Evening star. [volume], November 16, 1939, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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European Purchases
Of U. S. Merchant
Ships Held Likely
Belgian Interests Are
Considering Buying
Black Diamond Freighters
Outright sale of a number of
American merchant ships to Euro
pean governments seemed to be
shaping up today as it was learned
that Belgian interests are consider
ing purchase of Black Diamond
Ltne freighters thrown out of Euro
pian srevice as a result of Neutrality
Aft restrictions.
Count Robert van der Straten
Pbnthoz, Belgian Ambassador to the
United States, discussed the matter
yisterday with Undersecretary of
State Sumner Welles and with of
ficials of the Maritime Commission.
• Less Opposition Seen.
Indications have been given by
Government spokesmen that there
wjiuld not be the same opposition
to outright sale of vessels to Euro
pean interests that there is to simple
registry transfers to other countries
ii» the Western Hemisphere.
.^Utilization of one of the American
lifters drawn out of European service
was provided yesterday when the
Hbuse of Assembly in Bermuda em
powered its Trade Development
Board to complete a contract with the
Tinted States Lines for operation
o# the President Roosevelt in the
Ntfew York-Bermuda service.
^A subsidy of $4,800 weekly is called
far in the contract, with the ship be
ginning its new service on Decem
ber 16.
War Exports Held Up.
;>leanwhile, in another aspect of
our war-affected trading relations,
the State Department is holding up
issuance of a number of licenses for
war exports pending further infor
mation from manufacturers as to
their terms of sale to belligerents.
mi uiuLitu CA^jmuicu ^cniauBj
that under the new neutrality law,
providing for “cash-and-carry” sales
to nations at war, manufacturers
ate required to fufrnish more infor
mation in order to get the licenses
than was required under the previ
ous act, and some of them, it was
said, had not realized this fact.
•The principal new requirement is
that manufacturers now must state
their full terms of sale.
tin Los Angeles it was reported
that fulfillment of airplane orders
for France and England was being
delayed pending a State Depart
ment regulation on what constitutes
“dash-and-carry.”
The department spokesman said
"cash” to the department means
cdsh on the barrel-head, and “carry”
means that no American ships can
transport the arms to a belligerent.
War Map Supplement
Proves Boon to Teachers
In line with the trend established
by local schools which are using the
special War Map Supplement pub
lished by The Star October 30 as a
modern text, teacher* attending the
Mossouri State Teachers’ Conven
tion at St. Louis are reported to be
making good use of newspaper maps,
according to an Associated Press
dispatch.
Newspaper maps have been life
gavers for the average school teach
er who tries to keep up with the
present territorial juggling abroad,
the Associated Press said in a dis
patch from St. Louis today.
"It is next to impossible to keep
maps up to date and teachers at
tending the convention explafn they
are making good daily use of the
ones published in their local pa
pers,’ it was reported.
Mapmaker exhibits at the con
vention have been a center of at
traction from the time the conven
tion opened for the visiting teach
ers, who are working their note
themselves are working overtime,
the Associated Press reported, ex
plaining it is no fault of theirs if
today’s map is obsolete tomorrow.
The Star’s war map supplement
now is available on heavy paper for
use as a ready reference atlas.
Patrick H. McGowan,
Newsman, Is Dead
Patrick H. McGowan, veteran
Washington newspaper correspond
ent, died early today in a hospital
at Laurens, S. C., after a brief ill
ness, according to the Associated
Press.
Mr. McGowan, known to most
Washington newspapermen as "Pat,”
had returned to Laurens, his native
town, last Monday for a visit, tell
ing friends he was in need of a
rest. He was stricken ill at his ho
tel yesterday, the Associated Press
reported, and although his condi
tion was not considered serious he
was taken to the hospital, where he
died early today.
Mr. McGowan, after being asso
ciated with a number of South Car
olina newspapers for several years,
came to Washington, where he rep
resented several of Southern news
papers during his long career here.
He was a brother of the late Ad
miral Samuel McGowan.
He was said to be about 67 years
old.
Surviving Mr. McGowan are a
daughter, Miss Susie McGowan of
Washington, and a sister, Mrs. Rosa
McGowan Cantey of Jamaica, Long
Island.
~• ^*****W»c-:• T'rr' r~r -1 ~ --'rFri Ti)T«
LONG BEACH, N. Y.—DEATH STEPPED IN—Patrolman Alvin
Dooley (left) of the Long Beach police force is shown shaking
hands with Mayor Louis F. Edwards at a recent Patrolmen’s
Benevolent Association meeting. Yesterday the Mayor was shot
and killed on the steps of his home, and Dooley was charged
with the slaying. —A. P. Wirephoto.
Germany Fighting
British Supremacy,
Says Nazi Source
Will Have No Peace Terms
To Offer Till Victory
Is Won, It Is Said
£y the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Nov. 16.—An authori
tative source announced today that
Germany had decided to “fight until
British supremacy in the world is
destroyed."
