Evening star. [volume], February 09, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast
Bain tonight and tomorrow, possibly Established id 1852
mixed with snow; colder; lowest to- miuuiwwu iii ioja
night about 32. Temperatures today— Most people in Washington have The
*I1*£iest’ 57‘ at 2 pm': lowest- 36> at Star delivered to their homes every
From the United States Weather Bureau report. evening and Sunday morning.
Full details on Page A-2. ^
Closing New York Markets, Page 20. (/P> Means Associated Press.
88th YEAR. No. 34,982. WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1940-FORTY-EIGHT PAGES. *** THREE CENTS.
— ■* ' -““ ' ’ I —— l -* .. . .—-!-— 1 -I-—r
U. S. Launches Informal Talks
With Neutrals to Bring Peace;
Welles Sent on European Study
- __
Conversations Involve
No Definite Plan,
Hull Emphasizes
By GARNETT D. HORNER.
The United States has begun in
formal diplomatic conversations
With neutral countries concerning
“the eventual restoration of world
peace,” Secretary of State Hull said
today.
The Secretary said present war
conditions are not involved in the
“preliminary” conversations now but
added that the conversations nat
urally could be extended to bel
ligerent nations.
Mr. Hull emphasized that the
current talks do not involve any
definite plan for immediate peace*.
Preliminary Inquiries.
A State Department statement
said they “are in the nature of pre
liminary inquiries relating to a sound
International economic system and,
at the same time, world-wide re
duction of armaments.”
The announcement set out that
the conversations had been under
taken “in view of existing hostilities
on the neutral nations of the world,
and in view of the evident desire
of all neutral nations for the event
ual restoration of world peace on
a sound and lasting basis for all
nations.”
Could Be Extended.
Explaining that matters involving
present war conditions are not a
part of these preliminary conver
sations, the statement added:
“These conversations can, of
course, be extended to belligerent
nations insofar as they involve these
two problems of future peace”—re
ferring to a sound international
economic system and reduction of
armaments.
The State Department empha
sized that the announcement con
cerning the peace conversations had
no connection with the forthcoming
visit to Europe by Undersecretary
of State Sumner Welles, which was
announced by , President Roosevelt
earlier today.
Conversations Proceed Here.
Officials said the conversations
are going on here between Secretary
Hull and his assistants and the en
voys of neutral countries in Wash
ington The State Department de
clined to name the countries direct
ly involved in the conversations, but
its formal announcement indicated
they would be extended to include
all neutral governments.
In discussing the announcement
officials emphasized that the con
versations now going on are con
cerned only with what the world
Will be like when the present wars
end and do not signify any sort of a
"peace bloc” attempting to end the
wars.
Secretary Hull is particularly con
cerned with the development of a
sound international economic sys
tem as a cornerstone of future peace
and presumably initiated the con
versations with neutral countries
now in a far-sighted attempt to al
leviate the economic chaos resulting
from the wars.
Distress Call Sent
By British Steamer
B> the Associated Press.
BOSTON, Feb. 9.—The Coast
Guard intercepted a distress call to
day from a British steamer, the
Sea Rambler, which advised she had
a hatch stove in and was taking
water, and asked all vessels in her
vicinity to stand by.
She gave her position as about
540 miles due east of St. Johns,
Newfoundland. The Coast Guard
said it heard no answering signals
immediately.
Lloyd's register lists the vessel at
2,327 tons gross. She was built in
Dover in 1930 and is owned by the
Dover Navigation Co., Ltd.
Louis Weighs In at 203
And Godoy at 202
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.—Heavyweight
Champion Joe Louis today weighed
in at 203 pounds for his 15-round
title bout against Arturo Godoy of
Chile at Madison Square Garden
tonight. The South American chal
lenger weighed 202.
It was the most the Brown Bomber
has weighed for a fight in some
time. In his last start, against Bob
Pastor at Detroit last September, he
acaled an even 200.
(Earlier Story on Page C-l.)
