Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 July 1944 — Page 1

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VOLUME. 55—NUMBER 113

FRIDAY, JULY 21,

Ind

194

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice

ianapolis 9, Ind, Issued daily except Sunday

PRICE FOUR CENTS

| “The Crack Has Not Yet Come In Germany But The Ice Is Getting Thin’

By NAT A. BARROWS 5

Times Foreign

Cqrrespondent STOCKHOLM, July 21.—Whatever the true story behind the attempt on Hitler's life may be, it is clear this afternoon that the pot has begun to boil inside Germany.

While the hombardment

of speculations, half-truths

, and unconfirmed rumors befogs the situation, the German version more than suggests that Hitler is confronted with .. a serious break in the loyalty of high army officers who

have apparently engineered a

plot on his life,

His appointment of Gestapo Chief Hginrich Himm-

ler as head of the army in the homeland is signifioant of the extreme seriousness in which the Nazis find themselves amid the pall of continuing retreats on three fronts. Any talk that Himmler himself plotted the attack in order. to increase his power can be discounted when it is

realized that the Nazis could not afford to tell the German people about an opposition group giving false orders unless the existence of such a group was a real and

dangerous act.

* Hitler contradicts his own disclosure of a “small un=

important clique” when he carefully warns Germans to

|ROLL CALL STARTS, | BANKHEAD IS F [RST

Truman Gains in Massachusetts, Illinois.

CHICAGO, 1, July 21.—As the roll call of states was started at the Democratic convention at 12:33 p. m. today, the name of Senator John H. Bankhead of Alabama was the first to be placed in nomination for vice president. ‘ By LYLE C. WILSON United Press Staff Correspondent CHICAGO STADIUM, July 21.—The Domecrats met in

their fifth convention session|

today to pick a running mate

for President Roosevelt with} supporters of Vice Presi_dent Henry A, Wallage claiming

new delegate strength but with Senator Harry 8, Truman of Missouri Massachusetts’ 34 first ballot votes and a good chunk of Illinois’ 58 votes on the second ballot. Chairman Sam Jackson gavelled the session to order at 12:12 p. m. With Mr, Roosevelt nominated for a fourth term, it remained for the delegates to settle a contest between the left and right wings of the New Deal-Democratic party and either renominate Wallace or retire him to Iowa.

Wallace Claims 580 Votes

Wallace claims of additional strength were voiced by Harold Young, the vice president's secretary and campaign manager, who said that since yesterday his man had inéreased his total of promised votes to 580, nine short of a majority. The Massachusetts decision to go for Truman on the first ballot was the best of news for the Missourian. This was one of the largest blocs

of votes that had been uncommit-|

ted on the first ballot. Mayor Edward J. Kelly of Chicago, Illinois Democratic léader,

{Continued on Page 3—Column 4)

Inside Convention News

Wallace's Courage FDR Accepts at Naval Base ..,

¥ 5 7 ¥ 5 hy y TERR AE x a Vice President Wallace is shown with Judge Richard Mitchell, Ft. Dodge, Jowa, (right) who will nominate Wallace today.

Mercury Climb Forecast After Coolest July 21

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

6am ....4 am... 67 ‘Tam....58 lam... 8 Sam..... 61 12 (Noem).. 72 Sam.....4 1pm ...73

A new all-time record for July 21 was recorded at the weather bureau today when the mercury slid down to 53 degrees at 3 a.m. The previous low record was 54 in

1877. The shivering temperatures will stay. today and tonight, the weather chief predicted, but: it - will get warmer tomorrow, According to the five-day forecast, the temperatures will average near normal with a rising trend during the first half of the period and cooler by Tuesday. Precipitation will average one-fourth inch or less, occurring as scattered thundershowers Sunday night or Monday.

BLAST PROBE OPENS

Bidens

Text of Platform

Css dranes

PORT CHICAGO, Cal, July 21 {(U. P.).—A naval hoard of inquiry

Possibility of Jackson Also

Reynolds and Gabagan ......... Hide and Seek by Wallace ....,. Texas Revolt ....... ns ivre ean ‘ew Henry J. Taylor Barkley ‘Eats Own Words’ ....