Germany, this source said, “will
have no peace terms to offer until
such a victory has been won.”
The statement was made in con
nection with the German reply to
the mediation offer of the Nether
lands and Belgium and in answer
to the question. “What might Ger
many's peace terms be?”
No Question of German Terms.
Germany's reply to the mediation
offer, made orally by her foreign
minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop,
was a polite “No.”
“It is no longer a question of Ger
man peace terms," the Berlin offi
cial stated.
“Such a question might be raised
in Paris and London, but not in
Berlin. Wa are far beyond that and
there will be no peace terms until
we reach success. We are as ready
to fight as we were for peace."
This source said there was specu
lation throughout the world over
why Germany (Ud not attack.
Fear of Attacking Denied.
“The speculators assert we need
to attack to keep up morale,” he
said, “or we must attack the south
east, for (foreign minister) Von Rib
bentrop needs a success to show the
Fuehrer.
“We have no fear of attacking,
but intend to let military judgment
choose the time and not to be
goaded into it by foreign propa
ganda.
His statement emphasized that
it “would be a great mistake for the
outside world to get the impression
there was weakness here.”
Today’s communique of the Ger
man high command was confined to
four words: “No special events yes
terday.”
Allied Claims Discounted.
German sea warfare is more active
than communiques indicate, the
official German news agency, DNB.
asserted, discounting British and
French claims of success against
German submarines.
DNB said an “uninterrupted’’ flow
of reports reached German au
thorities yesterday and today of
British shipping losses. Names of
the vessels were not specified, how
ever.
Announcement yesterday that one
submarine had reached port after
sinking 26,000 tons of enemy ship
ping gives only "a limited picture of
actual German successes,” the
agency declared.
Low Ebb of War Action
Shown by Communique
PARIS, Nov. 16 (ff).—A minimum of
war activity on the western front
was reported today by the French
general staff, which announced in
a communique that there was “No
notable news during the night.”
News of war on the sea was con
fined to a statement by Blockade
Minister Georges Pemot that 223
297 tons of merchandise consigned
to Germany had been sized by the
French Navy up to November 10.
M. Pernot. reporting to the Cham
ber of Deputies Foreign Affairs
Committee yesterday, said the seiz
ures included 100.000 tons of raw
materials and 35.000 tons of perto
leum.
Observers at Hague
Think Fear of U. S.
Stayed Hitler's Hand
Theory Is Advanced That
Involvement Was Seen
Over East Indies
By ROBERT J.‘CASEY,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
THE HAGUE. Nov. 16.—That
Fuhrer Adolf Hitler must strike
within six months or find his great
army immobilized, and that existing
sentiments between the United
States and Japan held up his
prospective invasion of Holland,
were two aspects of information
being circulated via neutral observ
ers here today. There were reports,
which experts seem to credit, that
Russian friendship for the Nazis
cannot be translated into terms of
gasoline and that Germany’s re
serves are running low. 'And there
is a report, a bit more nebulous,
that Der Fuehrer's generals foresee
a fine row in the Far East if the
Dutch are cut off from their col
onies.
«-<ne nnas it easy to accept the
story about the oil, for even in
peacetime The Hague has been the
headquarters of a most amazing in
telligence service for the petroleum
industry. There are dozens of men
hereabouts who could always tell
you within a few barrels just how
much any nation is producing or
consuming. It is the home town
of the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Co.
the second largest organization of
it*->Mad>te the world, and oil has
been the greatest single factor of
Holland’s political and economic life
for many years.
Uses 8,000,000 Tons Yearly.
Figures as they filter out of Berlin
are these:
Germany's nomal peacetime con
sumption of oil is 8.000,000 tons a
year, virtually all of which had to
be obtained outside the sphere of
Nazi influence. At the beginning of
the war, experts estimate, Ger
many’s reserves totaled 3.000,000
tons. Synthetic production ac
counted for another 500,000 tons.
It was believed that the Russian
alliance would open a new source of
supply, but the coy attitude of the
Russians has persisted. The Rus
sians are operating strictly on a
cash-and-carry basis, with emphasis
on the carry. The transport of oil
from Russian fields to Germany is a
matter of long river haulage, with
no adequate service. Because of the
shallow condition of such rivers as
the Danube, it would be necessary to
use small, shallow tankers, of which
there are only a few in the world.
Oil men here figure that a fleet big
enough to supply normal needs of
the Nazis would total nearly 10,000
boats, all of which would have to be
built for the job.
Pointing out that the building
and operation of even 1,000 such
tankers would be impossible, ex
perts believe that Hitler could hope
to get from Russia and Rumania
about 1,500.000 tons a yfear. This,
added to his 3,500,000 tons of re
serves, still leaves him 3,000,000
tons short of his peace-time re
quirements, and it becomes bbvious
that he must do something about it
within the next few months or put
his motorized divisions back into
the garage.