I-1
Committee Ejects
Foe of Widows'
War Pensions
By the Associated Press.
A witness who declared he desired
to “beat some patriotism into the
heads" of members of the House
World War Veterans Committee was
expelled today from a hearing on
legislation which would broaden
benefits to widows of ex-soldiers.
The witness was Cornelius H. Bull
of Alexandria, Va., general counsel
of the American Veterans Associa
tion.
He was ordered from the hearing
by Chairman Rankin as the climax
of a heated exchange over the legis
lation and taxation and propaganda.
Mr. Bull voiced opposition to
pending legislation which would
grant pensions to needy widows, re
gardless of the cause of the hus
band's death or whether the widow
herself was bom before or after the
war.
Passage of this legislation, Mr.
Bull declared, would open the door
to other measures to pension all
veterans.
1
SUMNER WELLES.
Russians Pounding
Karelian Defenses
In Spite of Losses
Red Claims of Capturing
13 Finnish Forts
Are Denied
BRITISH LABOR OPPOSES peace
negotiations with Nazi regime; de
mand actual acts of restitution
before war is ended. Page A-4
FRENCH DEPUTIES DISCUSS
conduct of war in secret session;
raids on Gestapo office in France
•disclosed by Daladier. Page A-4
FINNS CAN STILL GAIN air mas
tery, Sir Walter Citrine thinks;
depends on delivery of planes with
in six or eight weeks, he says.
Page A-4
MORE U. S. PRESSURE seen by
Japanese in credit to China; fear
of embargo grows amid signs effort
to better relations has failed.
Page A-8
307 MERCHANT SHIPS LOST dur
ing war, Lloyd's reports: 26 Ger
man, 144 British, 13 French, 1
Polish, rest neutral. PageA-18
By the Associated Press.
; HELSINKI, Feb. 8.—Continuation
of Russian assaults on the Manher
heim line on the Karelian Isthmus
despite heavy Red Army losses was
reported today by the Finnish high
uumuiaiiu.
In the Summa sector, where Rus
sia claimed her forces had taken
eight of 13 Mannerheim line forts
captured in the last few days, the
Finns said the invaders yesterday
were repulsed with ‘‘heavy losses’’
while a number of attacks in the
region of Punnumjoki and Panuri
were “beaten off, the enemy losing
about 700 men and 12 tanks.”
Further east on the isthmus, in
the Taipale River sector, the army
said a battle precipitated by a
“powerful attack" by the Russians
“still continues.”
Heavy Fighting Continues.
Northeast of Lake Ladoga—where
the Russians said the other five of
the thirteen captured forts fell to
their forces—the army announce
ment said. “Heavy fighting contin
ued ; the enemy has been repulsed at
all points.”
“All reports that the Mannerheim
Line has been broken or Manner
heim forts have been captured are
untrue.” a Finnish official declared.
The Russians lost on all fronts a
total of 40 tanks, the communique
said, and Finnish conquests included
the capture of “a powerfully manned !
enemy firing point” northeast of
Lake Ladoga.
In Central Finland, just below the
country’s narrow waistline where
the Red Army failed early in the
campaign to cut the nation in two,
the Finns said “our forces have im
proved their positions.”
In the air the Finnish air force
yesterday “successfully bombed”
Russian motor columns and troop
concentrations.
Soviet Russian spies and fighters
parachuting to earth behind the
Mannerheim Line harassed the Finns
(See FINLAND, Page A-5.)
*
President Sends Aide
To Make Wartime
Survey and Report
By JOHN C. HENRY.
President Roosevelt announced to
day that Undersecretary of State
Sumner Welles will leave sopn for
Europe for a study of wartime con
ditions in Italy, Prance, Germany
and Great Britain.
Mr. Welles will be authorized to
make no proposals or commitments
in the name of this Government, it
was emphasized by the President,
and his findings will be kept in
strictest confidence for reference
solely to Mr. Roosevelt and Secre
tary of State Hull.