6! {meets here today fil open an in8 | vestigation into the Uxplosion Mon9 (day night of two ammunition ships 9 [that killed 323 persons,’ injured 9 hundreds and did millions of dol-

masa ase wn

MNUTT TO GET INDIANA'S NOD

Seen in Contest for -

Vice President. -

By EARL RICHERT Times Staff Writer CHICAGO, Il, July 21.—The name of Paul V. McNutt was to be placed in the Democratic vice presidential hopper today by National Committeeman Frank MecHale in the hope that possibly the former governor might turn out to be just the man wanted by the national convention delegates as a compromise choice. While Mr. McNutt was the only Hoosier scheduled to be nominated, friends of Senator Samuel D, Jackson, permanent chairman” of the convention, were saying that the junior senator should not be overlooked as a compromise possibility. Anything can happen, they said, if the Truman and Wallace forces deadlock. ) And their line of reasoning, while it may be on the day-dreaming side, seems worthy of reporting since most observers agree that anything can happen oh the vice presidential sicnation, if there is a deadlock.

YANKS INVADE

Beachheads

—U. S. assault troops landed on Guam early Thursday and seized beachheads on the first American island to fall to the Japanese in the Pacific war, a communique announced today.

Peri reas er aarti

Pegler Editorial: ‘Roosevelt Accepts’

10 lars of damage to military and ci- . 10 vilian property.

Denny: 'Democrat Platform ~~ Masterpi

(Text of Platform, Page Six) By LUDWELL DENNY Scripps-Howard Staft Writer CHICAGO, July 21.—<The Democratic platform is a masterpiece of evasion, Of course it stands flatly on the administration's: record, because it must. And it places the indispensable man only a little be-

TIMES FEATURES

ece of Evasion’

low omniscience, which was expected also. After all, he is the platform in person. The Republican platform was weak in some of its compromises, but compared with the Democratic wobble it is \a tower of strength. Here are the highlights: VICTORY AND PEACE: Both pledg® total victory, and participation in & world court and in.international organization for a just and lastihg peace. But, while the G. O. P. specifically opposes a world state,

GUAM, 1ST OF IAP SEIZURES

Are Taken} Against Moderate " Opposition.

By FRANK TREMAINE United Press Staff Uorrespondent

PEARL HAREOR, July 21.|

Army and marine forces still were pouring ashore today under cover of a mighty sea and air bombardment and against only - “moderate

HOOSIER HEROES: Three local ‘men on new lists of war dead; three missing. Page two. ground opposition,” Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’ early-morning announcement revealed. The invasion of Guam, a pre-war | naval station 1579 miles | of Tokyo, followed by only

First reports indicated that the initigl opposition was not as strong as that encountered at Saipan, but the island's 225 square miles as compared with Saipan's 71 may foreshadow a longer campaign. The landings were believed to have been made on the southern end of the island. The invasion came while: Japan was in the midst of its gravest political crisis of the war. Only yesterday, Tokyo announced the fall of the war lord cabinet of Premier

Execution of High

is no confirmation whatsoever of

beware of false orders of this “small group” and then includes soldiers in this warning, indicating that this

- group actually is widespread.

At the moment it appears that Himmler is still able to control the internal situation. Lacking solid facts, observers in even such a listen-

firmed here. Allied readers should not indulge in overoptimistie

ing post as Sweden can only guess what is really going on

inside the Third Reich. But it can be assumed that Himm-

ler is wasting no time in his new job.

Reprisals certainly are sw

: impossible that liquidations

Leaders to Aid Allies.

By WILLIAM H. STONEMAN Times Foreign Cerrespondent.

LONDON, July 21.—The attempt on Hitler's life yesterday will unquestionably create widespread confusion in the armed forces and it is thought likely in London that the dis-

may be extensive in the officer caste

of the army and fairly widespread in the luftwaffe. The impending purge of defeatistminded officers, which is bound to be carried out on a vast scale, will {further complicate affairs in the German high command and react directly to the benefit of the allies. For the moment, however, there

border reports that there is a civil war in Germany and the tendency is to discount the icGeas that the Nazis have lost or are about to lose control either of the armed forces or of the home front.

No Food Shortages

Germany, as the London Times points out today, has not yet suffered the actual shortages of food and the terror of starvation which finally shattered the home front in 1918 and so long as the Nazi leadership combines an efficient organization of food supplies with an ef-

Gen. Hideki Tojo as an aftermath jof the conquest of Saipan with a] {naval base and airfields 1439 miles | below Tokyo.

and the big guns of battleships,| cruisers and destroyers from the] powerful 5th fleet paved the way for the landing

days—the most intensive ever] mounted for any amphibious operation in the Pacific war.