Believed Bar to Big Push.
Oil is also the principal factor in
the situation which thousands of
Hollanders believe will be responsi
ble for not starting the big push.
This conclusion is a bit more com
plicated.
Holland's wealth has come largely
from the Dutch East Indies—Su
matra, Java, Borneo, New Guinea—
and the Dutch East Indies, in addi
tion to coffee, rubber, cotton, in
digo, rioe, kapok, gold, silver and
tin, produce somewhere around
8,000,000 tons of oil a year.
The Dutch always have been on
friendly terms with the British,
whose great naval base at Singapore
is little more than an easy swim
from the largest refinery in Sumatra.
But long before now they have
looked uneasily upon Japan’s pro
gram of expansion with full cog
nizance of Japan’s need for oil.
Hereabouts one cannot find a single
voice to deny that the invasion of
Holland would be an immediate in
vitation to the Japanese to take
over the Dutch Indies. And that is
where the United States comes in.
On what basis, one cannot know,
but there is a general belief in Hol
land that Hitler held his hand
last Saturday because he believed
that in such event America would
be forced to forestall Japan and thus
become involved willy-nilly as an
active participant in the war—not a
well-documented theory, perhaps,
but interesting. And when you look
out across the barbed wire and
“water defenses” toward the silent
German Rhine on the southern
frontier, you do not have any trouble
believing It s
(Copyright, IMA CUmw Dag* Dm, Km.)
h
WAR MAP
SUPPLEMENT
As Printed in Monday’s Star, Oct. 30th
■**■A Reprint of this section on heavy*"*"
smooth-finish Paper, NOW ON SALE
at The Star Business Office, 11th and
Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
10c PER COPY, by Mail 15c
e "What's happening in Europe"—the changes in
name and area of territory, fortifications, naval
bases, cities, borders, boundaries, etc.—graphically,
told in a complete eight-page section. Invalu
able for reference as you seek intelligently to follow
the course and significance of future war developments.
Delay in Cruisers
Indicates U. S. Feels
Treaties Are Ended
Possible Revision in
Design Seen to Meet
'Pocket' Ship Menace
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
Indications that the United States
Navy no longer feels bound by any
of the world naval treaties, which
have been junked one by one as a
result of the aggression of the to
talitarian powers, were seen today
in the Navy Department s restudy
of plans for the new cruisers Co
lumbia and Cleveland.
At the same time, Senator Wheel
er, Democrat, of Montana demanded
a congressional investigation to
place responsibility for construction
of “topheavy” destroyers for the
Navy. Senator Wheeler declared
he could see "no excuse whatever
for a thing of this kind happening”
and thought the facts should be
laid before Congress before addi
tional defense appropriations are
voted.
The Navy Department has ac
knowledged that some of the newest
type destroyers, under certain con
ditions of sea and maneuvering,
were not as stable as the Navy
would like to have them, but an
nounced that modifications were
being made which would correct
the trouble.
Center of Gravity Lowered.
The changes include shifting am
munition stowage space to a lower
point in the hold, lowering the cen
ter line, of torpedo tubes and using
lighter furnishings and equipment
topside, it was explained.
Acting Secretary of the Navy
Edison, in a press conference yes
terday, said of the new destroyers:
“They are eminently satisfactory, as
good as we or anybody else has got.
They are at sea in all kinds of rough
weather in the neutrality patrol and
none has turned over.”
Senator Wheeler, however, said
he has been “reliably informed”
that it is “extremely difficult, if not
impossible, ever to remodel a top
heavy ship, even at great expense,
so that it will thereafter perform
satisfactorily.” If Government per
| sonnel is responsible, he said, repri
! mands and dismissals should follow;
if the shipbuilders are at fault,
“they ought to be made to pay dam
ages.”
Treaty Limit Off Now.
Mr. Edison announced that con
struction of the two cruisers is being
delayed for a possible revision of
design to meet the menace of the
German “pocket battleship” type.
Under treaty limitations American
cruiser design has been restricted
to 8.000 and 10,000 ton sizes. Asked
point blank whether these limita
tions would apply if it is decided
to change the design of the new
cruisers to enable them to meet such
powerful opponents as the German
10,000-ton battleships, the Acting
! Secretary declared emphatically
i that there will be “no limit on size.”
Coupled with the decision of the
United States to go from the treaty
limitation of 35,000 tons on capital
vessels to the 45.Q00 tons of the two
giant new battleships now under
construction, Mr. Edison’s statement
is regarded as an indication that
the United States no longer feels
itself bound by treaty limitations,
which are being ignored by other
Dowers.
Would Match German Raiders.
Although he Indicated that the
Columbia and Cleveland may be of
heavier tonnage and different de
sign from other American cruisers,
Mr. Edison said the question of
their design still is in the hands of
the Navy General Board. The board,
he said, is considering a type of
design which would make the new
cruisers a match for such vessels
as the German Deutschland and
Admiral Scheer, which now are
thought to be on the high seas,
supposedly in the role of commerce
raiders.
