Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, May 31, 1937, Image 1

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Evening star. [volume], May 31, 1937, Image 1
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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 31 May 1937. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1937-05-31/ed-1/seq-1/>

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ml —
WEATHER. T - ‘ “
(0. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) . .
Fair and warmer tonight: tomorrow TnC Only GVGning paper
fair, warm, followed by thundershowers; in Wnsthincrtrm uritVi
cooler tomorrow night and Wednesday. V* »»f SninglOn With thG
Temperatures—Highest. 85. at 4:15 p.m. ASSOCiatGCl PFGSS NgWS
SmSS*5 *m' “KM- and Wirephoto Services.
New York Stock Market Closed Today Circulation, 8 132,544 cVrru'laUon. 147,209
-___ (Some returns not vet received.)
osft, W \ T? V„ 99 OOQ Entered as second class matter
oULll *\0. oo,JVa. post office, Washington, D. C. OP) Mean* Aaaociated Press TWO OE^TS
--:-=-=—=- 1 .. .=--= --== a
GERMANS SHELL ALMERIA AS REPRISAL
" ' 11 ——■ — ' ■ ■ ■■ — - _ __
STEEL STRIKE RIOT
ENDS WITH TRUCE
AS 5 ARE KILLED
AND 88 INJURED
Illinois Governor Will Re
sume Conference Tonight.
Many Shots Exchanged in
Bloody Clash.
POLICE ARE ON GUARD
AS PICKETS GATHER
Three of Dead Unidentified in Bat
tle at Republic Plant—Guns,
Tear Gas Bombs and Clubs Are
Brought Into Play Before Se
rious Fighting Is Halted.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, May 31.—The death toll
of the bloody riot near the South Chi
cago plant of the Republic Steel Corp.
mounted to live today as strikers,
company officials and police declared
£ temporary truce.
Joseph Rothmand, 40, succumbed ;
of bullet wounds at the Bridewell Hos- ’
pital. The other known victim was
Earl Hanley, 40, who died of a skull
fracture. Three others slain in the
battle remained unidentified.
At least 88 others, including 23 po
licemen. were in hospitals with gun
shot wounds, fractured skulls or
broken limbs.
500 s>hots Declared Fired.
Witnesses estimated more than 500
6hots were fired in the course of vi
cious hand-to-hand combat which a
physician said resembled "a virtual
massacre.”
The participants, including many
Women, used clubs, brickbats, steel
bolts and slingshots, in their attempt
to break through police lines and
close the Republic plant by force.
A police detail of 85 stood guard
around the Republic plant today,
although no further trouble was an
ticipated pending the outcome of a
second conference tonight of Gov.
Henry Homer and representatives of
the company and the strikers.
A small group of pickets, driven
from the vicinity by police last night,
were back at their posts near the plant
gates. Authorities said they would
not be interfered with so long as
"peaceful” picketing continued. In
side the plant 1,400 workers remained
at their posts.
Governor Gives Assurance.
Gov. Horner, who called a hasty
conference of police heads, company
representatives and strike leaders aft
er the battle, said early today he was
"quite sure” there would be no fur
ther bloodshed.
Although the Governor declined to
tlisclose further details, a union rep
resentative who asked that his name
be withheld said an "understanding”
had been reached whereby police and
strikers would take no further action
pending the outcome of tonight's con
ference.
When the rioters left a union mass
tneeting and headed for the Republic
plant at South Chicago, police warned
them that the company's property
rights would be protected. Unable to
halt the rush, officers swung their
clubs, but to no avail. They were out
numbered five to one.
Guns Brought Into Play.
Then guns flashed in volley after
Colley, tear g.| l>*mbs spread their {
choking fumes throughout the battle- I
field, bricks and stones made a verita- ]
ble barrage, and clubs of wood, iron
and lead were wielded.
The bleeding and unconscious forms
of men, and a few militant women
who had joined their ranks, were left
lying on the marshy tract.
Police wagons raced into the prairie
to pick up the injured.
In marching on the plant, strikers '
had hoped to close the Republic mill,
where 1,400 loyal workers have been
turning out steel despite the sternest
(See RIOTS, Page A-4.)
