Evening star. [volume], October 16, 1939, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Weather Forecast
r«,m th. **>«. Today's War News TODAY
Fair, warmer tonight, minimum tern- ——
perature about 43 degrees; tomorrow ... , . .
, fair; gentle to moderate southwest Nighttime On Europe S Battlefields
winds. Temperatures today—Highest. . _
6i, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 35, at 6 a m. Is Press Time on The Star
Closing New York Morkefs-Solts, Page 20 _ m Mt.n, Al.oei„t,d Pr.lt.
87th YEAR. No. 34,866._WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1939—FORTY-TWO PAGES. *** THREE CENTS.
BRITISH REPULSE AIR RAID ON EDINBURGH
> *
- - ♦ ■■■ —■---_
3 Nazi Planes Reported Downed;
French Blast Massed Reich Army
•- <
Bombs Declared Dropped in
Vicinity of Forth Bridge;
No Civilian Casualties
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. Oct. 16.—German airplanes “attempted to
attack coastal objectives in Scotland this afternoon,” the
British air ministry reported, and the Royal Air Force
“inflicted heavy casualties on them.”
Three German bombers were reported shot down in the Edin
burgh area, one in the Firth of Forth and two on land.
No word of any damage was received in London, although
several bombs were said to have been dropped in the vicinity of the
Forth bridge.
A bulletin issued by the ministry of home security said “reports
received to date indicate there were no civilian casualties arfd no
damage to property as a result of the enemy action.”
The Nazi air raid quickly followed British reports of a successful
reconnaissance flight over Northern and Central Germany last night.
Anti-Aircraft Guns Go Into Action.
A report from Edinburgh said British anti-aircraft guns went
into action just after 2 p.m. today.
Unconfirmed reports there said several planes had been
sighted south of the city in pursuit of other planes. A two
motored plane, presumed by observers to be a German bomber,
was seen flying low between Edinburgh and Turnhouse, a small
town west of the city. Machine-gunfire greeted it, and as the plane
turned north toward the Firth of Forth, an anti-aircraft shell
burst near its tail.
One report said three enemy planes had flown up the Firth
of Forth, the great bay which dents the east coast of Scotland.
Edinburgh is about 500 air miles from Germany.
Shell fragments were picked up in Edinburgh streets after the
firing ceased. No air raid alarm sounded for the city.
Observers said that during the first burst of fire no planes
were visible. Then firing ceased and three Royal Air Force planes
streaked across the sky at low altitude. When they had vanished
the anti-aircraft guns reopened fire.
Docks Believed German Target.
The attack stirred speculation that its objective might have
been docks where Britain is hastening shipbuilding to strengthen
her command of the seas and counter the German naval offensive
which already has destroyed the aircraft carrier Courageous and
the battleship Royal Oak.
Observers also nointed out that *
today’s attack came within three
days of the reports on the sink
ing of the Royal Oak, bringing to
mind Hitler’s threats in his
Reichstag speech of a smashing
offensive against the allies unless
his peace proposals were ac
cepted.
Meanwhile, the admiralty de
clined to comment on a German
statement that a torpedo had ‘‘se
verely damaged" the 32,000-ton bat
tle cruiser Repulse.
An admiralty spokesman, in
answer to a query regarding Ger
man claims on the Repulse, said
officials would not go to the trouble
of “denying all these reports.”
At the same time, naval observers
predicted the new German sub
marine offensive, which sent the
Royal Oak to the bottom and de
stroyed* three allied merchant ves
sels over the week end, would be
quickly brought under control.
These sources interpreted the
fresh Nazi onslaught as Hitler's
reply to Great Britain's rejection
of his peace gestures. They pre
dicted, however, the campaign would
be halted more speedily than the
one German launched at the out
break of hostilities.
In the first four weeks of the
war, it was recalled, enemy sub
marines sank nearly 150,000 tons of
British shipping before First Lord
of the Admiralty Winston Churchill
was able to announce the offensive
had been checked.
Air Defense Speeded.
While Britain’s Navy concentrated
on German undersea raiders the
nation intensified preparations to
meet possible attacks from the air.