Should they be fitted to cope with
the German type of ship, which
combines guns of near battleship
caliber with cruiser speed, the Co
lumbia and Cleveland would have
to be of a type entirely new to the
United States Navy, approximating
in capacity the battle cruisers of
Great Britain and France, though
undoubtedly on a smaller scale.
The British battle cruisers are the
world’s largest warships today.
U. S. Has No Such Vessels.
As it stands, there are in the Brit
ish and French navies only five
vessels suitable for use in the at
tempt to run down and destroy the
German pocket battleships. The
United States Navy has no vessels,
except its battleships, which could
stand up ship to ship against the
Germans with any hope of success.
Our Navy at one time was build
ing vessels which would have out
matched the German pocket vessels
in both speed and weight of guns.
These were the battle cruisers Lex
ington and Saratoga. They were
sacrificed to treaty limitations, how
ever, when well along under con
struction and were converted into
aircraft carriers and never have
been regarded as wholly satisfactory
for the purpose.
While Mr. Edison indicated that
the Navy Department does not re
gard the German pocket battleship
as a serious threat, he indicated
that it is considered of sufficient
importance as a new type of naval
vessel to warrant the most careful
study of its possible effects on
American naval design.
White House Aides
Appointments Announced
Reappointment of Capt. Daniel
J. Callaghan, U. S. N., as aide to
the President and of Lt. Comdr.
Walter R. Jones, commander of the
U. S. S. Potomac, as senior White
House aide was announced today
by the Navy Department.
At the same time the department
announced the appointment of six
new Navy and Marine Corps White
House aides and the reappointment
of three others.
The new aides are Lt. Jesse L.
Phares, U. S. N.; Lt. Herbert D.
Riley, U. S. N.; Capt. William D.
Saunders, jr., U. S. M. C.; Lt. Onnte
P. Lattu, Navy Supply Corps; Lt.
(j. g.) William Outerson, TJ. S. JJ„
and First Lt. Jean W. Moreau,
U. S. M. C.
Lt. John F. Newman, Jr„ on duty
aboard the Potomac; Capt. Robert
E. Hill, U. S. M. C., and Lt Donald
J. MacDonald, U. S. N, were re
assigned for continued duty as
White House aides.
i*
The War in Europe—Day by Day
*
Reich's Success or Failure Likely to Depend on How Much Hardship
Germans Can Endure Without Breakdown in Morale
By DE WITT MacKENZIE,
Awociated Pres* Foreign Affairs Writer.
More and more it looks as though
Hitler’s success or failure in this
war will depend on how stout the
hearts of his people are in enduring
harsh privktion.
He is drawing on their fortitude
right at the outset of a life-and
death struggle when their morale—
their will to do—should be stimu
lated to the highest degree. He is
banking on the efficacy of the Nazi
discipline which he has imposed.
The general public has been put
on a rigid clothing ration, in ad
dition to the food restrictions already
existing.
The order limits men to one suit,
one shirt and five pairs of socks
annually. Women are permitted one
suit, one morning dress and six pairs
of stockings. Children’s allowances
correspond. *
That rationing announcement was
one of the most significant, despite
its brevity, to come out of Europe
since the war started.
Reich Prepared, Hitler Says.
Between the lines you can read
much. You see determination to
face and odds—precautionary prep
arations for a long war—already a
shortage of materials, which is caus
ing anxiety—and perhaps fears that
after all Russia isn’t going to make
up the great deficiency which Ger
many is bound to encounter unless
she can get outside supplies.
This situation, of course, is exact
ly what the allied blockade is aim
ing at—to crack the civilian morale
of Germany. Hitler retorted the
other day:
“This war will be easier than that
of 1914. We are prepared economi
cally this time. Neither militarily
nor economically can we be de
feated.”
Be that as may. the Reich has
piled up reserve supplies—just how
many nobody except o^cialdom
knows. It has been anouhced that
there is more than a full year’s
reserve of wheat and rye on hand—
8.600.000 tons.
Officials claim that so long as
Germany has fairly good harvests
and the Balkan granaries remain
open, the grain reserve need not be
touched. Indeed, they boast that
they can defy the blockade.
Germany Lacks Cash.
Many neutral economic experts
get a different slant on the situa
tion. Germany has to import some
20 per cent of her food. The Balkans
cannot supply this deficiency, al
though Russia possibly could if she
would. There are vital war mate
rials which neither the Balkans nor
Russia can produce—and the block
ade cuts those off.
One of Germany's great difficulties
is that she lacks cash with which
to buy from those neutrals still open
to her. Perhaps because of this
some of the Balkans have been sell
ing for gold to the allies supplies
which Germany needs and normally
would get.
Thus much depends on Russia’s
intentions toward Germany and the
Soviet ability to deliver the goods—
if it wants to.
However, there is a good deal more
involved that Russian willingness to
co-operate.