BLUM OFFERS NEW
ARMS PROPOSALS
Trance to Renew Appeal to Rea
son, Says Deladier, in Memo
rial Address.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 31.—The government
Of Premier Leon Blum today prepared
new proposals for the international
reduction and control of armaments
to be presented at Geneva.
Vice Premier Edouard Daladier, sec
ond-ranking member of the People's
Front government, disclosed that the
new disarmament move was afoot
yesterday in an American Memorial
day address at Suresnes Cemetery
amid the graves of American World
War dead.
"France will renew her appeal to
reason in favor of an immediate limi
tation,” Daladier declared, adding
that the movement will become appar
ent within a few days.
Diplomatic circles believed the
French proposals might be made to
day at Geneva by Joseph Paul Bon
cour, permanent French delegate to
the League of Nations.
Daladier spoke at the dedication of
an American Expeditionary Force
chapel, one of seven memorials in
augurated throughout France in the
most extensive French observance of
the American commemorative anni
versary.
* C
.11' 1 7
-
MEMORIAL DAY, 1937 !
Memorial Rites at Fort Stevens
To Close 3-Day Observance
Spot Where Lincoln Watched Battle
Scene of Final Exercises of
Many Groups,
i Pictures on Page B-l.)
Washington today prepared to
bring to a close three days of memo
rial services in honor of the soldier
dead of all wars.
On the battlefield of Fort Stevens,
where President Lincoln stood under
enemy fire and watched the repulse
of the most dangerous Civil War at
tack on Washington, a handful of
survivors of that war were to gather
with local citizens at 3:30 p.m. for
the final major service of the more
than 50 services held during the three
days of Memorial day observances
here.
Hundreds of patriotic societies, or
ganizations of veterans, church groups
and military ynits have participated
in solemn rites at soldier graves in |
Thirty-Three Drivers Begin
Speedway Battle Paced
by De Palma.
BULLETIN.
INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY,
May 31 (A3).—Driving at record
breaking speed, Wilbur Shaw, In
dianapolis, led the 500-mile auto
mobile race over the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway at the end of 100
miles today.
By the Associated Press.
SPEEDWAY, Indianapolis, May 31.
—Thirty-three drivers at the wheels
of perhaps the fastest field ever as
sembled roared away at 10 a.m. (cen
tral standard time) today in the 500
mile automobile race over the India
napolis Motor Speedway.
Thousands of excited fans crowded
the Speedway through every gate as 1
the race started. It was estimated j
that 100,000 were inside at the time
and fully 50,000 more were expected as
quickly as blocked highways were
cleared.
The cars, lined up three abreast in
11 rows, flashed away with the burst
ing of a bomb as the starting signal.
Gray-haired Ralph de Palma, once a
famous driver, paced the racers on the
first lap, while the thousands of spec
tators, sweltering in mid-Summer
heat, stood and cheered as the field
moved away with motors roaring.
The spectators shed their coats for
comfort. The mile-long grandstands
were packed. Countless thousands
drove their cars into the infield for a
close-up view of the race.
De Palma, now 55 years old, led the
racers around the two-and-a-half-mile
track at a speed of 80 miles an hour.
That first lap did not count in the
race and as De Palma swung to the
edge of the track, the drivers stepped
on the gas officially to start their
grueling grind. As they crossed the
starting line the great throng of spec
tators let loose cheers that almost
drowned out the roar of the motors.
Dick Merrill, famous trans-Atlantic
aviator, and Jack Lambie, Merrill's
co-pilot on his recent round-trip flight
over the Atlantic, were the honored
starters. W. S. Knudsen, president
of General Motors, was official referee.
Although 28 drivers and mechanics
lost their lives in previous races and
trials, officials held out hope that to
day's race, the 25th, would have a
minimum of accidents. Two persons
were killed in two separate accidents
during the qualifying trials.
The drivers were battling for prizes
totaling $100,000. The Speedway
hung $60,000, with $20,000 going to
the winner, $10,000 to second place,
$5,000 to third, and fourth $3,500. The
first 10 to finish share in the prise
money.
Arlington National Cemetery and
other local burial grounds and in com
memorative exercises at local monu
ments honoring those who fought for
their country.
The local observance reached its cli
max yesterday afternoon in the gleam
ing marble amphitheater at Arlington
National Cemetery, where more than
6,000 war veterans, leaders in Wash
ington official life, local citizens and
visitors to Washington gathered for
the annual services.