Some military men expressed belief
the new submarine offensive would
be accompanied by aerial attacks
on British perts.
Naval experts said that while loss
of the 29.159-ton Royal Oak, one
of Britain's 15 capital ships, was
admittedly a severe blow, it was by
no means critical.
The three merchant ships sunk
were the British-owned 9.205-ton
Lochavon and the French Lines’
10,108-ton Bretagne and 6,903-ton
Louisiane.
No lives were lost in the sinking
of the Lochavon, but at least 15
were reported missing from the
other two vessels. British warships
landed more than 400 survivors of
the three ships in English ports yes
terday.
Survivors of a German submarine
were landed at the same time, but
official dispatches did not say when
or how the submarine had been
sunk.
Attacked Without Warning.
Masters of the three vessels said
they had been attacked without
warning, the skipper of the Bretagne
declaring his first knowledge of the
submarine's presence came when the
wireless room, lifeboats and decks
were shelled. The radio operator
was wounded and seven persons
were killed, a survivor said.
In predicting speedy crushing of
Germany’s latest submarine cam
(See“LONDON, Page A-7 J
Deer Hunter Killed
OROFINO, Idaho, Oct. 16 (A5).—
Robert Lee Caldwell, 25, and his 21
year-old brother Clarence went deer
hunting with three friends.
Clarence spied a gray object in
the brush. He fired.
Robert fell, wounded fatally. The
gray object was his shirt.
A - A
Finns Will Return
To Moscow, but
Date Is Uncertain
Paasikivi Confers With
Helsinki Officials on
Russian Proposals
By the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Oct. 16.—A foreign
office spokesman said today a Finn
ish diplomat mission would return
to Moscow for further talks with
Soviet Russian officials, but added,
“I don’t know when."
The spokesman made his predic
tion shortly after Dr. Juho Kustl
Paasikivi, head of the mission, ar
rived here bearing secret proposals
which Finns feared might menace
their neutrality—or even their in
dependence.
Dr Paasikivi. greeted expectantly
by a city tense with repressed ex
citement, went into conference with
Foreign Minister Eljas Erkko less
than an hour after his arrival. It
was expected the government would
issue a communique commenting
upon his report this evening.
Dr. Paasikivi stepped from his
train to be greeted by government
officials while a crowd of several
thousand stood silent in the back
ground.
The envoy remained at the foreign
(See UNLAND, Page A-3.) _
--.
Liner De Grasse, Armed,
Arrives With 281
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Oct. 16— Armed
with two 75-millimeter guns, one
each fore and aft and manned by
a navy crew, the French liner
De Grasse arrived from Europe to
day with 281 passengers, 47 of them
Americans.
She was the first French passenger
ship to reach here since the lie de
France docked September 8, five
days after France declared war on
Germany. The lie de France is
still here.
Both guns were described as capa
ble of repelling attacks by either
submarines or aircraft.
British Battle Cruiser
Damaged by Sub,
Nazis Claim
U-Boat Which Sank
Royal Oak Reports
Repulse Also Hit
B> the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Oct. 16.—The supreme
army command said today that the
same submarine which sank the
British battleship Royal Oak also
scored a torpedo hit on the battle
cruiser Repulse, putting her out of
commission.
The submarine was said to have
reached the safety of German
waters and a report from her com
mander was expected soon. \
(The British admiralty de
clined to comment on the report
the Repulse had been damaged.
A spokesman said the. admiralty
would not go to the trouble of
“denying all these reports.”)
The Repulse, commissioned in 1916
and reconstructed in 1936 at a cost
of about $5,500,000, displaces 32.000
tons and has a complement of 1,181
to 1,205 men.
Heavier than the 26,156-ton Royal
Oak which was sunk Saturday, the
Repulse carries six 15-inch guns,
19 4-ihch guns, including eight for
anti-aircraft, and eight torpedo
tubes among lesser armaments. She
carries four aircraft With catapults.
The high command announced
later in the day that two enemy
airplanes, one French and one Brit
ish, were shot down during the
night in the region of Mainz and
Frankfort on the Main, and that
two crew members were killed and
five were taken prisoners.