The East Prussian newspaper
Koenigsberger Allgemeine Zeitung
recently put a point on it like this:
“Certainly the present state of
affairs compels one to estimate con
servatively the transportation facili
ties available for supplying Ger
many with raw materials of Rus
sian origin. Hense, every article
must be examined carefully as to
how essential it is for Germany.”
Ultimately the whole thing likely
will simmer down to the question of
how much the German people can
take in the way of physical hard
ships without a breakdown of mo
rale.
Unless Herr Hitler manages to
snare the bird of peace.
'Feast of Business'
Seen Eliminating Need
For Rail Subsidies
Wheeler, However, Urges
Law to Bring All Carriers
Under I. C. C.
By the Associated Press.
The railroads are undergoing a
change "from a famine of business
to a feast,” Senator Wheeler. Dem
ocrat. of Montana, said today, add
ing that this would eliminate the
necessity for subsidies or big Gov
ernment loans to the carriers.
Senator Wheeler, chairman of
the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee, said legislation still was
desirable to bring all forms of
transportation, including water car
riers, under the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Such legislation was approved by
both House and Senate earlier this
year. Senator Wheeler said a Joint
committee probably would meet De
cember 10 to adjust differences be
tween the two bills. He predicted
final enactment early in 1940.
“The great upturn in railroad busi
ness definitely eliminates any neces
sity for Government subsidies or
huge Government loans to the car
riers,” Senator Wheeler told re
porters. "Railroads are entitled to
have their competitors regulated in
the same way they are and they
should have fair and equal treatment
He said the railroads, on the whole,
“have come through the last 10 years
of depression about as well as other
industries.”
The Montanan added that one
problem growing out of increased
railroad business might be a shortage
of rolUng stock.
“There is no doubt that the rolling
stock of many railroads has been
neglected," he said. “If business
should continue to increase, the op
erators may find themselves in a
jam for want of new equipment.”
A different view came from Presi
dent J. J. Pelley of the Association
of American Railroads. In a report
to his organization, Mr. Pelley as
serted that with the repair of old
equipment and the purchase of new,
“there is no question but that the
railroads will be able to meet trans
portation demands regardless of
their extent.”
Mr. Pelley said 60,000 cars and
100 locomotives had been repaired
under a rehabilitation program
adopted September 19 and that the
carriers would buy 65,000 cars and
300 locomotives this year.
City News in Brief
TODAY.
Turkey dinner, Grace Lutheran
Church, Sixteenth and Varnum
streets N.W., 5-7 pm.
Dinner, Cosmopolitan Club (La
dies’ night), Mayflower Hotel, 6:30
pm.
Dinner, Traffic Club, Mayflower
Hotel, 6:30 p.m.
Dinner, Daughters of Isabella,
Mayflower Hotel, 7 pm.
Dinner, Bishop's Council, Boy
Scouts of America, Mayflower Hotel,
7 pm.
Dinner, United States Chamber of
Commerce, Carlton Hotel, 7 pm.
Council meeting. Beta Gamma
Phi Sorority, Ambassador Hotel,
8 pm.
Meeting, Free Lance Writers,
Shoreham Hotel, 8 pm.
Meeting, Sigma Phi Gamma So
rority, Wardman Park, 8 pm.
Meeting, League of Laymen's Re
AMiiyiiuwer novel, b pjn.
Meeting. Lido Civic Club, May
flower Hotel, 8:30 pjn.
Inter-Fraternity Pledge Council,
George Washington University, Ho
tel Annapolis, 8:30 p.m.
Conference, General Executive
Board of International Ladies’ Gar
ment Workers’ Union, Willard Hotel,
all day.
Meeting, Young Friends Club.
Raleigh Hotel, 8:30 pjn.
Meeting, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Sorority, Raleigh Hotel, 7:15 pm.
Dinner, Cosmopolitan Club, May
flower Hotel, 7 pm.
TOMORROW.
Luncheon, Reciprocity Club, May
flower Hotel, 12:30 pm.
Luncheon, Community Chest Cam
paign, Willard Hotel, 12:15 pm.
Dinner, National Paint Salesmen's
Club, Wardman Park Hotel, 8:30 pm.
Meeting, Washington Institute of
Public Accountants, Willard Hotel,
8 pm.
Dance, United States Forest Serv
ice, Raleigh Hotel, 9 pm.
Dance, Department of Labor Post,
American Legion, Mayflower Hotel,
10 pm.
Dance, Polish Club of Washington.
Wardman Park Hotel, 10 pm.
Dance, Washington School for
Secretaries. Carleton Hotel, 10 pjn.
Dance, Junior Order, United Amer
ican Mechanics, Masonic Temple,
• pjn. 1
' *
This Changing World
Reich Moves to Strengthen Axis
As Latest Overtures for Peace Fail
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.