In disclosing this unexpected
move, the Chief Executive cau
tioned his press conference that
speculation on anything beyond the
bare announcement of Mr. Welles’
trip would be hazardous.
Text of Announcement.
The text of the President's an
nouncement follows in full:
“At the request of the President,
the Undersecretary of State, Mr.
Sumner Welles, will proceed shortly
to Europe to visit Italy, France,
Germany and Great Britain. This
visit is solely for the purpose of
advising the President and the Sec
retary of State as to present con
ditions in Europe.
“Mr. Welles will, of course, be au
thorized to make no proposals or
commitments in the name of the
Government of the United States.
“Furthermore, statements made
to him by officials of governments
will be kept in the strictest confi
dence and will be communicated by
him solely to the President and the
Secretary of State.”
As the President disclosed this
latest move in the troubled Euro
pean situation, he also indicated a
degree of impatience with the fail
ure of Congress to act more speedily
on the matter of aid to Finland, but
indicated further that he still is re
luctant to have this Government
provide military assistance.
None of Nations Approached.
None of the European nations in
uuj uvtu a^piuaviivu auvut
Mr. Welles visit, the President said
nor will he extend his tour to Fin
land or Russia.
Asked if the reason for Mr. Welles’
visit was any dissatisfaction with
present diplomatic reporting by our
representatives abroad. Mr. Roose
vel* said that it was not. but that
it had been felt that a single ob
server might be able to accumulate
a more co-ordinated picture than
three or four persons scattered
throughout Europe.
Joseph P. Kennedy, Ambassador
to Great Britain, is now in the
United States and has conferred
several times with President Roose
velt and State Department officers.
William C. Bullitt, Ambassador to
France, was due to reach this coun
try todav and is expected to arrive
in Washington very soon for similar
consultation.
Will Take No Staff.
Mr. Roosevelt said the date had
not been set for Mr. Welles’ de
parture, but that he would leave
soon and stay as long as necessary.
He will take no staff, the President
said, nor will he be replaced here
during his absence.
The President said that he had
not discussed this decision with
(See WELLES, Page A-3.)
Irish Court 0. K.'s Law
Striking at I. R. A.
By the Associated Press.
DUBLIN, Feb. 9.—Ireland’s new
emergency act for dealing with the
outlawed Irish Republican Army
giving the government the right to
intern suspects without trial—was
approved by the Irish Supreme
Court today.
Several suspected I. R. A. leaders
and members are held in Irish pris
ons under the new act, which, al
though permitting detention without
trial, gives prisoners the right of
appeal to a military tribunal.
The measure was recently enacted
to replace an earlier act which was
held to be contrary to the consti
tution It now will go to President
Dr. Douglas Hyde for signature and
then become law.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amuse- Obituary ...A-12
ments .. C-10 Radio -B-15
Comics ...C-8-9 Society — B-3
Editorials A-10 Sports _C-l-3
Finance . A-19 Woman's
Lost, Found, C-3 Page -B-14
Foreign
Russians still pounding Isthmus line,
Finns report. Page A-l
Nazi plane downed resuming raids
on British coast. Page A-l
Vote on Finnish credit possible to
day in Senate. Page A-l
Turks charge vast sabotage plot to
Nazis. Page A-2
French deputies discuss war conduct
in secret session. Page A-4
Japanese see more U. S. pressure in
credit to China. Page A-8
Lloyd's puts merchant ship lasses in
war at 307. Page A-18
National
Marshall opposes unemployment tax
merit plan. Page A-2
Catholic bishops offer plan to abolish
class conflicts. Page A-5
Mississippi Senate votes to separate
races’ textbooks. PageB-10
Washington and Vicinity
Mrs. Roosevelt testifies today on
Blue Plains needs. Page A-l
President Roosevelt lauds Boy Scout
movement. Pag* A-6
Civil Service Commission raps
Hoover. Page B-l
4 «
City heads study comments on te
organization. Page B-l
Many D. C. portable schools found
in poor condition. Page B-l
Meeting spurs new offensive for Dis
trict rights. Page B-l
