entails no one knows,” he said. Explaining His Mail

Rep. Boehne said he had supported wholeheartedly the President’s foreign policy and had voted against the draft and draft extension bills because he believed what the President said—that there would not be another A. E. F. He voted for the repeal of the Neutrality Law recently: and received letters at the ratio of 100 to 1 in opposition to his vote. “But that’s to be expected,” he declared. “If I voted in accordance with my mail, I'd never vote like I do. You never hear from those who believe like you—always from those who have the opposite viewpoint.”

U. 8S. TO GET HUGE LOAN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (U. P.)— The Treasury today announced that it will borrow $1,500,000,000 in new money tomorrow, offering $1,000,000,000 in long-term bonds and $500,000,000 in intermediate-term bonds. The Treasury later - today will announce the basis for subscriptions, interest rate and length of period of the bonds.

A dispatch from Virgil Pinkley, United Press . correspondent with the British Army, said that as the British retired they were blowing up damaged enemy tanks and other equipment in a huge area from Bir El Gubi to Shefrezen to the Mediterranean coast. This triangle would cover virtually the whole field over which the British had advanced into Libya as Bir El Gubi is due south of Tobruk and Sidi Rezegh and Shefrezen is on the Egyptian frontier, The censored dispatch from Pinkley did not give positions to which the British withdrew, although the blowing up of enemy equipment over such a wide area to prevent Axis forces from salvaging it might indicate a general retirement of the British armored units "after two weeks of desperate slugging in the desert. Forces Regrouped

The dispatch, filed from British headquarters on Tuesday morning, supported this theory, as it said that the Axis tank forces under Gen. Erwin Rommel had been successful in swift maneuvering through the desert where they struck at scattered British forces in quick succession. The British retirement was to regroup these forces and establish a stronger set-up against an enemy which Pinkley described as fighting a “heads up” battle over familiar terrain. Axis statements said that a New Zealand division had been encircled and knocked out southeast of Tobruk. - At Cairo, the British spokesman said ‘only that the British forces which pushed out from Tobruk still were holding their positions, presumably at Ed Duda, about four miles from Rezegh.

Renew Drive on Moscow

on the Russian front, the Germans were pushing three main tank-led drives toward Moscow but Soviet dispatches said that the Red Army was holding on the north and west and counter-attacking strongly on the south (in the TulaStalinogorsk area) where a number of villages were captured and advances up to 30 miles were claimed. A German report put the farthest point of advance about 27 miles from Moscow, a gain of four miles over last week’s claims. This apparently was in the Klin sector

northwest of the Soviet capital.

(Today’s Donors, Page Nine)

By EARL RL RICHERT CHAP with one of those types of minds that wanfs to know “the why” of everything walked into Clothe-A-Child headquarters at 46 S. Capitol Ave. yesterday. “I want to do a story about Clothe-A-Child,” he said, “and I'd like to find out for myself just why these people come in. I want hear for myself.” “Sure,” said the interviewer, “Sit down and listen.” A youthful looking woinan wearjog 2 a neat white scarf approached e d “1 have five children,” she told the interviewer. “My oldest is 7 and I have two babies, one 19

| months and the other 3 months old.

“My husband worked as a painter

{until a few months ago. The paint| A

SEER EE

to thing

able to go back to work he found he didn’t have a job. “You know this defense business has thrown a lot of people who can just do ordinary jobs out of work. My husband can’t get a defense job. “We've never been on relief. We weren't setting the world on fire but we were doing all right before all this happensd. I'd certainly appreciate it if { you could) do somefor us.” “We'll _ our best,” ‘promised the interviewer. | A plaintive note crept into the woman’s voice as she arose to go: “I just wonder,” she said, “if you do find it possible to . clothe our children if we could get some diaSs ” “Yes, we get babies’ clothes, too,” said ihe Tel

* whose hands lop

ing for her seven ehfliren was next up. “My husband has been out of work for several months,” she said. “He got blood poisoning from a boil on his hand and I don’t know when he’ll be able to go back to work.” Another woman explained that she didn’t bring the three smallest of her five children with her cause they didn’t have shoes. ' One by one the women filed by the desk, each quietly telling their tragic stories. The visitor sa there for 30 minutes and he heard the sketchy stories of 11 mothers as told in anlswer to the routine questions of the interviewers.

| “Clothe-A-Child.”

NS. any OUT of husbands|'

| Clothe-A-Child Answers Pitiful Pleas of Mothers

The visitor understands now why mothers by the score are coming into Clothe-A-Child offices to seek clothes for their little ones.

ERE’S how you can help clothe a child: ‘1. If you wish to shop personally, call RIley 5551 and ask for You can make appointment to meet the child at the campaign headquarters, 46 $. Capitol Ave., and go directly -to the store. 2. If you want The Times to act for you, mail a check or money order to “Clothe-A-Child, The Indianapolis Times.” Experienced shoppers will do the rest. x

The remainder were or divorcees who

A fom

sick in bed with serious ailments. |; ~ gither widows

Sounds Warning

Gen. George C. Marshall , , told House committee he feared Far East flareup unless Philippine army was maintained at full strength.

DESPOTISM BY JAPAN CHARGED

Hull Assails Tokyo Rule In Conquered Nations; FDR Awaits Reply.