All peace efforts, through a third
party or direct from Berlin have
been dropped. This decision is re
ported to have been taken by the
military and political strategists in
Berlin last Tuesday. The lines of
the axis must be strengthened and
the totalitarian war against the de
mocracies must proceed henceforth
with full speed.
Field Marshal Goering, who is
more tactful and more likeable than
any of the other Nazi emissaries,
was sent post-haste to Rome to
make sure that Italy does not
abandon ship while going into
action.
Ribbentrop. who was supposed to
be the smoothest man in the Ger
man government, has become offen
sive since he got it into his head that
he is a super-Bismarck. He tries to
imitate the German Iron Chancellor
and all he has taken from him is a
roughness which fitted well the old
arch-Junker but does not go quite
well with the young Nazi diplomat.
Among other things, Goering is
supposed to allay any apprehensions
Mussolini may have^in regard to the
U. S. S. R.
As the Germans see the situation.
Mussolini is not more concerned
about the progress of communism
in the world than Hitler himself.
But his great fear is that the Rus
sians will take hold of the Balkan
states which are still the pets of
II Duce.
Reports from Berlin indicate that
Goering will re-assure Mussolini on
that score. He is apparently author
ized to say that all Russia wants is
an outlet to the Mediterranean via
Turkey, and her military actions in
that section of the world will be
confined to obtaining a through
corridor from Russia to Turkey by
way of Bessarabia, Eastern Rumania
f V-, rv ,J(- 1
- —«iiu uuiKaua.
Mussolini's speech yesterday urg
ing his people to keep their rifles bv
the bedside is indicative of II Duce’s
frame of mind. Italy will remain
neutral, it is believed in diplomatic
quarters until something happens to
show the strength of Germany and
Russia. It may take months before
Italy declares herself; it all depends
on whether or not the German gen
eral staff decides to attack on the
western front and how successful
such an attack will be. It also
depends on Russia's future military
activities.
* * * *
Nobody here or abroad knows
where the axis powers will strike
next. The war of nerves against
Finland is considered as a prepara
tion for an attack if and when
Germany decides to move in the
west. If the German general staff
considers the climatic conditions on
the western front too uncertain to
start a large-scale offensive the
betting is that something is bound
to occur in the Balkans.
* * * *
It appears certain to observers
that despite the winter the lull on
the European theaters of opera
tions cannot last much longer. The
meager victories of the German sub
marines and raiders are not suffi
cient to break the power of the allies.
Something more drastic is expected
of the powerful German military
machine. The period of lull which
followed the conquest of Poland
has allowed the British and the
French to strengthen their delenses
on the military and the home fronts.
Factories have been working 24
hours a day. The output of war ma
terial of all kind has been in
creased beyond the expectation of
the respective governments and
whatever feeling existed in the al
lied countries for a compromise,
now that Poland has disappeared
from the map of Europe, has been
destroyed by the people themselves.
The German people are anxious to
see the war end. They hurf hmwi
together with their leaders, that
peace was possible as soon as Po
land was destroyed. The leaders
realized first that there could be no
peace on the terms of Berlin and
Moscow. The people are beginning
to realize it now. Hence the neces
sity of giving up all hope for a
peaceful settlement in the near fu
tur and the determination to pro
ceed full speed ahead.
* * * *
Room is being made rapidly to
settle those Germans who had to
flee the Baltic states, which are now
under Russia’s influence. These
men are taking the place of the
Jews, who are being sent as quickly
as possible to Poland. They are be
ing removed by trucks and trains
and herded together in the already
overcrowded Polish cities. As many
as 20 individuals are compelled to
share an ordinary size room. Re
ports from neutral consuls indicate
that the mortality rate among these
people is great.
They have no food and no cloth
ing; the winter is severe. Many
have contracted pneumonia, but
there are neither doctors nor medi
cine at their disposal.
The Germans from the Baltic
states are being helped by the gov
t
eminent to set up businesses. This
is not difficult, since they just step
into the shoes of the expelled Jews
and take over their stocks, homes
and whatever equipment may be
available if the exiled Jew was a
craftsman who had tools.
The Baltic Germans of military
age are being quickly naturalized
and sent to training camps to swell
the ranks of the army when new
men are needed. For the time
i being there is no need for soldiers
at the front and the present lull
gives the German high command
a chance to give these new Ger
man citizens the proper training.
Mose Pach Succumbs
To Six-Month Illness
Mose Pach, 68. old Washington
resident, died yesterday at his home,
4902 Ninth street N.W., after a six
months’ illness. Funeral services
will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at
the Danzansky funeral home, with
burial in Adas Israel Cemetery.
A lifelong resident of Washington
"Mose,” as he was known to thou
sands of persons, was head bartender
at the old Lawrence Hotel in the pre
prohibition days, later establishing
his own bottling business. He had
been employed as bartender at
Harvey’s Restaurant for six years
up to the time of his illness.