Survivors Attend Rites.
In the presence of 70 survivors of
the U. S. S. President Lincoln, tor
pedoed and sunk 19 years ago today
by a German submarine, a tablet in
honor of the 26 members of the crew
(See MEMORIAL, Page .A-A)
FORD EMPLOYES
Green Opens Fight Against
U. A. W. A. to Enroll Com
pany’s Workers.
BACKGROUND—
The automobile industry was
John L. Lewis’ first major wedge
in his fight against the A. F. of L.
There have been varying claims of
the members carried by the latter
and the U. A. W. A., a C. I. O.
affiliate. In the unionism, fight
in the Ford plants is seen a real
test of the general C. I. O. strength.
The leanings of Ford employes
have been declared totvard. the
A. F. L.
Ey the Associated Press.
DETROIT, May 31.—A battle loom
ed today between the American Fed
eration of Labor and the United Auto
mobile Workers for members among
employes of the Ford Motor Co. and
other automobile producers.
This prospect appeared with the
assertion of F. J. Dillon, an official
of the American Federation of Labor,
that Ford workers have asked him to
help them oppose the U. A. W. A., an
affiliate of John L. Lewis’ Committee
for Industrial Organization.
To Confer on Charters.
The rival union official said he
•would confer in 10 days with William
Green, A. F. L. president, on final
plans to issue local charters in the
automobile industry "to any one.”
Leaders of the U. A. W. A,, which
plans to send its envoys to the gates
of the Ford Rouge plant again this
week, claimed to be unconcerned over
the report of Dillon, f^merly presi
dent of the U. A. W. A.
“Dillon long since has been re
pudiated by the Automobile Workers,”
commented Homer Martin, U. A. W.
A. president, who succeeded Dillon
last August.
No Immediate Strike Feared.
Before these developments, U. A.
W. A. members close to the union’s
high command predicted there would
be no strike at the Ford plant here
this Summer.
One union man 6aid a prolonged
strike during' the production "slack
season,” which already has begun,
would have relatively little effect on
the company, but might demoralize
union forces.
A strike threat In the Fall, when
new model production usually begins,
would be more effective, this source
said, in labor negotiations.
Dillon asserted the C. I. O.’s Ford
drive “is the beginning of the crack
up of John L. Lewis.” He said the
Chrysler agreement was "the first flat
tire for Lewis, but the big puncture
will be Henry'Ford.”
- “The A. F. L. already to in the
(See A. F. iu Page A-fl )
i
RELIEF PASSAGE
Road Fund Earmarking Lone
Difficulty Facing Final Set
tlement of Bill.
BACKGROUND—
Failing in efforts to cut relief ap
propriations by $500,000,000, rebel
lious House bloc then sought to
earmark the bulk of the $1,500.
000,000 authorized in the bill.
Despite efforts of House leadership
to hold members in check, they put
through several amendments, one
of which would cut salary of P.
W. A. Administrator Hopkins by
$2,000 a year.
Ej the Associated Press.
Administration leaders expressed
the belief today they had composed
all differences over the $1,500,000,000
relief bill, except for a proposal to
earmark $150,000,000 for highway con
struction.
They said they were optimistic that
disagreement might be adjusted speed
ily and the measure given final House
approval tomorrow.
Representatives who had sought to
designate specific sums for public
works and flood control were described
as satisfied by an understanding
reached at a week-end conference
between President Roosevelt and
Majority Leader Rayburn. The agree
ment provided that $150,000,000 and
$45,000,000, respectively, would be
spent for those purposes.
Rayburn also talked with the Presi
dent about the highway fund, but
(See RELIEF, Page A-3.1
-•
CRASH ENDS FLIGHT
British Flyer Cracks Up on Cape
to-Croydon Try.
BULAWAYO, Southern Rhodesia,
May 31 UP).—David Llewellyn, British
flying officer, attempting a record
Cape-to-Croydon flight, crashed today
at Serowe, Bechuanaland. The plane
was badly damaged and he was
wedged in his seat. His outward at
tempt ended in a forced landing near
his goal.
French, British
Confer on
Events,
BULLETIN.
