Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, February 17, 1940, Image 1

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Evening star. [volume], February 17, 1940, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 17 Feb. 1940. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1940-02-17/ed-1/seq-1/>

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Weather Forecast ijf _
Increasing cloudiness, with lowest ” • w 7 ^ :« lflCO
about 28 tonight; tomorrow mostly wSnjIJIlSileO In 10
ss!?'«ss^s.td5-ss« l/iTTiTli tp©I IT r ■.
40, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 29, at 7 a.m. WT ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ O/l I II I I «tar delivered to their homes evefy
Prom the United Stiteiwetther ^Bureau reocrt. I ^1^.1 evening and Sunday mOmlng.
_Closing New York Markets—Soles. Poge IS WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION C/ ^ ^ M#ant Awoc(,ud Pr,„
88th TEAR. No. 34,990. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1940-THIRTY-TWO PAGES. ** THREE CENTS.
I-—' I ' .. ..- .... ■ ■ - ----
British Free 300 Captive Seamen
From Nazi Prison Ship in Norway;
Finland Claims Victory at Kuhmo
Hand-to-Hand Battle Is
Fought Aboard Altmark;
Rescued Reach Scotland
(Text of British admiralty communique, Page A-3.)
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 17.—The British Navy thrust its long
arm into a placid Norwegian fjord to rescue some 300 British
seamen after a hand-to-hand clash aboard the famed Ger
man prison ship Altmark.
Thereby Norway, in whose territorial waters the action oc
curred, was plunged into the vortex of the bitterest controversy
Involving a neutral thus far arising from the war.
The admiralty announced today that the destroyer Cossack
last night dashed into Josing Fjord (Gjessingfjord), near Stavanger,
sent a party aboard the Altmark and took off men who had been
captive for months since their capture in the South Atlantic by
the now destroyed pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, for which
the Altmark was an auxiliary.
The Cossack landed the freed prisoners at Leith, Scotland,
this afternoon. Ambulances were waiting for the injured. The
’vessel docked at 3:40 p.m. Leith is on the south side of the Firth
of Forth.
The rescued men, said to total 275, were taken away in ambu
lances and buses as great crowds outside the dock gates raised a
roar of cheers audible half a mile away.
Four Germans Killed, Five Wounded.
Four Germans were killed and five seriously wounded,
according to reports both by the British and by the German
captain, and the British suffered one casualty in the fighting in
which the Altmark’s skipper advised Berlin “the English made
reckless use of weapons, even against those fleeing across the
Ice or swimming in the water.”
Norway immediately protested bitterly to Britain against the
alleged violation of her neutrality, her Premier, Johan Nygaards
vold, himself going to the British Legation in Oslo to deliver the
protest.
Germany lodged an unusually vigorous protest in Oslo against
Norway’s failure to prevent the British raid on the Altmark and
said “the most serious consequences would ensue” unless Norway
met Berlin’s demands for restitution of the ship and indemnities.
From Stavanger, Norway, it was reported that the Altmark
late today was stranded in the innermost reaches of Josing Fjord
with British warships still keeping a close watch outside Norwegian
territory waters. Indications were that the 12,000-ton vessel would
not be able to leave soon regardless of what decision the Norwegian
- government reaches concerning her disposition.
Besides the Cossack the admiralty named two other destroy
ers, the Intrepid and the Ivanhoe, as taking part in a concentra
tion of British naval strength off the fjord. The German version
placed the British strength at six warships; the Norwegian said
seven.
The British forces suffered one casualty in the action, said
the admiralty.
The admiralty disclosed that while the Ivanhoe was waiting
outside Josing Fjord she intercepted the German tanker Baldur,
whose crew scuttled her when the British warship ordered her
to surrender.
An admiralty communique dis
closed that the rescue was the
climax of a vigorous search for
the Altmark ofer many seas,
pushed ever since the Graf Spee
was chased to her doom in Mon
tevideo Harbor last December.
The imprisoned seamen were from
■even merchant ships sunk by the
Admiral Graf Spee, the admiralty
■aid.
Hunted by Planes and Ships.