Sports
Louis 1-7 favorite over Godoy in title
fight tonight. Page C-l
Governor’s mile mark menaced in
Maryland meet. Page C-l
National League rich in new talent,
especially Giants Page C-l
Inter-high twin bill caps schoolboy
basket card. Page C-2
Nine additional holes planned for
Bradley Hills course. Page C-3
Editorial «nd Comment
This and That. Page A-10
Answers to Questions. Page A-10
Letters to The Star. Page A-10
David Lawrence. Page A-ll
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-ll
Frederic William Wile. Page A-10
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
Charles G. Ross. Page A-ll
Miscellany
Service Orders. Page A-17
City News in Brief. Page B-2
Vital Statistics. Page B-10
Nature's Children. Page B-15
Bedtime Story. Page C-8
Cross-word Puzzle. Page C-8
Letter-Out. Page C-8
Winning Contract. Page C-8
Uncle Ray's Corner. Page C-9
Mrs. Roosevelt
Sees No Model
D. C. Institutions
President's Wife
Describes Blue Plains
Home to Committee
Mrs. Franklin D., Roosevelt told
a House investigating committee
this afternoon that she had never
yet found a model institution in
the District.
The institutions vary in degree,
she said, but all need a great deal
of improvement.
Refusing to make recommenda
tions, the President’s wife launched
on a description of the Home for
the Aged and Infirm at Blue Plains
and proceeded without interruption
from any of the members of the
Public Health Subcommittee of the
House District Committee, who are
conducting the investigation.
Occasion Is Precedent.
It was the first time in history
the wife of a President of the United
States appeared before a congres
sional committee as a witness.
Her appearance followed a reve
lation by President Roosevelt at
his press conference this morning
that he hal felt for many years that
District welfare institutions were not
in good shape, but that he had al
ways hoped the District Committees
in Congress would learn at first hand
the acute conditions.
Such learning is particularly de
sirable, he said, in view of the Dis
trict's complete dependence on Con
gress and its committees.
Indicating some discouragement
about the situation which has
prompted the congressional investi
gation, the President recalled that
a study had been made of the Na
tional Training School for Girls
about two years ago but that very
little actual reorganization or im
provement had been effected as a re
sult.
Several Representatives, as well
as the District Commissioners,
have already followed the Presi
dent's recommendation by visiting
RlllP Plninc the TnHneffin) Unm»
School and the Children's Receiving
Home, all of which Mrs. Roosevelt
visited and criticized.
Large Audience in Prospect.
Mr, D'Alesandro had arranged to
use the Labor Committee room on
the fourth floor of the Old House
Office Building for the opening hear
ing, but in view of the prospective
large attendance, he requested
Speaker Bankhead this morning to
allow the subcommittee to hold the
hearing in the more commodious
caucus room.
Chairman D Alesandro said the
subcommittee at the initial hearing
would take the testimony of only
one other witness—Dr. Lynne A.
Fullerton of the United States Pub
lic Health Service. Dr. Fullerton
visited the Home for the Aged and
Infirm yesterday, accompanied by
Mr. D'Alesandro, and made cer
tain observations which he will re
veal to the committee on the wit
ness stand.
Tenerowicz Reports Observations.
Prior to the first hearing of the
subcommittee. Chairman D’Ales
andro received from Representative
Tenerowicz, Democrat, of Michigan
a report outlining his observations
during a recent visit at the insti
tution.
Representative Tenerowicz was a
member of the District Committee
until two days ago. when he resigned
to take a more important assign
ment on the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee. A physician
by profession, he surveyed conditions
at the home from the standpoint
of a medical man.
The Tenerowicz report recom
mended employment of a full-time
physician at the home, as well as
an increase in the nursing staff.
The report also declared the in
stitution is overcrowded, and that
the sanitary conditions are not
proper. It said, too, the sterilizer
in the kitchen is not adequate.