German Ambassador Hans Dieck
hoff said today his government
had informed him that it contem
plated no further reprisals against
the Spanish loyalist government in
connection with the attack on the
German cruiser Deutschland.
BULLETIN.
Senator Borah called today for
application of American neutrality
law to “all participants" in the
bombing of Almeria.
By the Assoclatea Press.
LONDON, May 31.—Germany and
Italy withdrew today from the Eu
ropean Neutrality Committee after
bristling guns of German warships
battered the Spanish government port
of Almeria in the first open attack in
the civil war by a foreign power.
Germany and Italy will refuse to
attend future sessions of the 27-nation
committee designed to localize the
Spanish war and keep the peace of
Europe. Germany disclosed, until there
are definite assurances of discontin
uance of attacks such as bombard
ment of the Nazi battleship Deutsch
land.
The disclosure was in a letter by
Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Am
| bassador to London, to Lord Plymouth,
chairman of the Non-intervention
Committee. (Italy simultaneously an
nounced her withdrawal in a state
ment ordered by Premier Mussolini in
Rome.t
Von Ribbentrop's letter said today's
shelling of Almeria, Southern Medi
terranean port, was in retaliation for
Spanish war plane bombardment of
the Deutschland, in which 24 German
sailors were killed and 82 wounded
Saturday.
Neither Italy nor Germany will at
tend future sessions of the Neutrality
Committee until guarantees against
such incidents are received, Von Rib
bentrop's letter made clear.
Announcement of Rome's action was
made by Count Dino Grandi. Italian
I member of the Neutrality Committee.
| in London.
i II Duce demanded not only full sat
l Isfaction for the bombing of the
. Italian auxiliary naval ship Barletta
' off the port of Palma and the death
] of six of her officers, but also guar
antees against repetitions of such at
j tacks.
BLUM CALLS PARLEYS.
PARIS, May 31 (&).—A source close
to the French foreign office said today
| that an immediate "exchange of
■ views” between the French naval min
istry and the British admiralty had
followed the news of the shelling of
TSeFlNTERNAlTONAL, Page A-7.)
--•
MARTHA RAYE IS BRIDE
IN NEVADA ELOPEMENT
Es the Associated Press.
LAS VEGAS, New, May 31 —
Martha Raye, 20, film comedienne
who has appeared on Chicago and
New York stages, and her husband,
Mamilton (.Buddy) Westmore, 21,
I screen make-up artist, were honey
I mooning today while the actress’
mother in Hollywood expressed re
gret over the elopement.
"They promised me they would not
marry for two years,” said Mrs. Peggy
Reed, her mother. After the mar
riage, the bridal party left for South
ern California, but reports from there
were that they had failed to return
today.
Summary of Today’s Star
Page. Page.
Amusements B-16 Radio -A-14
Comics ..B-14-15 Short Story. B-ll
Editorials_A-8 Society-B-3
Lost & Found A-3 Sports ...A-16-17
Obituary ...A-10 Woman's Pg. A-13
FOREIGN.
loyalist liner is reported torpedoed
by insurgents. Page A-l
NATIONAL.
100,000 see start of speedway races at
Indianapolis. Page A-l
Early tax evasion probe is promised
by Doughton. Page B-2
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
Services here end 3-day Memorial day
observance. Page A-l
C. I. O. leaders to push fight on
A. F. of L. Page A-l
Relief truce, House passage seen to
morrow. Page A-l
Court decisions remove “necessity" for
bill, supporter says. Page A-2
Congressional hearings to start on
wage-hour bill. Page A-2
Townsend blast at court bill arouses
erstwhile supporters. Page B-l
Hatch to ask Senate action on unem
ployment probe. Page A-3
D. C. youth, injured in air crash, still
wants to fly. Page B-l
Disabled veteran offers $4.98 for Gov
ernment lighthouse. Page A-5
D. C. officials defer final action on
tax bill drafting. Page B-l
Seven colored persons die in fire near
Crisfleld. Page B-l
Washington man drowned swimming
near Leonardtown. Page B-l
Two killed, 14 hurt in traffic acci
dents. Page B-l
Boy Scout jamboree insured against
every hazard. Page B-l
Fine Arts Commission protests Gobel
slaughter house project. Page B-l
SPORTS.