Two days ago, it reported, it was
learned that the Altmark was trying
to sneak into a German port by
using the peculiar coastal forma
tions of the Norwegian fjords. Brit
ish planes and destroyers were sent
to apprehend her.
On the word of the Norwegian
commander that the ship had been
examined in Bergen the day before
and that no prisoners were aboard,
the British withdrew.
Last night, on new orders from
the admiralty, the Cossack re-en
tered the fjord. The Altmark ma
neuvered to try to ram the Cos
sack, the admiralty related, but in
■tead ran aground, stern first.
The British seamen boarded the
Stranded ship, a fight ensued and all
the imprisoned merchant sailors
were saved.
Part of Crew Fled.
“The Altmark was overpowered,”
the admiralty statement said. “Part
of her crew fled ashore and the rest
submitted.
"The liberated prisoners state that
during the Norwegian examination
at Bergen, of the Altmark, their
efforts to make their presence known
to the searching party were un
heeded.”
The admiralty's statement ended
with the story of the Baldur’s scut
tling.
“Summoned to stop by the de
stroyer Ivanhoe,” it said, “she there
upon scuttled herself In German
fashion.”
The captains of the British
steamers Huntsman and Tairoa,
both sunk by the Admiral Graf Spee,
were reported among those taken off
the Altmark.
Justifies Intervention.
Answering questions concerning
the Altmark an authoritative British
spokesman declared that if the
British Navy had not intervened
Norwegian territorial waters would
have been made a channel for the
unneutral act of,conveying prisoners
of war to Germany.
He asserted that the British Gov
ernment is confident the Norwegian
government would not have per
mitted such prisoners to be taken
over Norwegian territory.
The British action thus was said
to follow the failure of the Nor
wegian government to secure the
neutrality of its own waters. The
spokesman said there had been con
tinued use of Norwegian waters by
Germany in order to escape British
naval pursuit and to perform acts of
war against Britain and other states.
Violations Cited.
Three examples of alleged neu
trality violation were cited by the
spokesman.
(1) 'The British steamer Thomas
Walton torpedoed off Narvik with
the loss of 16 lives on December 7.
(2) The Greek steamer Garau
falia torpedoed off Folden -with
the loss of four lives on Decem
ber 11.
(3) The British steamer Dept- <
ford torpedoed only 1 mile off the
Norwegian shore near Honnings
vaaj Stadt December 13 with 25
missing.
In each case, torpedoes were fired
without warning, the spokesman
said.
Attack on Altmark Is 'Dastardly
And Swinish/ Nazis Declare
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Feb. 17.—Authorized
German sources today described as
•one of the most dastardly, swinish
actions in history” the attack by
British warships on the German <
ship Altmark and the shooting of
members of her crew.
The sources spoke of the incident
as “the seizure” of the German ves
sel. although it was not clear from
other sources that she was in British
possession.
The German spokesman said the
attack, in Norwegian territorial
waters had evoked “the sharpest
protest issued since the beginning
of the war against any action in the
war”—referring to a vigorous pro
test lodged by the Reich's Minister
in Oslo against Norway's failure to
prevent the British naval action.*
Text of German Protest.
Hie text of the German protest
follows:
“I protest most energetically
swato-st the assault on the German
steamer Altmark by the English de
stroyer Cossack In inner Josing
(Gjessing) fjord, which is within
Norwegian territorial waters, as the
consequence of which Germans Were
killed and wounded.
“I protest against this unheard-of
violation of international law in Nor-,
weglan coastal waters and also that
the Norwegian government failed to
give our ship adequate protection.
"This violation can be paralleled
only by the bombardment of Copen
hagen in 1807. It is unique in world
history and, reserving the right of
further demands on the part of my
government, I must insist that the
steamer Altmark immediately be re
stored to its original condition as
far as possible in view of the losses
suffered, that the damage be re
paired and that all possible meas
ure as be taken against the perpe
trators.
"I must also call attention to the
fact that this is a most serious Mtu
(See SERUM. Pm A*)
French Jail 11 Youths,
Mother of One for
. Communist Activity
By th« Associated Press.
PARIS. Feb. 17.—For hold
ing secret Communist meetings.