Landings Successful

The terrific barrage of bombs and | shells reached its peak as tiny assault boats, amphibious tanks and! tractors and other landing craft put | ‘out from transports and moved toe! ward the flame-bathed shore in the early-morning darkness. All the landings were effected as planned, a spokesman announced, indicating that nowhere were the Americans kept off the beaches] where they wished to move ashore. The size and scope of forces involved was described as comparable |

In the first place, Democratic

National Chairman Robert E. Han-|

REPORT ANTI-WAR RIOT “IN BUDAPEST

‘60,000 Demonstrate, Many Killed, Ankara Hears.

ANKARA, July 21 (U. P.).—Many

when 60,000 demonstrators, parading in Budapest on Sunday morning and shouting that “We don't, want to fight for Hitler,” were fired upon by Hungarian police and German soldiers, travelers arriving here from

(Continued on Page $—Column 6)!

persons were killed and wounded |

| 000 men. Falls Dec. 11, 1941

i Guam, southernmost and largest {of the Marianas islands, fell to the Japanese Dec. 11, 1941, four days after Pearl Harbor. The Japanese claimed to have captured 300 prisoners. The island is 30 miles long, four miles wide at its northern end and 8% miles wide in the south. The southern two-thirds of the island are rugged with hills rising to 1000 feet, while the northern third comprises a dry plateau 300 to 600 feet high, Dive bombers,. torpédo bombers,

the carriers of Vice Adm. Marc A. ‘Mitscher, commander of famed task force 58, began the softening-up of Guam for invasion even while ground forces were still mopping up

Hindreds of carrier-based planes es)

with an almost | non-stop bombardment lasting 17|

to those who landed on Saipan— |

presumably three divisions or 45,-

high level bombers and fighters from |'

{ficient organization of its well{tried methods of repression, there is no serious doubt of its. ability to 'hold the situation at home. For the united nations, the way still lies in ‘military victory, and in ithat alone. Belief that the plot behind the attempt was fairly widespread is {based on the fact that Hitler, {Doenitz and Goering took such | pains in their broadcasts early today to prevent the armed forces from carrying out the orders of “conspirators” and “mad generals.” Goering's stern injunction to the luftwaffe against accepting orders from anybody but himself and Col. i Gen. Stumpf, newly appointed com{mander of the luftwaffe within Germany, proves that there are “usurpers” within that organization.

Army Speakers Missing

The fact that no spokesman for {the German army appeared at the | microphone indicates that the lead{ers of that section of the armed | forces are widely open to suspicion. Nobody probably will know just how many people were concerned {in the plot until the details of the foPthcoming purge see the’light of day. If indeed there is a revolt of some kind: in the armed forces, nobody will be happier than those very people in London who today look cautiously at the whole affair and refuse to base great hopes on it. “Where was Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel?" was the first question that sprang to people's minds after hearing successive broadcasts by Hitler, ' Adm. Karl Doenitz and Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering,

Where Were Old Leaders?

Were Marshal Karl Rudolph Gerd oF Rundstedt, who was superseded in France by Field Marshal Guenther von Kluge, on July 6, and Gen. Alexander von Falkenhausen, who was relieved of his command in Belgium and Holland, on July 18, mixed up in the business?

sidence which inspired -the attempt .

eeping Germany and it is not of many important army

Gen. Ludwig Beék -, , . executed as revolt leader.

the view expressed sven before the

STRIKE HITLER. ‘GHOST’ EXHORTS

‘Mystery Radio Voice Tells Of Bloody Battles in Germany.

LONDON, July 21 (U. PJ). — A mysterious ghost voice interrupted the German announcer reading a eommunique today to assert that] “Himmler is bringing SS troops | into action against the Wehrmacht, | and bloody battles are taking place; inthe German homeland.” i The voice was reminiscent of “Ivan the Terrible,” the radio ghost| which haunted Nazi radio programs with its interruptions during the] opening days of the Russo-German | campaign. Much stronger than the German] announcer, the voice interspersed | declarations such as, “The Germans| of the Wehrmacht lmve risen against Hitler. A new Reich government has been formed against | Hitler.” | Its timing was perfect. Each time

(Continued on “Page 3—Column 3)

Inside War News

Page| Allies Gain in Normandy .......

