Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 February 1942 — Page 1
| Dover traits to Germany, was
‘ the warships were heavily damaged.
3
lof a minister, of defense.
FINA
y Sinmapore Fell: Gorsgligency And
Na tives, Treated Badly |OKES APPEALS
-
s =» 8
By Traders, Accepted Bribes to Guide Japs
FLEET ESCAPE SEEN AS BOON BY CHURCHILL
Nazi Warships Put Out of ‘War in Channel Battle,
Commons Told.
_ LONDON, Feb. 17 (U. P.) —Prime Minister Winston Churchill, defiantly ' demanding a vote of confidence, told the House of Commons today that “terrible forfeits” will
be exacted from the united nations in the Far East but that “our position in the Atlantic has been definitely improved” by damage to big Ger- ; man warships. ‘The espape, of German. bat- . ,includ-
power=|
arch TH ful WarEiD from | oh Brest through the achieved only under heavy British attack that put the vessels out of action “for some time,” Mr. Churchill said, and the battle act"improved the allied naval situation. i
Position Is ‘Stronger
The British and American® naval forces will be strengthened and reinforced by “units of the highest quality” before the German warships, including the 26,000-ton Scharnhorst and Gfieisenau and the 10,000-ton Prinz Eugen, can b: put in operation again, he said. In his speech, Mr. Churchill:
Said a secret inquiry had been ordered to determine why the German ships wer not detected sooner and whether there was any
ack of co-operation between ' the dmiralty and the R. A. F. He said
He indicated he would not accept demands for appointment
. He called on members of the : House to vote, following a deate next week, in line with their riticlsm rather than their sentient—thus demanding a real showown in debate next week.
He indicated that there might be cabinet changes later. Mr. Churchill made no attempt to ften | the blow of Singapore's loss
Nazi sea striking power increased danger to Atlantic shipping. thnmicvienedmmton Tepes
GHTS Y Sontag: PENSION
a ‘eduesh 3s & Sessa 11 Questions. 11, 12
| ®esesnse 20 5
Columnists.
Harold Guard was with the defenders of Malaya and Singapore from the time the Japanese landed Dec. 8 at the top of the peninsula until the last hours of “the British Bastion. He shared the dangers and hardships and heart-break of what was from the first a losing battle. "In the accompanying dis- | paich he analyzes the factors.
tasponsible for it.-
BY-PASS ON -31 OPENS FEB. 27
|Route Around: Columbus Is Another Step Toward Military Highway. The new eight-mile Road 31 by-
pass around the city of Columbus will be opened to traffic Feb, 27,
dr
"|Highway Commission officials an-
nounced today. The present portion of Road 31 which runs through Columbus will be marked as an alternate route, Completion of the by-pass marks
program to make Road 31 an ‘“ade-
'quate” military highway to handle
troop movements between Ft. Harrison and Ft. Knox, Ky. Plans are now underway for duallaning Road 31 from the end of the present dual-lane pavement south of Greenwood to Columbus.
Contract for Six Bridges
The Commission yesterday awarded contracts for the construction of six bridges, two in Randolph County and four in Warrick County. "John R. Gates, Ft. Wayne, was awarded the contract for the construction of the Randolph County bridges, one on Road 36 over West
River and the other on Road 36
over Martindale Creek, for $30,944. R. P. Olinger, Huntingburg, received the contract for the four Warrick County bridges for $51,778. They will be built on Road 62 over Kelly Prong Ditch, Carter |Ditch, Cypress Creek and Cypress reg ¢ Overflow near Boonville.
ASSAIL COAST ‘DEFENSE’
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (U. P). —Chairman David I. Walsh, (D. | Mass.) of the Senate Naval Affairs tee, and Senator Hiram W.
(D.| Johnson ®. Cal) today described
the nation’s coastal states as “practically. defenseless. ”
EVERYONE IS PLAYING IT! YOU CAN, TOO What is it? Gin Rummy, of
course. The card craze. William E. McKenney, Amer: ica’s card authority, was asked to send the lowdown on rules and ‘regulations. McKenney's . answer: Four concise, easy-to-‘understand lessons. + Start today with McKenney's
another step in the Commission's
latest national |
|British ‘Bureaucrats’ Disregarded Warnings That Foe Could Drive Through Jungle to Attack Naval Stronghold From Rear.
By HAROLD GUARD © (Copyright, 1942,
BATAVIA, Java, Feb. 17.—Singapore was lost in 70 days by bureaucracy, complacency, and a legion of Fifth
by United Press)
Fifth Columnists had swarmed through the jungles and towns of the peninsula for years. The native tribesmen, having been unfairly exploited by some British traders, were quick to accept Japanese
bribes to aid these Fifth Columnists in guiding the Japanese through the jungles which enabled the enemy time and again to outflank the defense forces.