11 Frenchmen, all under 2J
years of age, were given prison
terms ranging up to three years
today.
The mother of one was sen
tenced to two years lor allow
ing them to assemble in her
home. France has banned Com
munist activities.
Norway Protests
Sharply Against
English Action
Reported to Have Asked
For Compensation and
Prisoners' Return
By the Associated Press.
OSLO. Norway, Feb. 17.—Norway
protested sharply to Britain today
over the action of a British warship
in boarding the German steamer
Aitmark and removing British pris
oners after a desperate hand-to
hand battle in Norwegian territorial
waters.
Norway was reported to have
asked Britain to return the British
prisoners, pay compensation and in
the future respect Norwegian sover
eignty and territorial waters.
Although no official decision was
announced concerning the disposi
tion of the Aitmark, it was gener
sssumm sne wouia De miernea
by Norway in view of indications
she had been operating as an armed
vessel in the German naval service.
Official news of the Altmark inci
dent was displayed in the afternoon
papers under headlines reading
“British naval detachment in Nor
wegian waters” and “Grave British
infringement of Norwegian sover
eignty.”
Norwegian Communique.
The dramatic encounter between
the British warships and the Alt
mark was described la a Norwegian
communique which said:
"The German steamer Altmark
yesterday afternoon arrived in
Gjessing fjord escorted by a Nor
wegian torpedo boat. The ships
were stopped by two British de
stroyers giving warning shots.
"Soon after five other British
torpedo boats and a British war
ship arrived. The Norwegian vessel
protested twice, and the Altmark
and Norwegian torpedo boat entered
Gjessing fjord while the British
ships disappeared outside terri
torial waters.
“Later in the evening one of the
British destroyers returned using
searchlights., About 11 pm. a
British warship followed and
stopped alongside the Altmark tak
ing on board some of the British
citizens who had been on the Ger
man ship, whereafter the British
warship disappeared.
“The Norwegian foreign office pro
tested sharply to Britain over this
neutrality violation.”
Altmark Officers Ashore.
The German officers on board the
Altmark were reported to have gone
ashore and to have contacted Ger
man officials in Berlin.
British destroyers were said to be
still waiting outside Gjessing fjord.
No details were available on the
extent of the lighting, but it was re
ported there was a heavy exchange
of rifle shots before the British sail
ors could board the Altmark.
As the British warship steamed
off after rescuing the British aboard
the Altmark the British sailors could
be heard cheering wildly.
Norwegian Premier Johan Nyga
ardsvold was'reported to have pro
ceeded personally to the British
Legation to lodge the protest against
the British action.
I* ■ ■
Army Withdrawal
To New Positions
Is Admitted
HELP POR FINLAND rests on re
versal of Swedish stand; convic
tion growing that nation must
fight on against Reds alone.
Page A-3
BRITISH EXPECTED to receive
help of additional allies; cabinet
members assure nation of victory
in war for “world’s good.”
Page A-3
ANTI-PLANE DEFENSES ordered
for all British ships; protection
for crews must be provided befoVe
leaving ports. Page A-3
ARMAMENT STOCKS opened to
Finns, French declare; big muni
tions supplies have reached Fin
land, army sources say Page A-4
SPIRITUAL NEUTRALITY de
manded by Hitler's newspaper;
Belgium and Switzerland are par
ticularly criticized. PageA-12
By the Associated Press.
HELSINKI, Feb. 17.—The Finnish
high command today balanced an
announcement that its forces on the
Karelian Isthmus had withdrawn
to “new positions” with a claim of a
great victory at Kuhmo, on the
eastern front, in which 1,800 Rus
sians were killed.
The great battle on the isthmus,
in its 17tlf day, continued unabated,
tonight’s communique said, admit
ting that "our forces withdrew in
some places to new positions fur
ther back” between the Gulf of
Finland and the Vuoksi River.
The battle in the Kuhmo sector
lasted several days, the Finns de
clared, and ended in complete de
struction of Russian "special skiing
groups” consisting of three bat
talions and reconnaisance detach
ments.
Sled Columns Dispersed.