The announcement said a British |
Whitney bomber was brought down i
by anti-aircraft fire southeast of
Gross Gerau between Frankfort
and Darmstadt, with one killed
and three captured.
Latei* in the night a French
Potez 62 scouting plane met a
similar fate near Germersheim
with one killed and two wounded
prisoners taken to a hospital, the
announcement said.
The German command apparent
ly was preparing to close its book
on the Polish campaign.' Its com
munique today announced that with
completion of occupation of the
German zone in Poland, it would
cease reporting from the east.
The war in the west, it reported,
(See REPULSE, Page A-3.)
Dr. Robert Haab Dies
By th« Associated Press.
ZURICH, Oct. 16.—Dr. Robert
Haab, twice President of Switzerland,
died at his home here Sunday. He
was 75.
Barrage Is Laid
On 100 Miles of
Western Front
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Oct. 16.—French heavy
artillery was reported today to have
opened Are on German forces mass
ing behind the western front in ap
parent preparation for a general of
fensive.
Military dispatches said the French
guns were dropping a heavy bar
rage on German communication
lines and troop concentration points
along a 100-mile front extending
from the Moselle River to the
Haardt Forest.
The sector, on the French extreme
left flank, had been reported earlier
in the day in a general stall com
munique as the center of "great
activity” within the German lines.
Supplementary military advices said
a Nazi attack appeared imminent.
Activity Seen at Night. ’
French sources said that recent
reinforcements had increased the
German strength opposite the vital
northern sector of the Maginot Line
to between 700,000 and 800,000 men.
The French said scouting parties,
sent into no-man's land, had re
ported that lights gleamed behind
the German front throughout the
night, apparently indicating that
troops, tanks and trucks were mov
ing up to "jump off” points. The
rumble of heavy wheels was clearly
audible in the French front lines.
German artillery, which previously
had been battering the French rear,
was reported silent all day yester
day. This. French military men
said, was customary before a general
offensive in order to keep secret the
position of new gun emplacements.
Guns of all calibers were said to
be participating in the French bom
bardment. German troop concen
trations were reported observed <n
an area extending back from the
front to a depth of 10 miles.
Peace Appeals Broadcast.
Meanwhile, further to the south,
automobiles equipped with loud
speakers raced up and down on the
German side ol the Rhine broadcast
ing Germany's desire for peace. The
broadcasts included sections of
Fitthrer Hitler's recent Reichstag
speech, particularly those portions
asserting Germany has no quarrel
with France.
In various sections of the front,
German troops unfurled over their
lines banners bearing slogans such
as "Bad luck for those who refuse
to accept Hitler s peace.”
The French said their artillery
answered the appearance of these
banners with well-aimed salvos.
Fog and rain curtailed military
activity along the entire front dur
ing the week-end, although a
French communique last night said
ambushes laid to snare German
patrol had “obtained sought-after
results,” apparently meaning the
capture of prisoners.
Dispatches from the frontier prov
ince of Lorraine said continued rain
had caused the Meuse. Mouzon and
Saonelle rivers to overflow, inun
dating the countryside and hamper
ing communications.
Heaviest Forres Near Treves.
The heaviest German forces, the
French said, were massed opposite
their left flank in the triangle
formed by the German cities of
Treves (Trier), Kaiserlautern and
Kreuznach.
Treves is on the east bank of the
Moselle River, about 25 miles from
the French border. Kaiserlautern is
about 60 miles southeast of Treves,
while Kreuznach is approximately
60 miles east of Treves and 30 miles
north of Kaiserlautern.
Paris military circles said that
while the German troop concentra
tion in this sector might indicate an
imminent offensive, it also might
be a defensive measure designed to
thwart any French surprise thrust.
The French were inclined to be
lieve that if the Germans launch a
heavy offensive, it will come in “a
very few days,” or not for a long
time. The next week week, it was
said, probably will disclose the en
emy’s intentions.
Whatever comes, the French de
clared, their troops will be ready.
The semiofficial Havas news agency
said, “No new mtehod of combat, no
maneuver, will disconcert the French
generalissimo and his collaborators.”