Griffs undaunted by prospect of in
vading West. Page A-16
Nationally ranked netmen spice city
tennis tourney. Page A-16
Yankee netmen impressive in beating
British Davis Cuppers. Page A-16
Gevinson, police card star, rated
promising ringster. Page A-17
Shute foils jinx in repeating as P. G.
A. champion. Page A-17
Twin greens proposed to end golf
course congestion. Page A-17
EDITORIAL AND COMMENT.
Editorials. Page A-8
This and That. Page A-8
Washington Observations. Page A-8
Answers to Questions. Page A-8
David Lawrence. Page A-9
What’s Back of It All. Page A-9
Dorothy Thompson. Page A-9
Constantine Brown. Page A-9
Healine Folk. Page A-9
MISCELLANY.
Shipping News. Page A-10
Dorothy Dix. Page A-13
Betsy Caswell. Page A-13
Young Washington. Page A-15
Crossword Puzzle, Page B-14
Nature's Children. Page B-14
Bedtime Story. Page B-15
[ Letter-Out. Page B-15
PORT BOMBED WITHOUT W ARNING
BY NAZIS AS BERLIN, ROME QUIT
NON - INTERVENTION COMMITTEE
I
- <• __« -
War Net vs Cuts HulVs Holiday
As U. S. Watches Crisis Closely
By the Associated Press.
SECRETARY HULL cut Short
a brief holiday in Virginia
and returned to Washington
today to study reports from
abroad on the situation created by
the German bombardment of
Almeria.
He and other high administra
tion officials awaited further de
velopments with unconcealed anx
iety.
All withheld comment.
Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles, who had been acting Sec
retary during Hull's absence since
last Monday, came to his office at
the State Department early today
despite the fact that the depart
ment was officially closed for the
Memorial day holiday.
As fast as the State Department
telegraph room received dispatches
bearing on the Spanish situation,
they were rushed direct to Welles.
Hull's aides said they expected
the Secretary to keep President
Roosevelt informed at Hyde Park,
N. Y., of all developments.
JAPANESE POST
Takes Cabinet Out as De
termined Attacks Con
tinue.
F> the Associated Press.
TOKIO, May 31.—The cabinet of
Gen. Senjuro Hayashi resigned today
under the determined attacks of the
major Japanese political parties.
Before he left for the palace to
present his short-lived government's
resignation to the Emperor, Hayashi
summoned an emergency meeting of
his colleagues, in which it was under
stood he placed the issue of their
unpopularity squarely up to them.
The premier remained at the im
perial palace only a short while and
then hurried to a conference with
Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma, president
of the Privy Council.
Hayashi, despite a sweeping man
date to the parties opposed to him in
the parliamentary election the first of
this month, had declined to resign
and had threatened to govern with
out a Parliament if necessary.
.. •
FLIGHTS TO BEGIN
ACROSS ATLANTIC
Imperial Airways Officials An
nounce June 24 for Service
Over Newfoundland.
ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, May
31 (Canadian Press).—Officials of
Imperial Airways announced today
the air line and Pan-American Air
ways would begin trans-Atlantic
flights via Newfoundland June 24.
The announcement did not specify
in what direction the flights would be,
but it was believed here a British
plane would fly from England and a
Pan-American plane from New York,
both taking of! at about the same
time.
The flights, without mail or pas
sengers, would be strictly experimental,
similar to tests made last week over a
proposed route between the United
States and Bermuda.
-•
OIL STRIKE END URGED
BY MEXICAN PRESIDENT
Workers in Other Industries
Asked to Refrain From Join
ing in Crippling Walkout.
B» the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, May 31.—Presi
dent Lazaro Cardenas appealed today
for a quick termination of the national
oil workers’ strike and urged workers
in other industries to refrain from
sympathy walkouts that might fur
ther cripple the nation.
The President's first official pro
nouncement concerning the strike
came as negotiation for settlement of
the strike of 18,000 workers collapsed.
Employers’ representatives withdrew
from an arbitration conference when
the workers presented modified de
mands for increased wages, shorter
hours, longer vacations and pensions.
The new demands were termed
“absurd" by the employers.