Representative Tenerowicz also
visited the Industrial Home School
and said he found that institution
overcrowded and recommended cort
struction of a new building to house
its inmates. The roof of the present
quarters leaks, he pointed out, and
the bathrooms are in need of
repair.
Gets 2-to-3-Year Term
Justice Peyton Gordon in District
Court today sentenced Dennis Hines,
colored, known also to the authori
ties as “Doc Buzzard,” to two to
three years on a charge of violating
the narcotics statutes.
German Mastery
Of World Aim in
War, Says Ley
By WALLACE R. DEUEL.
Chicago Dally News Foreign Correspondent.
BERLIN, Feb. 9 (By Radio).—The
Nazis’ war aims include the de
struction of "capitalistic methods”
throughout the world and the
“restoration of the mastery of our
people,” Dr. Robert Ley, leader of
the labor front, declared in a speech
in Dresden, published here today.
“For 1,000 years the Germans
have been a people of masters," Dr.
Ley said. “The German race and
German blood” must have their
proper share of the world’s goods,
he added, and “so long as they do
not have this they will give the
world no rest.”
“We did not want this war,” Dr.
Ley asserted. "But now that we
have identified our true enemies we
will put an end, once and for all,
to the capitalistic methods of
the plutocracies throughout the
world. • • •
“What is at stake in this war is
not merely the winning of a battle,
but the destruction of England and
the restoration of the mastery of
our people. If there is a God and
Divine Providence, then there are
also superior rights for the superior
race—and that we are.”
(Copyright, 18*0, Chicago Dally Ntwi Xae.)
.J LOOKOUT^
-T\|Tom! That h
' FtLLOWWtf I
FALL
President May Speak Tomorrow
On Reds in U. S. Organizations
Will Address Youth Congress, Meeting
Here in Midst of Fast-Flying Charges
As 3,000 delegates to the American
Youth Congress arrived here in the
i midst of fast-flying charges and
1 counter charges of “communism.”
President Roosevelt indicated today
that he might have something to
say tomorrow on whether non
communist organizations in this
country should weed out their Com
munist members.
Asked at a press conference what
he thought about the question, the
Chief Executive replied that the
press might know his answer to
morred. He is scheduled to address
the Youth Congress at the White
House about 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.
The Dies committee. Mrs. Frank
lin Roosevelt and Gene Tunney, the
former heavyweight champion, were
among those involved in the flery
debate over whether the congress
is a harbor for young Communists.
Mn^Tiin i«Sr is one of five men is
suir/^tlu* statement about the con
gress
“We find that its aims and pro
i grams have always been in accord
with the varying ’party line’ of the
Communist International in Mos
cow and that many of its leaders
are Communists or fellow travelers."
Mrs. Roosevelt, who will address
the delegates Sunday on “The War
and Youth," invited the Congress'
leaders to the White House recently
to meet 27 Democratic members of
the United States Congress. This
I meeting was recalled with some bit
' terness yesterday on the floor of
i the House by Representative Keefe,
Republican, of Wisconsin.
Sixteen of the 27 Representatives
who accepted Mrs. Roosevelt's in
! vitation were among the 21 who
i (.See YOUTHTPage A-3J
Morgenthau Urges
S. E. C. as Trustee for
Associated Gas
Jackson Joins in Request
Before Federal Judge
In New York
(See David Lawrence'$ Article
on Page A-1J.J
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The Federal Government, through
the Securities and Exchange Com
mission, may go into the operation
of public utilities in a big way if
Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell, in
Niw York, grants the request of
i Secretary of the Treasury Morgen
thau and Attorney General Jackson
to have the commission appointed
trustee for the Associated Gas &
Electric Co and Associated Gas &
Electric Corp.
This billion-dollar combination of
public utilities, the holding units of
the H. C. Hopson utilities empire,
operates 50 to 60 separate public
utility companies, doing business all
up and down the Atlantic seaboard
and extending well into the Middle
West. There are some 21,000 em
ployes.