Plane Output Increase Seen.
Military advices reported the
French output of warplanes would
be increased fivefold by next year
through steps taken by Air Minister
Guy la Chambre. By that itme,
they said, the industry would em
ploy 300,000 men and the training
of pilots would be stepped up to
keep pace with production.
French correspondents at the
front, commenting on the courage
Df French flyers and their “superi
ority” over the Germans, reported
one pilot brought his reconnaissance
plane back in flames and landed
crnfafUt Ut. _l_i j .
'-wmtoi vet uau uccu
riddled with bullets while floating
to earth in a parachute.
In this and a similar incident
where another reconnaissance plane
was said to have been landed by a
sravely-wounded observer who took
over after the pilot was killed, "valu
able” photographs were reported
brought home undamaged.
Approximately 30,000 British Bol
sters were reported to have taken
over sectors along the northeastern
Front and received their first bap
tism of lire. They were accom
panied by mobile units of the Brit
ish Broadcasting Co. engaged in
making reoords of battle noises for
broadcasting.
Supreme Court
t
Agrees to Hear
Anti-Trust Cases
Jurisdiction Is Left
Open in Chicago
Milk Appeal
Bv J. A. FOX.
The Supreme Court today agreed
to hear arguments on two Mid
west anti-trust cases the Govern
ment had lost in the lower courts,
but left open the question whether
it would take jurisdiction in one.
The case in which review was
granted involved prosecution of oil
dealers: the other is directed against
Chicago milk handlers.
The court also announced that
it probably would take jurisdiction
in an important case for railroad
labor which deals with the authority
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to impose protective guar
antees for labor displaced in con
solidation proceedings.
The court agreed to review a de
cision of the Federal Circuit of New
York - denying the Amalgamated
Utility Workers, a C. I. O. affiliate,
the right to press a charge of con
tempt against the Consolidated Edi
son Co. of New York for alleged
violation of a National Labor Rela
tions Board order.
It appeared today that the court
might announce next Monday if it
will review the anti-trust case
against the American Medical Asso
ciation and the District Medical
Society. The case is on the confer
ence list of the court for next Satur
day.
Involves 12 Companies.
The oil case, in which the court
granted a review, involves 12 oil
companies and five individuals who
were convicted in Madison, Wis.,
in 1937, of conspiring to raise and
fix the prices of gasoline in 10 Mid
western States.
In reversing this conviction, the
United States Court of Appeals said
the case should have gone to the
jury on the question of whether
there was unreasonable restraint of
commerce instead of the question of
whether there was an anti-trust vio
lation.
The court will hear arguments on
November 13 in the milk case, in
which 43 individuals and 14 corpora
tions were charged with conspiring
to fix prices and suppress competition
and control the supply in the Chicago
(See SUPREME COURT, Page A-3.)
First Germans to Quit
Estonia Thursday
Br the Associated Press. „
TALLINN, Oct. 16.—The first ship
load of German emigrants to leave
Estonia under the Reich’s resettle
ment program was expected to leave
Thursday.
A mixed commission reached an
agreement that all property would
be registered to the special account
of the German Legation, but that
any transfer abroad must not injure
the Estonian balance payments.
The emigrants' cash and deposits
were estimated at 5,000,000 kroons
(about $1,250,000). Total capital in
vestments were estimated as high as
$200,000,000.
Communist Leader
Declines to Answer
False Passport Query
Max Bedacht Also
Silent on War Aid
Before Dies Group
By JAMES E. CHINN.
Max Bedacht. an avowed member
of the National Committee of the
Communist party in the United
States, declined to tell the House
Committee on Un-American Activi
ties today whether he had traveled
to Russia on false passports.
The witness also refused to answer
a question as to whether he would
support the United States if it be
came involved in war with Russia.
Refuses to Answer Question.
Mr. Bedacht, who appeared before
the committee with Joseph R. Brod
sky, New York lawyer who previously
had represented William Z. Foster
and Earl Browder, was asked
whether he had traveled on an illegal
passport. He turned to his counsel
for a brief conference, and said:
“I refuse to answer that question.”