* BULLETIN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (U. P). —Basic differences in the national policies of the United States and Japan were emphasized today by Secretary of State Cordell Hull in a press conference discussion during which he charged: Japan with setting up military despotism in conquered countries,

By UNITED PRESS

- The Japanese Government mahtained close silence today on President Roosevelt's request for an explanation of Japanese military concentrations in French. Indo-China. Japanese newspapers, however, sigrificantly expressed fear that the French there were incapable of maintaining order and said that Thailand was threatened by Britain. Newspapers hinted also that Japan had made economic demands on Thailand. ~Shigeru Kuriyama, ‘director general of the Japanese ambassadorial office in Hanoi, French Indo-China, arrived here for conferences with Government officials.

Not Officially Informed

The Government information board said it had not been informed officially of President Roosevelt's request for information on Japanese military moves, but it added that even if it had the nature of the Japanese reply would not be divulged here. Hope waned that President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull would bow before Japanese expansionist aims. Newspapers said that success or failure of negotiations at Washington depended on the American attitude.

The U. S. Objective

They charged with increased bitterness that the United States was leading a drive for complete encirclement of Japan. President Roosevelt, in forwarding to Tokyo an inquiry regarding the Japanese purpose and intention in French Indo-China, let it be known that a’ reply was expected in. the near future. Meanwhile foreign military intelligence reports said that Japan was steadily concentrating a mechanized striking force in southern Indo-China, including one-man whippet tanks and 500 airplanes in addition to trucks and other motorized equipment. It was estimated that there were at least 70,000 Japanese in southern Indo-China now.

NAZI OFFICER SHOT NEAR PARIS STATION

2 Italians Reported Slain In Vichy France.

VICHY, Dec. 3 (U. P)—A haw terrorist attack was reported toda: in Paris dispatches, which said a German officer had been shot while en route to La Riboisier Hospital near the North Station. (Earlier reports said two Italian Fascists had best & killed in Southetn

“

EE ——

HOUSE ASKED FOR 8 BILLIONS IN NEW BIL

Navy Prepares for ‘Long Time’ War, Testimony in Committee Shows.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (U, P.).—The House Approprias

proved an $8,243,839,031 supe plemental defense appropriation bill which will provide money for expanding the Army immediately to. 2,000, 000 men and raise this coune try’s expenditures during this = war to $67,990,254,096—more than twice the amount spent during the last war. The bill, which carries funds foe the Army, Navy, Lend-Lease Ade ministration, and defense housing, highway, power and flood’ control projects, probably will be approved by the House this week. The committee released at the same time secret testimony on the new money bill by high Army and Navy officials, one of whom dise closed that the Navy is getting ready for -a “long-time war.” Pursuing its announced purpose of spending what it takes to defeat the Axis, the committee advised Congress that this appropriation was urgently needed to:

1. Expand the Army by 05 0 officers and men b

“Inew peace-time record of aon 000

men. ‘This would permit formatio:y of two new armored divisions, bringing the total to eight.

The Philippine Army

2. Maintain the 160,000-man Phile ippine army, on a war-time footing, Failure to do this may ignite the Far Eastern “powder keg,” accorde ing to testimony by Gen. George C, Marshall, chief of staff. . 3. Procure large quantities of spe= cial weapons and equipment which je. Axis possesses In large qeantis ies.. 4. Increase the Army Air Foros from 54 to 84 groups. The hill . carried money for 16,000 airplanes,’ 5. Acquire or construct 400 mines laying and patrol craft. 6. Improve armament of warships and merchant vessels which will sail into war zones. , 7. Expand oe anturing facilis ties for critical weapons to double total previously scheduled produce tion. For this, $388,000,000, 8. Increase the number of aire ports capable of . accomm high-powered military aircraft from 300 to 586. For this, $50,000,000. 9. Convert large merchant vessels into aircraft carriers and arm 1000 merchant ships by June 30, 1943. The largest single item in the bill was $3,822,577,646 for “critical defense articles,” tanks, anti-aire 'j craft and anti-tank weapons, artile lery, combat vehicles, ammunition, small arms and infantry weapons, and radio equipment. -

Gen. Marshall Quizzed

Of the total, $2,550,078,400 will be used “for our own forces,” and $1,272,499,246 “for transfer to other governments.” “It is essential that these weapons be produced in large quantities if the necessary superiority of force is to be obtained over the Axis powe ers,” Gen. Marshall told the com. inittee. Asked whether tfe program would ; “Increase or decrease” the liveli= hood of our sending an American expeditionary force to Europe at dome. later time,” Gen. Marshall res plie “I do not think that has any dle rect bearing.” The general classifications of exe penditures proposed in the new hill were: Army—$5,127,647,652; Navy— $1,129,870,000. Lend-lease — $1,556,« 496,246; Defense Housing—-$10,000,« 000; Personnel for defense agencies —81, 392,000; Defense highways and = flight strips for emergency aircraft use—$129,600,000; Palmer-Richard-son Highway, Alaska—$500, 000; New airflelds—$50,000,000; Panama Canal third lock—$104, 000, 000; Electric power and flood control protection for defense industries—$87,179,000; War relief for distribution by the Ameren Red Cross—$35,000,0005 on-defense expenditures, including salary increase for 200,000 “Federal employees—$37,500,000.

The Navy Viewpoint

High naval officials testified that coastal defense bases are being rushed, large merchant vessels are Y|being converted into aircraft care riers, half of the Navy's 533,000 of= ficers and men are equi with special clot: erations and arm

tions Committee today ape