Another Finnish success was re
ported in the dispersal of ‘‘several
columns consisting of about 180 sleds
altogether” attempting to advance
across the ice of Lake Ladoga.
A Russian attack on the north
east shore of the lake was reported
repulsed with “heavy loss.”
Only remnants of the Russian
force at Kuhmo "succeeded in es
caping over the frontier,” ttys com
munique declared, adding that a
Russian colonel was killed.
The Finnish army ordered re
moval of the few remaining Women
Add children from Viipuri today. It
was reported, as the Finns lost some
positions less than a score of miles
from the city..
Posting of notices in Helsinki for
the class of 1898 to come to the col
ors indicated the Finnish plight,
meanwhile. This call for men 41
and 42 years of age followed calls
within the past three days for those
of 42 to 44.
Battle Fury Near Peak.
As more than 100 Russian bomb
ers were sighted over Southern Fin
land, flying toward the important
industrial city of Tampere, foreign
military observers said the big bat
tle of the Karelian Isthmus was
nearing the peak of fury .
One observer said the Finnish
Army should be able to withstand
smashes even harder than those for
the past 17 days without giving way
suddenly. After that, he predicted,
there should be a lull in the costly
Russian offensive. This should pro
vide time for consolidating -positions
before another drive started.
One woman reaching here today
said she and others who had special
permission to remain in Viipuri
after the general removal of several
weeks ago hard to leave now as a
precaution because Viipuri was so
close to the lighting lines it was sub
ject to frequent air raids.
Only one shop of each sort is to
remain open in Viipuri, all others
being closed.
No Let Up in Assault.
There was no let up in the
titanic assault of the Russian forces
against the Mannerheim Line's sys
tem of staggered fortifications.
Stress was placed upon the refer
ence in yesterday’s communique to
the Finns’ bombing of enemy en
campments and communication
lines. A break in communication
lines would be a near-disaster for
(See FINLAND, Page A-3.)
Summary of Today's Star
Page.
Amusements.
J B-12
Church News,
A-12-15
Comics B-19-11
Editorials.. A-l*
Finance_ A-7
Lost, Found B-f
Page.
ObituaryA-12
Radio. A-5
Real Estate B-l-5
Society _A-9
Sports A-1C-17
Woman’s Page,
A-S
Foreign
British free 300 seamen from Nazi
prison ship. Page A-l
Altmark attack “dastardly, swinish
- action,” say Nazis. Page A-l
Finland claims big victory at Kuhmo,
' 1,800 Reds slain. Page A-l
Norway sharply protests British in
. [ vasion of waters. Page A-l
British expect* help of additional
allies. Page A-3
Aid for Finland rests on reversal of
Swedish decision. Page A^S
War stocks, old and new, opened to
Finns, French declare. Page A-3
1 Air defense equipment ordered on
all British ships. Page A-3
Hitler paper demands spiritual
neutrality. Page A-12
National
Democrats will start convention on
July IS. Page A-l
Roosevelt promised Ohio’s delegation
if he wants it. Page A-l
Child bride farmwife held in hus
band’s slaying. Pago A-3
Barkley sees appropriations cuts
Avoiding new terns. Page A-4
Roosevelt’s two peace envoys sail
for Europe. Page A-4
Philadelphia expects to gain $12,000,
000 from convention. Page A-4
8mith favors swift action on labor
act changes. Page A-S
Washington and Vicinity
Sleet apd snowstorm converging on
Washington. Page A-2
Plans for National Sports Center
are nearly completed. Page A-2#
Hit-run victim dies; police seeking
driver. Page A-24
Charles West named to Processing
Tax Board of Review. Page A-24
Editorial and Commont
This and That. Page A-14
Answers to Questions. Page A-14
Letters to The Star. , Page A-14
David Lawrence. Page A-ll
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-ll
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-ll
Lemuel P. Parton. Page A-ll
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
Miscellany
Service Orders. Page A-4
Nature’s Children. Page A-ll
Of Hearts and Song. Page B-S
Bedtime Story. PageB-14
Cross-Word Puszle. Page B-14
Letter-Out. Page B-ll
Winning Contract. Page B-ll
Uncle Ray’s Comer. Page B-ll
Vital Statistics. Page B-U
/he must)
HAVtL /
GOTflEM
vwunfck
1
f.WE^
i>ANT
IIXOOSEWELT
I NOMINATED/
100 in School Buses
Lost Since Yesterday
In Texas Blizzard
Ofifcials 'Uneasy, but
Not Alarmed,'Over Pupils;
Missing Since 4 P.M.