“On what ground?” inquired Rep
resentative Dempsey, Democrat, of
New Mexico.
“On my constitutional ground,”
Mr. Bedacht replied.
“It’s a grand thing that the Com
munists have the Constitution to
wrap themselves up in, isn’t it,”
remarked Mr. Dempsey.
“It's a grand thing for many
others, too,” said Mr. Bedacht.
Passport Probed.
The committee was told by Rhea
Whitley, its counsel, who directed
the questioning of Mr. Bedacht, that
he had information from “State De
partment flies that the first time
a passport ever had been issued to
the witness was May 10, 1933. Mr.
Bedacht had told of making a trip
to Spain at that time with a ship
ment of medical and other supplies
(See UN-AMERICAN, Page A-15.)
Argentine Trade Pact
Is Declared Threat
ToU. 5. Farmers
Western Senators
Warn Committee for
Reciprocity Information
By BLAIR BOLLES.
Seven Western Senators—four of
them Democrats—today warned the
Committee for Reciprocity Informa
tion that approval of the proposed
Argentine tjade agreement without
change in its proposed tariff con
cessions would threaten a large sec
tion of " American agriculture and
Jeopardize the continued existence <
of the trade agreements program.
Under the program, the executive 1
branch of the Government can send
existing tariffs up or down 50 per
cent without specific congressional
assent.
At the opening of hearings at the
Tariff Commission on the Argentine
agreement. Senator Johnson, Demo
crat, of Colorado, protested that if
concessions on agriculture commodi
ties are extended, “America in the
end will become a wholly industrial
country dependent on foreign
sources for food supplies, and vulner
able in times of war as Great Britain
is now.”
Independence Declared Envy.
“Our present economic independ
ence is the envy of the world,” Sena
tor Johnson said.
Without stating the case quite so
broadly. Senators O’Mahoney, Dem
ocrat, of Wyoming; Frazier, Repub
lican, of North Dakota; Gurney,
Republican, of South Dakota; Cap
per, Republican, of Kansas; Adams,
Democrat, of Colorado, and Con
naily, Democrat, of Texas, echoed
Mr. Johnsons view.
Furthermore, Mr. Connally and
Mr. Adams, as well as Representa
tives Andresen, Republican, of Min
nesota, reminded the committee
that Congress gave the executive
branch the authority to change the
tariffs and that Congress can take
it away.
Senator Connally said;
“I voted for the trade agree
ments program, but occasionally I
have repented my vote. We don’t
feel so kindly toward Argentina that
we want to hurt our own farmers
to help the Pampas cowboys. We
don’t want to build up industry
which in already bloated and over
extended. Congress appropriated
$700,000,000 out of the Treasury last
year to be spent for the aid of agri
culture, and we don’t want to go
now and harm agriculture.”
Suspicions Aroused.
When he observed that the po
tential injury to agriculture in the
proposed Argentine agreement made
him suspicious of the worth of the
agreements, program. Senator Con
nally added that "those are my
views as well as the views of most
of the Democrats as well as the
Republicans in Congress.”
Mr. Connally found that the
" (See ARGENTINE, Pago A-ll.)
Neutrality Bill
Credit Clause
Is Dropped
Pittman Announces
Strictly Cash Plan
Will Be Substituted
By J. A. O LEARY.
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee agreed
today to drop the provision for 90
day credits on shipments to bellig
erents from the administration’!
neutrality bill in order to make the
plan strictly “cash and carry" with
repeal of the arms embargo.
This move, announced by the
Nevada Senator as the third week of
debate began, deprives the isolation
ists of one of the arguments they
have been using against the bill in
the debate thus far. to the effect that
90-day credits would provide an
entering wedge for longer credits.
Although administration leaders
are confident they already have a
substantial majority to pass the bill
in the Senate as soon as the discus
sion runs out. elimination of the 90
day credit feature is likely to
strengthen their position.
While supporters of the bill were
taking this step, Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Idaho resumed debate,
speaking against repeal of the em
Ka rrro
Credit Provision.