2000 Planes Bomb Reich .....c... 2] Cabinet Crisis in Japan ......es0 3 Ernie Pyle in Normandy ......... 9

Shows Rising

WASHINGTON, July 21 (U, P). —Secretary of State Cordell: Hull, warning - against “over-optimism,” said today the attack on Adolf Hitler clearly indicates that the realization of Germany's “impending defeat” is spreading in the Reich. The appointment of Heinrich Himmler as commander-in-chief of the home front, Hull said in a formal statement, is an illustration of the ‘s'téadily deteriorating military position of Germany.” But he

ON INSIDE PAGES - ||the Democrats try to hook the in-|Europe reported today. Saipan. _ It was certainly significant that a “i ternational police force minority| These sources reported that! For the last I1 days of the pre=|R0Pody cared -or dared to mention with this ambiguous bait: “Such |Cristof Kallay, son of the former liminary 17-day bombardment, | '°, Dames® of known conspirators Amusements ..12| Inside Indpls. . 9|organization must be endowed with| Premier Nicolas Kallay, one of the battleships, cruisers and destroyers| “nd almost equally significant that Eddie Ash ....14| Jane Jordan ..17|power to employ armed forces when ringleaders of the demonstration, of the 5th fleet added their’ yr no pledge of loyalty was forthcomComics ..... ..17| Ruth Millett . ih necessary.” The: G. O. P. favors was arrested while attempting to|to the crushing rain of steel and ex- | ID8. from or on behalf of any imCrossword ....17|Movies ...... 12|“effective co-operative means to di-|cross the Slovakian border. ° plosives that gradu silenced portant leader in the German army. Editorials ....10| Obituaries .... 5 rect forces,” but it also stresses the . enemy shore a yally ulverized| The assumption was that Hitler Fashions ..... 13! Pegler .. ...%.. 10 need for a strong and independent! HIT 3 JAP VESSELS pillboxes and wrecked other shore and Himmler themselves still did Mrs. = 13| Ernie Pyle .:.. 9 U. 8. military force. ~~ ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, installations, not know just how widespread the Pinancial ....111Radlo ........ 17] RIGHTS OF SMALL NATIONS: Southwest Pacific, July 31 (U. P..| In other Pacific actions, navy Lib- | PIO was Forum :.:....10| Mrs. Sah 9 The Democrats evade this issue ~Mitchell medium bombers sank or erator bombers, possibly from bases Whatever the story 1s, the atFreckles ...... 17| Side fanees. 10/with a blanket reference to the At- damaged three more Japanese mer- on Saipan island, attacked Chichi tempt and what lay behind it are ~ Meta Given ..13| 14iantic Charter and the four free-fchant Tessie in i srnued strikes | Jimi and. Haha Jimi fn the Bonin |Profoundly important for the effect ; Burton Heath 10| State Deaths - 8 doms. The Republicans say “vio enemy shipping through the | islands, 650 miles from Tokyo, Tues- | S3eY Will have on the German peo- . In Indple, 3| Up Front ..... TE ° -- |Dutch East Indies, it was announced day, damaging 11 seaplanes set- | Die A In Service wn ‘Women's News. 13 toddy, + ting fire to four coastal , by og Bdigagoly Times :

First Crack in 'Brittle’ Nazi Regime Seen in Reich Revolt

By LOUIS F. KEEMLE United Press Foreign Editor The best appraisal of the upheaval inside Germany at this early date when so many of the facts are not known appears to be that of the authoritative British Press association. The agency's diplomatic correspondent sees it as a “fissure in the facade of German solidarity behind Hitler.”

Fall of Lwow Expected Soon ..... 2| |plies a well-organized and highly

Hull Says Attack 6n Hitler

The Nazis still appear to be in

officers already have taken place. Rumors that the army and Waffen S.S. (Elite guard) are fighting are not con-

thinking about the ramifications of this attempt on Hitler,

full control but it is an en=

couraging sign that army generals are showing definite*

signs of wanting to get out of the war before it is too

late to save their own necks and military reputations.

The crack has not yet come in Germany but the ice

is getting thin.