By the Associated Press.
LUBBOCK, Tex. Feb. 17—Three
school buses loaded with approxi
mately 100 children from schools at
Tahoka, 35 miles south, have been
missing since 4 p.m. yesterday in
one of the worst blizzards the South
Plains has experienced in years.
Officials in Tahoka said they were
“uneasy, but not alarmed.”
Crews aboard tractors began
breaking through the snowdrifts on
blocked highways along the routes
of the buses.
E. I. Hill, editor of the Lynn Coun
ty News at Tahoka. believed the
missing children found overnight
shelter in areas remote from tele
phones.
n unareas oi automoDiies remained
•tailed in the drifts on highways
throughout the South Plains. A
bright sun offered hope that the
blizzard soon would relax its grip.
Four hundred high school students
were marooned for a time last night
as a 60-mile-an-hour wind whipped
a 13-inch snowfall into huge drifts.
Although hundreds of stranded
motorists have been taken to places
of safety, Capt. W. W Legge of the
State highway patrol asserted there
can be no assurance there have not
been casualties.
It was his opinion, however, that
those not reached by ihe scores of
rescue parties sent our from Lub
bock and other towns found shelter
In nearby farm houses.
Participants in the rescue efforts
included three emergency trains on
the Santa Pe Railway from Lub
bock, truck crev s of the State high
way department, the State highway
patrol, school authorities and offi
cers throughout the area, and scores
of other groups traveling on horse
back, in trucks, in tractors and on
foot.
Officials of the Santa Pe reported
that 375 persons marooned by the
blizzard were brought into Lubbock
aboard the three emergency relief
trains and regular trains.
One train crew reported that 130
people, including two infants were
Jammed into four service stations
adjacent to a rural crossing.
Another special of two passenger
coaches pushed by a locomotive be
came stalled in 5 feet of snow in
Hurlwoof community west of Lub
bock. Another locomotive was re
quired to complete the rescue.
Radio signals were broadcast to
motorists stranded on highways
adjacent to railway tracks to flash
their headlights when a train ap
proached.
Many Prisoners Taken
In Action, Say Nazis
By the Associate* Press.
BERLIN, Peb. 17.—The high com
mand reported today that German
soldiers had taken numerous pris
oners near Saarbruecken on the
western front.
Its communique said:
"In the west, in the region of Use
Warndt Forest southwest of Saar
bruecken, patrol action resulted in
the capture of numerous prisoners.
"On the upper Rhine front, in
various places, a lively exchange of
machine gun and rifle Are took
place.
“Over the North Sea, a German
pursuit plane shot down an English
plane of the Bristol-Blenheim type.”
French Suffer Losses.
PARIS, Peb. 17 OP).—Military dis
patches today reported a French
patrol which had penetrated deep
into Germany had suffered losses in
a mined field. ,
One soldier was reported killed,
three missing and eight wounded
severely among the group which wae
operating in the region west of the
Saar River.
Snow and low ceilings grounded
aerial forces on both sides.
The French high command com
munique merely said, "Nothing to
report."
Town Slashes Taxes
DEPOSIT, N. Y„ Peb. 17 (*).—
With the village treasury showing a
/surplus of $6,065, Mayor Dwight H.
Hebler told the Board of Trustees
there was only ode thing to do—cut
taxes. The board obliged, lopping
the tax sate «i p» thousand.
Boy, 7, Kills Father
In Playing With Pistol
By thr Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Feb. 17.—Seven-year
old Frank Miller, jr., was a bewil
dered, frightened little boy today,
unable to understand the awful
thing he had done.
After dinner last night he and his
brother Bobbie, 2, accompanied
their parents to a hardware store
owned by a friend.