The short-term credit feature
which Senator Pittman announced
he will strike out was in the title
and-carry section and reads as fol
lows :
"Provided. That if the President
shall find that such action will serve
to protect the commercial or other
Interests of the United States or ita
citizens, he may. in his discretion,
and to such extent and under such
regulations as he may prescribe,
except from the operation of this
section ordinary’ commercial credits
and short-time obligations in aid of
legal transactions and of a char
acter customarily used in normal
peacetime commercial transactions,
but only if such credits and obliga
tions have maturities of not mora
than 90 days and are not renewable.
"If any government, political sub
division or person to which credit
has been extended pursuant to the
authority vested in the President
under this subsection is in default
in all or in part upon any obliga
tion to which extension of such
credit relates, no further extension
r\f r>rari i t ___ _
litic&l subdivision or person shall be
made or authorized under this sub
section during the period of such
default. The President shall report
to Congress every six months any
and all exceptions granted under
this subsection together with the
amounts of credit involved."
Pittman Explains Action.
Explaining the decision to drop
this discretionary credit feature.
Senator Pittman said:
“The committee, in view of the
fact that the proposed substitute
amendment to the House bill will
have to pass the House of Repre
sentatives, gave some consideration
to the action of the House with ref
erence to such proviso. Again, the
committee considered that the pres
idential discretion would be gov
erned by the opinion of the Attor
ney General of the United States
in construing the Johnson Act, which
contained no such proviso as herein
proposed to be stricken out.
‘‘It being the contention of the
committee to require settlement in
cash or cash equivalents as defined
by the Attorney General. I deem it
wise to avoid any confusion or any
misunderstanding by striking out
the entire proviso.”
The Johnson Act referred to by
Senator Pittman was sponsored by
Senator Johnson, Republican, of
California a number of years ago
and prohibits foreign governments
with unpaid debts to the United
States from obtaining any loans in
this country.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press
reported. Speaker Bankhead told his
press conference that he was con
fident the neutrality bill would pass
the House.
He made that statement in response
to a request for comment on state
ments of some Senators that there
was a House majority of from 20 to
30 for repeal of the embargo.
Opposition Strategy Discussed.
A dozen opposition Senators met
to discuss strategy against the ad
ministration bill today and reported
afterward they were in “no hurry’1
to reach a final vote.
Senate leaders had hoped to start
consideration of amendments in mid
week and to obtain a final vote next
week.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota told reporters that "debate
will run all this week—we may get
(Continued on Page A-7, Column 1.)
Republican Senator
Backs Administration
Senator Warren R. Austin,
Republican, of Vermont wili be
the guest speaker tonight on
the National Radio Forum
over WMAL at 10:30 o’clock.
Discussing the reasons for a
Republican Senator support
ing the administration’s neu
trality revision program, Sena
tor Austin will speak on
“Changing Embargoes for Na
tional Defense.”
The National Radio Forum Is
arranged by The Star and Is
heard over a coast-to-coast
network of the National Broad
easting Co.
i|j Embargo Bill! Solois r
S™ ben: bass.
StHI JOHNSON. DRUMS.
'ART VAN! SAXOPHONE
"ijj "Neutmye, flute:
:'N ( BADGER STATE BOB" VioLIH
1-7—
.
Senate Poll Favors Quitting
After Neutrality Action
% Only 24 Believe Congress Should
Remain During Emergency
By the Associated Press.
Sentiment was strong in the Sen
ate today for winding up the spe
cial session as soon as action has
been completed on neutrality legis
lation.
An Associated Press survey showed
46 Senators contending that it w'ould
be unnecessary for Congress to re
main in session until the regular
meeting on January 3.
Only 24 Senators said that they
believed Congress should remain in
Washington “for the duration of
the emergency." “as long as the war
lasts,” or until the regular session
convenes. Twenty-one said that
they were undecided, declined to ex
press their views, or could not be
reached for comment.
Three other Senators—Nye, Re
publican, of North Dakota; Dana
her, Republican, of Connecticut, and
McCarran, Democrat, of Nevada—
argued that another special session
would be necessary if the arms em
bargo were repealed. S enator
Downey, Democrat, of California,
expressed a similar opinion by say
ing that it would be "entirely safe
for Congress to go home” if the ad
ministration's neutrality bill were
beaten.