Marshal Wilhelm Keitel . . , may have been in revolt.

That corresponds with present occurrence by United Press correspondents familiar with the Nazi set-up at first hand. These observers believe Hitler and his Nazis, despite their iron grip on German life, are vulnerable at a ‘time of desperate national peril |

like the present. The first attempt

at revolt might not succeed, but it could pave the way for another and greater which would. \ The Nazi regime has been described by one of these observers as “prittle” and likely to go to pieces like glass under extreme pressure or a heavy blow. This, then, may be a first “fissure” or crack in the glass. A suspicion that the present affair may have been staged like otner ‘Nazi hoaxes is voiced by Lord Vansittart, formerly British permanent foreign undersecretary and an implacable foe of German militarism.

Revolt Looks Genuine

He advances plausible reasons for the belief, such as the effect in allied countries and the opportunity it affords Himmler to get even a greater strangle-hold on the home {ront. One thing more than any , other, however, makes this look like a genuine revolt. That is the strange and insistent warning by Hitler, Goering, and others to members of the armed |forces and civilians to disregard “orders” given by the rebellious group. Goering advised that if any doubt exists about such orders, they should be confirmed by telephone. The use of the word “orders” im-

placed group capable of giving them and of seizing communications to disseminate them.

HITLER ‘BLOOD BATH NIPS REVOLT AS RINGLEADERS

Gen. Beck, Former Army Chief, Is A Victim.

By JOSEPH W. GRIGG United Press Staff Correspondent

LONDON, July 21.—Adolf Hitler opened the floodgates on a Nazi blood bath today in reprisal for an abortive revolt which threatened fo plunge

|Germany into civil war, as

Berlin announced the execution of Col. Gen. Ludwig Beck, former chief of general staff, as a ringleader of the antiHitler conspiracy. Gestapo Chief Heinrich Himmler, newly vested with the command of all armed forces in Germany, appeared to have sent his legions of vengeance on a ruthless hunt for dissident and suspected elements, with the wheels of “Nazi justice” already grind

ing out their tol. Nazi broadcasts emphasized that the revolt was “completely crushed,” and Hitler seemed to be in firm cone

LONDON, July 21 (U. Pl Marshall von Kluge, commander in chief in western Europe, was reported by the Transocean news agency today te have issued a proclamation of his loyalty to Adolf Hitler to “soldiers in the west,” in which he said: “For us there will be no repetition of the year 1918, neither a repetition of the tlaliah example.”

trol again—at least for the time being—with all communications out of Germany fully’ in his service. The Transocean News agency ree ported in a broadcast dispatch that “certain precautions taken in the center of Berlin for a short time Thursday evening were all that could be seen. No shots were heard and no barbed wire visible.” The ambiguous wording was not Clarie fied. Gen. Heinz Guderian, Nazi panzer expert, .has replaced Gen. Kurt Zeitzler as army chief of staff, Transocean reported. The agency said Zeitzler’s retirement “caused by illness in recent weeks.” Hitler struck back with the same speed and fury that characterized the first great blood bath of Gere many on June 30, 1934, which wiped out the last sizeable faction of open anti-Zazism in the reich.

First Prominent Victim

His first prominent victim was Beck, one of the most distinguished figures in German-military life. The DNB news agency, in announcing his execution, said “there is reveals ing proof of his contact with an enemy power. This evidence is the card on which Germany's enemies apparently staked everything.” Another already executed was Col. Count Hans Schenk von Staufe fenberg, .member of the German

Sense of Doom

Hull pointed out:that the “frantic attempts” of Hitler to restore unity of the Gérman command also illustrates “divergence of views” between the German army and the Nazi party. “But no amount of internal reshuffling or repression by Hitler can conceal from the German people the fact that many German generals believe that Germany has lost The, 58 war,” Hull said. ; It was the ‘first official American]

genera] staff, named by the Nazis las the officer who planted the bomb |which exploded at a conference of the military hierarchy yesterday. It burned and bruised Hitler, killed one

other gold-braided high officers in touching off the gravest internal crisis the Nazis have known. DNB said Beck, chief of the gens eral staff until Nov. 1, 1938, for years ‘had “played a part in hostile announcements of an imminent general putsch in Germany.” £ A tightly controlled curtain of

was |

of his colleagues, and wounded 13