Surviving Mr. Pach are his widow,
Annie; a son, Julius of Washington,
and five daughters, Mrs. Emily
Winters, Mrs. Florence Horowitz,
Mrs. Fannie Goldsmith, Mrs. Ger
trude Lewis and Mrs. Marie Lieber
man, all of Washington: two sisters,
Mrs. Emma Levy and Mrs. Fannie
Schoenthal, and two brothers,
Joseph and Leon, all of Washington.
1-1
Woman, Father
Born in Time of
Washington, Dies
By the Associated Press.
LONG BRANCH. N. J„ Nov.
16.—Mrs. Rebecca G. Dare, 71,
whose father was born during
George Washington's adminis
tration, died today in Mon
mouth Memorial Hospital after
a long illness.
Mrs. Dare, the daughter of
i Joseph and Eusepta Headden
Field, was bom in Middletown
Township in 1868, when her
father was 72.
Her father, born in 1796, died
in 1901 at the age of 105. Her
first husband was Allen Dare,
who died in 1910. She later
i married his brother Walter,
1 who died last year.
!
■
Weather Report
(Furnished by the United States Weather Bureau.)
District of Columbia—Pair and warmer with lowest temperature about
40 degrees tonight; tomorrow mostly cloudy with mild temperature fol
lowed by rain tomorrow night or Saturday; gentle to moderate westerly
winds becoming gentle variable tomorrow.
Maryland and Virginia—Pair and slightly warmer tonight; tomorrow
mostly cloudy with mild temperature followed by rain beginning tomorrow
night or Saturday.
West Virginia—Increasing cloudiness and warmer tonight; tomorrow
cloudy with mild temperature followed by rain tomorrow night and in
west portion tomorrow afternoon.
High nrf>««nr* and fair uenthpr rnntinua A — - --- ___
almost generally over the United States,
except for rain from Louisiana and Eastern
Texas northward to Southern Missouri and
Southeastern Kansas due to disturbed con
ditions over the Caribbean Sea and the
western and central Gulf of Mexico. The
highest pressure is over the Southern Ap
palachian region and Idaho. Bristol. Tenn.,
1034.9 millibars (30.50 Inches), and Sal
mon, Idaho. 1036 6 millibars (3061
Inches). Pressure is relatively low and
falling from Michigan sastward to New
England. Caribou. Me. 1016.3 millibars
130.01 inches). The weather has become
warmer over the Eastern half of the
United States.
Eepert fer Last 24 Been.
Temperature. Barometer
Yesterday Degrees. Inches.
4 p m. - 69 30.88
8 P m. _ 61 80.35
Midnight___ 40 30.35
Today.
4 a.m. _ 35 30 38
8 a.m. _ 39 80.33
Noon _ 88 30.29
Beeerl fer Last 24 Hoars.
(From noon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest, 66 noon today. Year ago, 47.
Lowest. 33. 6:50 a.m. today. Year
ago, 35.
Becord Temperature This Year.
Highest. 100. on September 8.
Lowest. 17, on February 23.
Humidity fer Last 24 Hears.
(From noon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest. P6 per cent, at 1 a.m. today.
Lowest. 13 per cent, at noon today.
Tide Table.
(Furnished by United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey.)
Today. Tomorrow.
High _11:23 a.m. _
Low _ 6:00 a.m. 8:46 a.m.
High _11:44 p.m. 12:13 p.m.
Low _ 6:13 pjn. 7:04 p.m.
Precipitation.
Monthly precipitation In Inches In the
Capital (current month to date):
Month. 1939. Average. Record.
January _ 3.41 3.55 7.83 ’
February_ 5.71 8.27 6.84
March_2.89 3.75 8.84
April _ 3.78 3.27 9.13
Hay_ .41 3.70 l().f~
June_ 4.45 4.13 10 I
July_2.01 4.71 10.6:
August _ 8.22 4.01 14.4
September_ 8.90 3.24 17.4i
::::: fl f:Sf 8:&
December__ 8.32 7.51
i
River Report.
Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers clear
at Harpers Perry; Potomac clear at Great
Palls today.
The San and Moon.
_ Rises. Sets.
Sun. today - 6:61 4 J(
Sun. tomorrow_ 6:62 4 54
Moon today 11:16 a.m. 9:&6pm.
Automobile lights must be turned on
one-half hour after sunset.
Weather In Varlona cities.