Bureaucratic complacency had stood by in idleness for months, supremely confident that Japan could not drive through the jungles and attack Singapore from the rear and would be forced to make a direct attack on the a. Fea defenses.
Natives Wanted to Fight Lack of air power was another
factor in the. defeat. The defenders opportunity. Hé said He ‘a
had few: planes ‘at the ‘start; none at the finish. hone Chinese volunteers were organized only a week before the invasion of Singapore Island and were sent ‘out to fight with only shotguns against Japanese dive-bombers and tanks. There were no plans to use native man power and no effort to mobilize or encourage the natives to defend Malaya, though the Tamils, a fierce native tribe, wanted to fight the invaders.
Imperials Fought Bravely -
The British never were able to oppose the. Japanese effectively in the air. In the fina) phase of fighting the Imperials were forced to lie hour after hour in the mud while while enemy planes, including dive bombers, attacked them at will. “If we only had something against their dive-bombing we could hold out,” one British artilleryman said after the battle reached Singapore Island. “But how can we fire the (Continued on Page Five)
TEMPERATURE TO DIP T0 10 ABOVE TONIGHT
Rainfall Here .66 Inches During 24 Hours.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES
31 10a. m . 3 31 11am ...27 31 12 (noom).. 26 30 1p. m..., 27
a.m ... a Mm. ... a.m... a.m ...
A “moderate cold wave” can be expected tonight, the Weather Bureau warned in its forecast today, predicting a low temperature of 10 degrees above zero. A “moderate” cold wave just falls short of being a cold wave, the Bureau explained. A cold wave is defined as a 20-degree drop in temperature to 10 degrees above zero or lower within 24 hours. Indiana farms are receiving more than their share of rainfall, the Bureau, reported, but the soil has not thawed sufficiently to soak up the rain. ‘ J. H. Armingtno, chief meteorol-
DISCUSS WAR STRATEGY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (U.P.).~ President Roosevelt today summoned
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice,.
Indianapolis, Ind. Issued daily except Sunday,
PRICE THREE CENTS
FOR15% CUT I GASOLINE USE
Rationing Yet.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (U. P.) — Petroleum Co-ordinator Harold L. Ickes today called for a voluntary reduction of 15 per cent in civilian gasoline consumption in the East but expressed belief that actual rationing is not yet necessary. He disclosed to a House Interstate Commerce Subcommittee that the oil industry had recommended a 7p. m to 7 a. m. daily curfew on all retail gasoline sales in the East. with a complete ban on Sunday sales. Mr. Ickes said that he personally was not convinced of the advisability of a filling station shut down. “Sunday driving,” he said, “is sometimes more essential than ‘Monday driving.”
Favors Pipeline to Gulf
He .told the Committee that he is making every effort to postpone the necessity of rationing and with that objective in view he is asking: the War Production Board to reconsider proposals to construct a 24inch pipeline from the gulf to the East’ Coast. ‘Mr. ‘Ickes ‘added that he is urging industrial plants now using heavy fuel oil to convert wherever possible at the
suggested that the iy mission convert some tankers, Yow carrying gasoline, to the transpor-| tation of light fuel oil to avert all possibility of unheated homes.
Axis Hits at Oil Lines
Mr. Ickes described the submarine attacks on oil refineries at the Dutch West Indian island of Aruba| and on tankers in that vicinity as a serious indication of the “gravity of our shipping situation.” . “The implications of such a bold| thrust against our oil supply lines are indeed ominous,” he added. The threatened shortage was brought about by the diversion to war duties and the sinking of an undisclosed number of coastwise tankers, which normally supply 95 per cent of oil used on the East Coast and approximately the same amount for the Pacific Northwest. He reported favorably on the progress of his office’s efforts to increase production of 100 octane aviation gasoline. But he said exact figures are a military secret.
"Irish Confetti’ Is for Irish Only’
CHICAGO, Feb. 17 (U. P.).— Judge Charles S. Dougherty contributed to the development of the common law today with a decision circumscribing the use of “Irish confetti.” Steve Hassel was brought before the ‘Irish judge in Felony Court, charged with tossing a brick through the window of a tavern operated by his father-in-law, Andrew Tygman. “Are you Irish?” Judge Dougherty asked: “No,” said Hassel. “Then you have no right to throw bricks,” the judge said. Hassel agreed to pay for the window, and the judge placed him on probation.
MALTA DOCK ‘SMASHED’ . BERLIN, Feb. 17 (Broadcast Re-
Wy series—baginning on page { Rihite Haws RE ing follows
sultant today prescribed medicine” for ‘Indianapelis’ growing pains of blighted districts and exodus of residénts to the suburbs.
to coal! Yark = al tu ol tvs
His Besttiphon wai the unifica-
Diagnoses City
ANNEXATION OF SUBURBS URGED
Consultant Also Prescribes Unified Government for ‘Growing Pains.’