The labor syndicate, seeking a
blanket labor contract for the in
dustry, asked a minimum daily wage
of six pesos (about $1.68), vacations
of 30 days, a 40-hour work week with
pay for 56 hours and a pension scale
ranging from 70 per cent after 25
years’ employment to 100 per cent
at 30 years. The legality of the strike,
which started Thursday at midnight,
was recognized by the federal district
of conciliation and arbitration.
■ —--•
D. C. NAVAL OFFICER DIES
Navy Authorities Say Lieut. Tol
son Committed Suicide.
CHEFOO, China, May 31 (£>).—
United States naval authorities said
today Lieut. David Watkins Tolson,
U. S. N., of Washington, D. C., com
mitted suicide Sunday night aboard
the U. S. S. Pecos.
They ascribed nervous depression as
a reason for the act. Lieut. Tolson,
who was 33, is survived by his widow.
4
FOR SINK SHIP
Submarine Torpedoed Loy
alist Vessel, Sinking 50,
Catalan Officials Say.
B} the Associated Press.
BARCELONA. Spain, May 31.—
Catalan government officials an
nounced today they had confirmed
that an Italian submarine launched
! the torpedo that sank the Spanish
passenger liner Ciudad de Barcelona.
They declared 50 passengers were
drowned and several others were in
jured when the ship was sent to the
bottom of the Mediterranean yestcr
| day.
An official announcement said:
1 "Yesterday morning a submarine
which was unmistakably of Italian
nationality attacked a Spanish mer
chant ship in Spanish waters without
any warning.
"The merchant ship continued its
route without being touched by tor
pedoes. One of these torpedoes went
aground on Calella Beach where tech
nical experts, after an examination,
confirmed it waS of Italian manufac
tuie.
"At 3 p.m., the same day, the sub
marine. still in Spanish waters near
Malgrat. attacked the motorship Ciu
dad de Barcelona, which sank in less
j than an hour. Fifty passengers were
drowned; several others injured.’’
REPORTS AT VALENCIA.
Defense Ministry Says Ship Was Sunk
by “L'nknowns.”
VALENCIA. Spain. May 31 I/P).—The
Spanish liner Ciudad de Barcelona,
i heavily laden with passengers, was re
ported today to have been torpedoed
and sunk in the Mediterranean by an
insurgent submarine off Barcelona.
No estimate of possible casualties
was available, but the 3.946-ton vessel
was believed to have left Marseille
with a long passenger list.
Dispatches from Barcelona, govern
ment stronghold on the East coast,
said the attacking submarine was part
of insurgent Gen. Francisco Franco's
naval forces.
The defense ministry of the Madrid- !
Valencia government announced the '
Ciudad de Barcelona was sunk by a
! submarine “of unknown nationality.”
The incident occurred in Mediterra
nean waters patrolled by Italian and
German naval vessels as part of the
London Non-intervention Committee's
blockade to halt men and arms bound
for Spain, in the general region where
other maritime incidents brought
grave international complications to
the Spanish civil war.
Two torpedoes were fired at the
Ciudad de Barcelona, the defense min
istry said. One projectile scored a
direct hit and sent the passenger ves
sel to the bottom, about 37 miles
northeast of the Catalan capital.
The same submarine had earlier at
tacked the Spanish merchant ship
Zorrora in the same vicinity. Two tor
pedoes were launched at the ship,
but she escaped undamaged.
The ministry said the attack on the
Ciudad de Barcelona occurred at 1:30
p.m. (6:30 a.m.. Eastern standard
time) Sunday. Two seaplanes, which I
had been acting as convoy for the 1
passenger ship, immediately opened
| fire on the enemy vessel, but the sub
| marine did not appear above the sur
face.
BULLETIN.
The Fire Department Rescue
Squad and harbor police rushed to
Shepherd’s Point, below the Home
for the Aged at Blue Plains, D. C.,
this afternoon after two boys were
reported drowned in the Potomac
River. As the Rescue Squad left
Its headquarters a report was re
ceived that one of the boys had
been brought to the surface.
No 5:30
Today
Due to the holiday the
5:30 and Night Final
editions of The Star will
not be published today.
Subscribers to these edi
tions will receive the
home edition.
Relief Offi ces
Destroyed in
Fighting.
By the Associated Press.
ALMERIA, Spain. May 31— At least
19 persons, including five women and
a child, were killed today in a Ger
man bombardment of Almeria “with
out warning,” official Spanish
sources declared.