Tentp’ture. Raln
Abllene J« ^
Albany 30.) 6 41 22 Osar
Atlanta __ 30 48 68 43 Cloudy
Atlantic C. 30 27 65 41 Clear
Baltimore 30.33 66 28 Clear
Bismarck™ 30.24* U % — g?^7
§$& :: S8:ig !? % — gj"
Charleston 30.48 72 48 Cloudy
Chicago . 3033 64 44 Clear
Cincinnati 30.48 67 23 Clear
Cleveland 30.33 61 40 -
Columbia 30.48 74 34 rinudw
Denver __ 30.30 61 30 - CT«r
sr&o-.-_» $ 42 c£L
Helena10?. SO.SO 8 °'~23 gf
Solis 30.42 ft ft = &
Jack nville 30.42 71 68 Cloudv
Kansas C 30.42 64 41 Cloudy
Los Angeles 30.12 81 57 CkSur
Louisville 30.46 67 61 clear
BKV-fSIf 8 8 05 SSf
S,.01® 88 8 8 •» ffi»
Norfolk .. 30.39 66 43 Cloudy
Okla. City 30.33 67 60 —0 <1T
Omaha_ 30.38 68 36 "
Phlladel'la 30.27 50 37 _
Phoenix_ 30 09 78 46
Pittsburgh 30.36 68 40 _
PlandMe. 30.12 42 30 _
P'land.Ore. 30.27 61 41
Raleigh_ 30.42 69 41 _
Bt. Louis.. 30.45 68 42 __
8. Lake C. 30.38 60 27 _
8. Antonio 30.30 70 64
Sen Diego 80.02 70 64 _
8. Franc o 30.18 66 61 _
Beattie ._ 30.21 69 41
8Dokane_ 30.33 52 30 _r_
Tampa_ 30.30 77 62 Cloudy
WASH.D.C. 30.33 60 43 _ clear
FOREIGN STATIONS.
(Noon. Greenwich time, today.)
„__ „ Temperature. Weather.
Horta (Fayal). Azores_67 Cloudy
(Current observations.)
U Sandy
Colon, Canal Zone_ 76 Main
f
British Naval Lead
Shown in New Issue
Of Jane's Annual
Germany Is Superior Only
In Torpedo Boats and
Subs, It Reveals
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 16 —Figures show
ing Great Britain's overwhelming
superiority in numbers over the
German navy were published today
in the latest issue of Jane’s Fighting
Ships, authoritative Britisl) naval
annual. Only in torpedo boats and
submarines did Germany lead.
A comparative table follows,
showing the class of vessel and the
number possessed at the beginning
of the war:
Capital ships, Britain, 15, includ
ing two under reconstruction; Ger
many, 5.
Aircraft carriers, Britain, 6; Ger
many, none.
Heavy cruisers, Britain, 15; Ger
many, 2.
Other cruisers, Britain, 43, in
cluding 2 under reconstruction;
Germany, 6.
Anti-aircraft ships, Britain. 6.
including 2 under reconstruction;
Germany, none.
Destroyers, Britain, 179; Germany,
i 22.
Submarines, Britain, 57; Ger
many, 65.
Tordepo boats, Britain, none;
Germany, 12.
Motor torpedo boats, Britain, 26;
Germany, 30.
Since the beginning of the war
Great Britain officially has ac
knowledged the loss of the aircraft
carrier Courageous, the battleship
Royal Oak, the submarine Oxley and
an unidentified destroyer. Germany
has acknowledged the loss of only
three submarines.
Britain's determination to main
tain this advantage was shown by a
construction program including nine
battleships, five cruisers and six
aircraft carriers, against Germany's
four battleships, four heavy cruisers
and two aircraft carriers.
Heavy programs of construction by
Prance. Britain and the United
States were reported. Scant infor
mation on new naval building was
available from Soviet Russia and
Japan.
Jane’s says that four British bat
tleships of the Lion class to be com
pleted in the next five years are
believed designed to have a dis
placement of between 40,000 and
45,000 tons.
Two of them, the Lion and the
Temeraire, will be completed in 1943,
the other two in 1944. AH are to be
armed with 16-inch guns.
Five 35.000-ton battleships of the
King George V class wiU be com
pleted within the next two years.
They are to carry 14-inch guns.
I ---
McNutt Favors Security
Plan for Seamen
Keeping secret any broad legisla
| tive recommendations for extension
of the social security program, Fed
I eral Security Administrator Paul V.
J McNutt emerged from the White
I House today to say only that he is
, in favor of applying the program to
seamen.
Mr. McNutt discussed the whole
problem with President Roosevelt
for about an hour, but said the mat
ter of legislative recommendations
is still open.
As for the application of the law
to seafaring labor, one of the de
vices proposed by the President for
relief of seamen thrown out of em
ployment by operation of the neu
trality restrictions on shipping, Mr.
, McNutt pointed out that legislation
j will be essential. Consequently, he
added, the relief embodied in this
will not be immediate.
The last session of Congress pro
vided for extension of the old-age
pension section to maritime labor
starting next year, but the unem
ployment compensation provisions
were not broadened at that time.
The security administrator admit
ted that today's discussions had
dealt with possible broad legislation,
including the recent proposal of
Senator Wagner, Democrat, of New
York, for Government sale of an
nuities, but emphasized that no de
cisions are ready for announcement.
Mr McNutt said he was going to
Hyde Park Sunday to attend the
cornerstone-laying ceremonies at
the Roosevelt Memorial Library at
Hyde Park.