By RICHARD LEWIS
A national municipal affairs con“strong
He is Thomas H. Reed of New
a,
intelligent rooting of areas inside the City where the blight: is taking hold and destroying property values,
War Diverts Attention Mr. Reed came here to address
the - Rotary Club at noon on the dual problems of blight and migration which are’ advancing on the City while’ its attention is focused on the war ‘effort.
“Unification and annexation are
the obvious solution to these problems,” he said ig an interview.
“That's strong medicine to take.
But I predict that Indianapolis will take it some day, perhaps in small doses.”
Smoke and dirt and congestion
are the main forces impelling City residents to move out and beyond these nuisances, he said.
“You will never solve your smoke
| problem until you adopt the St. | Louis plan whereby residents must
(Continued on Page Five)
RUSS WORKERS SENT TO FACTORY CENTERS
War Zone Evacuees Move To East, Central Areas.
MOSCOW, Feb, 17 (U. P.). —Soviet
authorities today issued- a decree permanently workers—evacuated from western areas—in the central and eastern regions to which industries and enterprises have been removed.
settling = all Russian
The decree means that millions
who resided in the western provinces until the war will be permanently removed.
“The order provides that the in-
| dustries moved to the east are to be! ders
The return of workers and citi~
zens from the eastern areas to their original homes was banned by issuance of instructions. to local auithorities to repossess all apartments and fill them with workers and employees who have not been evacuated to the east.
FEAR SUB PACK MAY STRIKE AT PANAMA CANAL
U. S. Forces Tighten Guard After Attack on 5 to 10
Tankers in Caribbean.
BALBOA, C. Z,, Feb. 17 (U. P.) — American armed forces tightened Caribbean defenses today against the possibility that German submarine attacks in the Dutch West Indies were a feint in preparation for an enemy thrust at the Panama
. |Canal.
The enemy submarines—one or more of which apparently had been sunk—shelled the Standard Oil refinery at Aruba and torpedoed from five to 10 allied oil tankers off the great Venezuelan oil center of Maracaibo. Five ships were definitely reported torpedoed and five others missing were feared torpedoed with heavy
dead, 22 missing and 18 injured. Bombers Join in Search
Bombers from all United States Caribbean bases were converging on the Aruba area in search of the enemy submarines. Army officials were checking and re-checking the Canal Zone defenses to be on a constant state of alert in evént of an enemy attack. The submarines had penetrated *| deeply into the American defense
tl screen of. West ITudies. islands. to
‘make their attacks in the Aruba area, 600 to 700 miles from the :| Canal Zone. Some officials feared that the attacks were merely a feint in order to cause the United States to withdraw fofces from the Canal to the oil zone and thus leave the way open for a'blow at the vital Panama waterway,
At Least One Believed Sunk
Reports received by Army Headquarters confirmed that three tankers were attacked at Aruba with a strong possibility that others had been torpedoed and sunk. Seven other tankers were believed to be missing which might raise the tota] of tankers attacked to 10. Lieut. Gen. Frank M, Andrews, U. S. commander in the Caribbean, who was at Aruba during yesterday’s attack, reported that at least one of the Nazi submarines which torpedoed the tankers and shelled oil installations at Aruba, is believed to have been sunk. Gen. Andrews said that there was so much oil on the surface of the sea around the Dutch oil island that it was difficult to be certain whether the submarine was destroyed. t J r |» On Inside/ Pages Selective service 1 ceeieiii Page 3 Japan unmasked : Philippines Map Details of fighting |... The war and you
500 WELDERS QuIT JOBS AT SHIPYARD
MOBILE, Ala. Feb. 17 (U. P.).— More than 500 members of an independent welders’ union who said they would quit their jobs rather than take ofit membership in A. F. L. unions, jtoday led a walkout of workers the Gulf Shipbuilding Qarp. w has vital defense or-
Sam ————————— GANDHI MAY SEE CHIANG BOMBAY, Feb. 17 (U.P.).—Mohandas K. Gandhi left Wardha for Calcutta ‘today under last-minute arrangements expected to result in a meeting between the famous In-
dian leader and Gen. Chiang Kaishek.
Youth on Bike Hits Girl on Back of Head: Two Men Attempt to Entice Child Into Auto
ose ana ro. without yn 1 or, woman or To as| Sh
and defiantly told him she did not
| believe the gun was real. He grabbed =| her purse, but returned it when he
found it contained no money, A report that a man, about 30, has been annoying women in an
larea bounded by 17th and 20th Sts.
and College and Cornell Aves. was
loss of: life in addition to two known |
Bags 116 Japs
This is the latest available photo of Arthur W. Wermuth, 28, Chicago, a captain in the 57th Regiment, Philippine Scouts, who has killed 116 Japs and captured many more in the battle for the Philippines. Xo
JAPS ADVANCE IN BURMA PUSH
Australia and Java Get Ready for Thrusts at
Any Moment.