Should the S. E. C. become the
trustee for the combination it will
have ultimately a voice in the opera
tion of all these utility companies.
It will be in a position to go into
the matter of rate fixing, in con
junction with the public utility com
missions in the various States and
to lower the rates to a point where
the utilities will face ruin and
eventual public ownership if they
continue in business.
. President Is Silent.
At his press conference today.
President Roosevelt, in reply to a
question, indicated that as the matter
of selecting trustees is now before
Judge Leibell he would withhold
comment until the court has made
its selection.
At the S. E. C. the impression was
gained that no decision has yet been
reached whether, if the trusteeship
were offered by Judge Leibell, it
would be accepted or declined. No
official at th4 S. E. C. was willing to
speak for publication, although there
was no doubt that the matter is con
sidered, at the commission, of great
importance.
Reorganization Petition Filed.
The company and the corporation
filed petitions last month to reor
ganize under Chapter 10 of the
Chandler Act, revising the bank
ruptcy laws. The S. E. C. had re
stricted the payment of interest and
dividends by the corporation into
the parent company, which is in ef
fect a holding company for a hold
ing company.
Under the Chandler Act, the S. E.
C. must give its consent to being ap
pointed trustee. When the hearing
was held Tuesday in New York be
fore Judge Leibell, Lewis Dabney,
counsel for the S. E. C., failed to say
whether the commission would ac
cept or not. The judge, however,
gave the commission the right to
state its attitude in writing.
Members Reluctant to Accept.
It was learned here that members
of the S. E. C. have been reluctant
to accept such a trusteeship. The
commission has not at present the
set-up to handle such a job, and
would have to obtain an appropria
(See ASSOCIATED GAS, Pg. A-4.)
Garner-Roosevelt Test
Apparently Certain in
2 State Primaries
Emil Hurja Linked
To Plans for Filing
Vice Preisdent's Name
By the Associated Press.
Announcement in Chicago today
that John Gamer's name would go
before Democratic voters in the Illi
nois preference primary apparently
assured contests in two States be
tween the Vice President and Presi
dent Roosevelt over their party’s
presidential nomination.
Mr. Roosevelt's name was entered
in the Illinois primary last week
end and followers of both men have
! entered slates of delegates for them
in Wisconsin. Seemingly about the
only political development which
could prevent contests would be an
nouncement by Mr. Roosevelt that
he did not want another four years
in the White House.
The third-term- question was
raised indirectly at his press confer
ence despite the President's state
ment to newsmen Monday that he
would have nothing to say about it
until such a time as hie himself
chose.
Comments Briefly.
He was asked today for comment
on the news that the delegation
pledged to him had been put into
the field in Wisconsin. He had had
no direct word on that, he replied,
although he had seen newspaper
reports of the events. Then he
ended the discussion by adding that
he did not know what the law was in
Wisconsin.
The President was quite emphatic
in declining to answer another po
litical inquiry on whether any one
had told him why Senator Guffey,
Democrat, of Pennsylvania should
(See~POUTICS, Page A-7.)
Duce Gets Defense Report
ROME, Feb. 9 (/P).—Marshal
Emilio de Bono, inspector of Italy's
overseas forces, today gave Premier
Mussolini a detailed report of the
defenses in Libya and on the Dode
canese Islands, which he has Just
inspected.
Open Loan to Finland,
Not 'Blank Check,'
Urged by Ashurst
Senate Begins Debate
On $20,000,000
Credit to Republic
Bv J. A. OXEARY.
Congress should say it is making a
loan to Finland and “not write a
blank check,” Senator Ashurst,
Democrat, of Arizona told the Sen
ate today as it began debate on the
$100,000,000 increase in the lending
authority of the Export-Import
Bank.
The Senator had reference to the
fact that the measure does not
mention Finland, but merely vests
discretion in the bank to allot to the
Baltic republic $20,000,000 of credit
out of this new fund for non-mili
tary purposes.