Andrews Favors Adjourning.
Senator Andrews. Democrat, of
Florida, however, took the position
that enactment of the embargo re
peal bill would make it unnecessary
for Congress to stay.
President Roosevelt has recom
mended that the session be confined
to neutrality revision and that Con
gress then adjourn. He suggested
that its leaders remain here to keep
in touch with him on European de
velopments.
Much of the sentiment for keeping
(See CONGRESS. Page A-3.)
The War Situation
German planes attempted to
raid the coast of Scotland today,
the British air ministery an
nounced, but the Royal Air Force
inflicted heavy losses on the at
tackers, a commupique said. The
announcement followed an asser
tion by the admiralty that Brit
ish planes had made scouting
flights over Germany last night.
British naval observers confi
dently declared that the new
German submarine offensive
would be brought quickly under
control. (Page A-l.)
French heavy artillery was re
ported today to have opened fire
upon German troops reported
being massed, behind the western
front in preparation for a gen
eral offensive. A heavy barrage '
was reported being laid down
upon communication lines and
troop concentration points along
a 100-mile front extending from
the Moselle River to the Haardt .
Forest. (Page A-l.)
The German submarine which
sank the British battleship Royal
Oak also scored a torpedo hit on
the battle cruiser Repulse, put
ting her out of commission, the
supreme army command an
nounced in Berlin. The British
admiralty declined to comment
on the report the Repulse had
been damaged. The war in the
west was still inactive, the Ger
man command said, with only
minor skirmishes and artillery
fire. (Page A-l.)
Administration leadership in
the Senate agreed to amend the
arms embargo repeal bill to pro
hibit all credit to warring gov
ernments. Chairman Pittman of
the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee proposed the amend
ments which would wipe out the
present bill’s provision for credits
of not more than' 90 days. This
pro^sion had been criticized by
many Senators on both sides of
the arms embargo controversy.
Page A-l.)
Or. Juho Kusti Paasikivi, Fin
nish emissary to Russia for the
negotiations on the Soviet's pro
posal's to the Helsinki, was back
in his capital today discussing
:the proposals with the Finnish
President and foreign ministry.
It was declared that he would
return to Moscow for further
negotiations, but it was not
knbwn when he would do so.
! (Page A-l.)
Russia’s negotiations for ex
tending her hegemony over the
Baltic and Balkan areas were
slowing down, with mere com
promise agreements expected to
result from conversations with
both Finland and Turkey. Mos
cow circles expected the Finnish
envoy to return within five days,
but in any case not before the
Scandinavian rulers meet with
the President of Finland Wednes
day in Stockholm. (Page A-4.).
Lompiete inaex rage a-4 i
t J
Two Henhouse Raids Foiled
By Guns; Two Believed Shot
The moon or something was wrong
for stealing chickens in nearby
Maryland last night.
While one thief in Carroll County
was running off with more buck
shot than poultry, another, in a way
of speaking, was following fast in his
footsteps in Prince Georges County.
Joseph Royer of Mount Airy
opened up with a shotgun on a man
trying to enter his henhouse, and
the intruder fell, whereupon two con
federates broke from the shadows,
one with a repeating rifle.
The man felled rose to his feet
and ran while the man with the
rifle covered the retreat of all three
across a cornfield, the Associated
Press reported. Sheriff Walter
Shipley was looking today for the
a
three, one of them, generously
sprinkled with shot.
At the same time Prince Georges
police .were looking for a thief be
lieved to have been wounded in an
equally unsuccessful attempt to rob
a hen roost near Ritchie Station. Roy
Fowler sgid his barking dogs routed
him from bed about 11:30 o’clock and
he ran outdoors.
He saw a man fleeing his chicken
house and opened fire with a shot
gun. Fowler said the man screamed
when he fired, but continued run
ning.
Police have asked physicians and
hospitals in Washington and vicin
ity to report any patients who looked
as If they might have tried to steal
chickens in Maryland last night