By JOE ALEX MORRIS United Press Foreign Editor Japan's southwest Pacific offensive gained momentum in vital Burma, “today: and- pressure . upon Prime Winston Churchill for drastic ges in’ Britain's war direction reached the boiling stage. The Japanese attack on Burma appeared to be rolling forward rapidly. Java and Australia feared Japanese blows at any moment, The Dutch, pounding at the foe on every possible occasion, sent united nations’ planes over south Surnatra to blast the Japanese-held aircrome at Palembang. Three Japanese transports in nearby waters were attacked, at least one being seriously damaged.
Australia Gets. Ready
} Burma Road and moving _8head
Australia, on an all-out total war basis, anticipated a -Japanese assault on Por} Moresby, New Guinea, any day. The Australian government received an urgent appeal from the Dutch to speed more aid to the vital Java front. The increasingly critical. Burma situation was admitted by British spokesmen both in London and Rangoon. A British commentator in London said there was little hope for arrival of effective reinforcements in Burma from India due to “lack of roads.” The. Rangoon communique admitted a general British retreat in the face of Japanese attacks of increasing severity. - : The British had abandoned Thaton and were falling back to a line along the 'Billin River. The Japanese were within 50 miles of the
” » On War Fronts BATAVIA: Planes attack Japa-nese-held airdrome at Palem-
bang; blast three ships in nearby waters.
SYDNEY: Australia completely mobilized ‘against Japanese attack. RANGOON: Japanese within 50 miles of Burma Road. LONDON: Prime Minister Winston Churchill demands vote of confidence, rejects demand for unified defense ministry. BALBOA: American air and ses
forces hunt German submarines in’ Caribbean.
RUSSIA: Germans admit Russians |*
5th Column
FATE OF JAVA AND SUMATRA HOLDS ANSWER
To Muster Force 3 Times
Size of Japs.
By GEORGE WELLER
Copyright. 1942. by The Ii Tim and Th e Chicago Daily” News) Xe, ted
BATAVIA. Feb. 17.—Cone servative estimates in local military circles of the duration of the struggle for allied victory, which varied from two to five years when Singapore was immunized bith still intact, now range from ° five to 10 years. Should the Javanese Archipelago and Sumatra be lost, experts most familiar with the terrain revise their estimates sharply upward, 15
years being a perfectly ' possible ceiling.
Such estimates are made by recke
oning Japan's present lodgments and extended communications against the formidable difficulties of a running campaign from barren northern Australia, once a rich garden land, Java having been lost,
mistic level the giant American production plans, --
Japs Equal to Germans
“Using as a basis his s expelerica iJ ne the Balkan both béhind and before thé lines, “your correspondent is amply convinced
cussable here that the Japs are in every department of warfare, fully equal with the Germans. Whether the stafr work is Gere man: or not, is immaterial. The execution is beautifully timed and carried out with as near Perfection; as warfare permits. The Japanese transport stem, which brought big armored to the Straits of Johore upon the hour when the causeway was broken, : which has maintained an unceasing flow of bombs and aviation gas to new-gained airdromes well pro= tected with ack-ack, has' solved
of the Balkan and Russian came paigns. In taking Singapore the Japs sent 10,000 men across marshland in the western quarter of the island which British troops had found impassible, Their artillery is reasonably well directed; their mortar fire is imagina~ tive and adaptable; their engineers are quick and efficient.
No Answer to Pincer
Their double-enclosed pincer movement in the jungle advance has still not found a working answer,’ due perhaps partly to heavy British losses under ess aerial attack. The Aus whose hu losses in the attack on Singa represent a problem more difficult to liquidate politically than the similar losses in Greece and Crete, were photographed by airplanes five hours without protection before under<. going the all ht bombardment, Saturday night, which preceded the Jap landings. North from Java the Japs ate almost unchallenged in the ain Each of the few ships which run the Straits of Sumatra has been, given aerial bombardment varying from 57 to 125 bombers and reports from many still are unreceived. =
Match Fortresses
Whatever ' the Americans may have been told elsewhere, the Japs’ navy is fully a match for flying fortresses unaccompanied by fighter escort. However unpalatable these truths
reassurances as were required in your Susrespotident’s Sepuiched
penetrate Gorman lines south hi o
of Smolensk. |
PHILIPPINES: Jap guns wi alr]!
squadrons attack Bataan lines.
CAIRO: R.. A. F. scores torpedo hits on two cruisers and a de-
stroyer in attack on
|Fall Would Compel U. S,
for reasons only incompletely. dise
problems fully equal to the toughest
and ‘unmixed with such sophistical
and measuring at the most optis | :