A hasty survey of the wreckage left
by the shells from five German war
vessels counted at least 55 persons In
jured, 39 houses destroyed and eight
others badly damaged.
Heavy property damage was re
ported under the shelling, which lasted
half an hour during the early morning.
More than 200 shells were pumped
into the city, exploding in various
quarters, the Febus reports said.
One of the buildings said te have
been razed by the cannonading was
the headquarters of the relief admin
istration. A first aid station and a
newspaper office also were destroyed,
the agency said.
One heavy German war vessel and
four destroyers, it reported, lined up
outside the harbor to fire the broad
sides.
Coast batteries answered the fire of
the German vessels and the Febus
reports said one of the destroyers was
believed to hava been hit.
He seaport city of Almeria is the
capital of the Spanish Province of the
same name. It is on the Spanish coast
approximately 80 miles east of Malaga,
which was seized by the insurgents
in a sweeping campaign three months
ago. Its population is normally about
36.000.
Tens of thousands of the inhabitants y
of Malaga fled to Almeria for refuge
after the insurgent occupation of the
seaport farther west.
The harbor of Almeria. which ex
ports large quantities of grapes and
other southern fruits, is important
because of proximity to sulphur de
posits.
CABINET IS CONVENED.
Valencia Fears Civil War May B«
Made International.
VALENCIA. May 31 <&• —The cab
inet of Spain's Republic convened
hastily today to meet the grave situa
tion created by a German retaliatory
bombardment of the government-held
Mediterranean port of Almeria.
(Advices received at Hendave. on
the Franco-Spanish frontier, from in
surgent sources, said Premier Juan
Negrin. who recently formed a "win
the war" cabinet, had resigned in fa
vor of Julian Besteiro, veteran So
cialist leader.)
Government officials immediately
established telephone contact with
Julio Alvarez Del Vayo. Spanish gov
ernment delegate at the League of
Nations.
Valencia Is Tense.
The city, temporary seat of the
government, was calm but tense. Its
harassed populace, itself recently
heavy hit by an insurgent air raid,
feared the bombardment of Almeria
would change Spain's civil war into
an open international conflict.
Residents were in a state of con
stant vigilance, alarmed that Germany
might continue its reprisals for the
aerial bombing of the German pocket
battleship Deutschland with an attack
against this city.
Officials made no comment on re
ports that German newspapers wer*
demanding full revenge for the death
of 24 members of the Deutschland's
crew and injuries to 82 others, 18 of
them critical.
Communique Describes Rattle.
A communique issued by the defense
ministry said:
“The military commander at Almeria
sent the following note to the defense
ministry this morning at 8 o'clock (3
a.m. Eastern standard time.):
"'About 5:30 Monday morning
(12:30 a.m. Eastern standard time) I
was advised a cruiser and four Ger
man destroyers were steaming toward
Almeria from the direction of Carta
gena.
“'At 5:45 a.m. (12:45 a.m. Eastern
standard time) these ships were at a
distance of 20 kilometers (12>2 miles),
headed directly toward Almeria and
continuing to advance. When they
were at a distance of 12 kilometer*
(7'2 miles), according to a check by
instruments of coastal defense bat
teries, they opened fire without warn
ing on the people of Almeria.
“ ‘Instead of trying to hit definite
targets they spread their fire over the
whole city, discharging an estimated
200 shells.
“ ‘Coast batteries replied with about
60 shots. It appeared as though one
of the destroyers was hit.
‘"At 6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. E. S.
T.) the German squadron ceased fire
and steamed away, laying a smoke
screen behind it.
Saw German Colors.
“ 'The coast battery observatory?
clearly distinguished the German col-*
ors flying from enemy warships as
they approached Almeria via Cabo de
Gata, continuing until they were op
posite Roquetas, where they turned to
steam directly toward Almeria.
“ 'Spreading out in battle formation,
they obstructed all entrance to the bay.
They likewise departed via Cabo de
Gata, steaming east.
“ ‘A number of buildings were de
stroyed in the city. The number of
killed and wounded cannot for the
moment be estimated.”
I

Evening star. [volume], May 31, 1937, Image 1
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Evening star. [volume], May 31, 1937, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972