The bill was taken up immediately
after the Senate had voted yester
day, 65 to 3, in favor of encouraging
any move Finland may make to
float a private bond issue in this
country.
“I intend to be a candidate for
re-election to the Senate,” said Sen- ‘
ator Ashurst. "Beyond any doubt
I shall be asked whether or not I
voted for a loan to Finland. I want
to be able to say I did or did not. |
When I vote for this bill, do I. by
any intendment, vote for an oppor
tunity for Finland to have a loan?
I desire to do so.”
Bailey Criticizes Method.
Senator Brown said he thought
me oenaior couia oe assured oi
that because the Federal loan ad
ministrator had told the committee
Finland was entitled to at least
$10,000,000 more than it has re
ceived. Senator Brown also called
(feee FINNISH LOAN, PageA-7.f
Tweedsmuir Worse;
Operation Performed
,B> the Associated Press.
OTTAWA, Feb. 9.—An official bul
letin today reported that the condi
tion of Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor
General of Canada, had become
"more critical,’’ and that an emer
gency operation had been performed.
Lord Tweedsmuir. 64, suffered a
concussion of the brain Tuesday in
a fall in his home, and since yes
terday his condition has caused in
creasing anxiety.
Government House issued this bul
letin signed by five physicians at
tending him:
“His excellency's condition became
more critical throughout the night,
and this morning at Government
House an emergency trepanning op
eration was performed, which has
temporarily relieved the increased
intracranial pressure.”
New Rumanian Minister
To Handle Trade Pacts
By the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST, Feb. 9.—Rumania’s
trade contracts with Germany and
the allies were placed today under
the control of a new minister, Ion
Cristu.
Cristu was given the special port
folio in an attempt to extricate
the government from the dilemma
caused by the sale to Germany of
oil which British an French owned
companies have refused to turn
over to authorities for delivery.
Plot to Steal Turkish U-Boat
Charged to Expelled Germans
By RICHARD MOWRER,
Chicago Dally News Foreign Correspondent.
ISTANBUL, Feb. 9.—A sensational
German plot to steal the German -
built Turkish submarine, Atilay,
while on a test run, was disclosed
here, following the expulsion order
of the Turkish government of four
German naval experts, recently ar
rived to test the U-boat. The Atilay
is one of two submarines ordered by
the Turks from Krupp before the
war.
Ten days ago, four German sub
marine experts arrived here, under
a three-month contract, to put the
finishing touches to the submarine
and to; make tests in the Sea of
Marmora. The Turks discovered
that 23 Germans at the naval yard,
who had been building the subma
rine, were carrying mysterious pack
ages aboard. The Germans ex
AJ
plained that these contained spare
parts. The suspicious Turks opened
one package and found that it con
tained food. Further suspicion was
caused by the German’s suggestion
that maybe for the first trial Turks
ought not be be aboard—after all,
there had been submarine accidents
on trials.
At this juncture the Turks cracked
down, almost sure that the Ger
mans were planning to steal the
submarine and take it to Russia.
They ordered the four German ex
perts to return to the Reich, ex
pelled the 27 German submarine
builders from the yards and
mounted a military guard on the
Golden Horn docks.
The four Nazi officers departed,
each carrying home, among other
things, a half kilo of coffee.
(Copyrisht. 1640. Chleaeo Daily Newt, Ins.)
i
Turks Charge
Vast Sabotage
Plot to Nazis
Discovery Declared
Reason for Ousters
And Krupp Seizure
By the Assoc!' ess.
ISTANBUL, Feb. 9.—Authorita
tive sources tonight said government
dismissal of 100 German technicians
and occupation of the German
owned Krupp shipyards were due to
discovery of a far-flung German
sabotage plot in the Near East.
Turkish marines occupied the
shipyards yesterday; today the gov
ernment dismissed 100 German
technicians employed by the war
and naval ministries and gave them
48 hours to quite the country.
Authoritative sources said the
government had uncovered evidence
of a network of Nazi agents ready
to perpetrate explosions, train
wrecks and other havoc throughout
the Near East on the signal from
Berlin.
Working on Submarines.
Under the circumstances, they
said, it was impossible to allow the
Germans to remain in strategic po
sitions, especially as the technicians
were completing work on submarines
which Turkey would expect to throw
into combat if she became involved
in war in the spring.
It was announced that the expul
sion or the German technicians
was under special decree powers
voted to the government by the
National Assembly ‘‘for the protec
tion of national defense.”
The blanket discharge, coming one
day after Turkish seizure of the Ger
man-owned Krupp shipyards here,
applied to 20 marine specialists at
the Turkish naval base of Gveldjuk
on the Sea of Marmora; 20 techni
cians at a munitions factory near
Ankara, and 60 others active in
Turkey's military preparations.
May Affect Hundreds More.
Officials said that henceforth no
German could work in state-owned
industries. This was believed to
affect several hundred men in addi
tion to those discharged today.
Reports that Germany’s Ambas
sador. Franz von Papen. had been
directed to make a sharp protest
against the shipyard’s confiscation
were answered in government circles
with the assertion that Turkey was
within her legal rights.
Marines continued to occupy the
Krupp yards on the Golden Horn,
at an inlet of the strategic Straits
of the Bosphorus, where 30 Germans
had been supervising completion of
two submarines for the Turkish
navy until their sudden ouster yes
terday.
Confiscation Expected.
Confiscation of other German
property in Turkey was expected
“sooner or later” in informed circles,
which saw the once-strong German
influence in Turkey waning since
Turkey's alignment with Great
Britain and France.
It was learned that hundreds of
German experts employed in Turkey
would be discharged and sent back
to the Reich. They have been acting
as government advisers, factory
technicians and professors in Istan
bul University and Ankara Agricul
tural College.
Forced liauidation of German pn
terprises and voluntary withdrawal
of many German businessmen was
reported already under way, the
Germans alleging that Turkish ob
structions made further trade im
possible.
Measures against German inter
ests were seen by foreign observers
as logical upon recalling Turkish
Foreign Minister Sukru Saracoglu's
recent statement that "Turkey is not
neutral, but only non-belligerent for
the moment.”
• In Berlin authorized German
sources said confiscation of the
Krupp shipyards on the Golden
Horn, an inlet of the strategic
Bosphorus Straits, was likely to
result in nothing more serious
than diplomatic words and more
emphatic press comments. Ger
many regards the Turkish act as
inspired, if not demanded, by
Great Britain and France, but
will not be provoked, these
sources said.)
"Spring Coming" Expectation.
Declining to explain the seizure,
official Turkish quarters remarked
only that "spring is coming. ’
Many observers have expressed
fear that spring will bring a German
or Russian thrust into the Balkans
to seize the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus, which link the Black
Sea and the Mediterranean.
In this connection, attention was
riveted today on British and Fiench
troop concentrations in the Near
East, W’ith a statement in Paris by
the French minister of colonies that
France’s Colonial Army could be
swelled to 2,000,000 men if necessary.
Turks assert that the French and
British now have some 500,000 men
under arms in the Near East.
An article in the Turkish press,
app;t antly inspired, said, "the allies
have counted on the possibility of a
Russian attack across the Balkans
toward the Dardanelles. Allied and
Turkish armies will give adeauate
support to the defenders.”
Shipyard Differences
Declared Long Standing
BERLIN, Feb. 9 UP).—Differences
have existed for some time between
Turkish authorities and the man
agement of the Krupp shipyards on
Turkey's Golden Horn, seized by
the Turkish government, informed
quarters said today.
They said also that there have
been differences between German
technicians, 100 of whom were re
ported dismissed today, and Turkish
authorities for whom they were
working.
It was pointed out that in many
countries foreigners are being
pushed out of concerns considered
essential to the nation’s defense.
The technicians, it was emphasized,
all were on private contract and
hence official relations between the
German and Turkish govemmentg
need not be affected by their dismis
sal.
A