The youngster rummaged around
the store while his father paid a
bill and talked with the clerk. In
a nail bin behind a counter he found
a shiny pistol.
Little Franx pulled the trigger.
His father fell to the floor, killed
almost instantly by a bullet through
the back.
Hamilton Scoffs
At Foes' Choice of
'Early' Dale
Seems Some Democrats
Didn't Like President's
Idea, He Says
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Democratic National Chairman
James A. Farley’s announcement in
Miami today that the Democratic
National Convention would open in
Chicago on July 15 brought the
comment from Republican National
Chairman John Hamilton at G. O. P.
headquarters here that:
“It looks like some Democrats
don’t think President Roosevelt's
late convention idea was so hot
after all.”
The date for the Democratic Na
tional Convention set by Mr. Farley
is three weeks later than the date
of tne Democratic National Con
vention in 1936.
The Republican National Commit
tee at its meeting here yesterday
selected June 24 as the date for the
party’s national convention and
Philadelphia as the convention city.
Last fall. President Roosevelt sug
gested it would be a good idea to
hold the national conventions late
in the summer and have a shorter
campaign after the presidential and
vice presidential candidates had
been nominated.
It looks now, however, as though
the campaign will not be materially
shortened.
Republican Group Meets.
The Committee on Arrangements
for the Republican National Con
vention. appointed yesterday by the
national committee, held its first
meeting today at Republican head
quarters, 718 Jackson place N.W.
This committee, which is charged
with making all arrangements for
the convention, appointed a number
of subcommittees to handle the de
tails. Later, the committee will
select a keynote speaker for the
national convention and will recom
mend also a permanent chairman
and other officials of the' convention,
all of whom must be elected by the
convention Itself.
It was said that probably no de
cision regarding a keynote speaker
would be made for two or three
months. However, gossip has al
ready brought the names of Gov.
(See LINCOLN, Page A-4.)
Roosevelt Promised
Ohio's Delegation
If He Wants It
State Committee Names
Senator Vic Donahey
As 'Favorite Son'
By the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. - 17.—
Ohio's Democratic Central and Ex
ecutive Committee members formal
ly declared today that the State's
! delegation to the national conven
tion should support Presidenl
Roosevelt if he desired renomina
tion.
The meeting directed that if Mr
Roosevelt eliminated himself as s
candidate, the delegation should
support Senator Vic Donahey as the
i first choice “favorite son” and
Charles Sawyer, national commit
teeman, as second choice.
Names of Senator Donahey and
Mr. Sawyer will be formally desig
nated on ballots in the presidents
preference primary as the choice)
of delegate-candidates sponsored by
the 8tate organisation.
James W. Huffman, son-in-law ©:
Senator Donahey, cast the soli
negative ballot against the Roose
velt nomination. Speculation gross
immediately as to whether Senatoi
Donahey would accept the "favoriU
son” role.
Pennsylvania Democrats
May File Roosevelt Name
Significant new primary' fights
were shaping up today for Repub
lican and Democratic presidential
hopefuls with prospective entry ol
President Roosevelt's name in the
Pennsylvania race the development
of first interest. Presentation ol
Vice President Gamer to Califor
nia Democrats and a probable clash
between Thomas E. Dewey and Sen
ator Vandenberg of Michigan in
Nebraska Republican voting like
wise were in the making.
• The prospect of President Roose
velt's name going on the Pennsyl
vania Democratic primary ballot was
disclosed by David L. Lawrence,
Pennsylvania State chairman, who
said at Harrisburg that nominating
petitions for Mr. Roosevelt were be
ing prepared for circulation. The
preferential primary will be April 23.
There was no word from the
President as to whether be approved
entry of his name in this contest.
Gamer Approves Entry.
Mr. Gamer announced that he
would enter the California primary
in an attempt to duplicate his vic
tory there in 1932. when the State's
delegates were instructed to support
him for President.
In a telegram to California Gar
ner-for-President Club leaders, the
Vice President said that their ac
tion in entering his name in the
May 7 primary had his “full ap
proval.”
Another development was the de
cision of Virginia Democrats tc
convene June 14 at Roanoke tc
name delegates to the national
meeting.
Indications of the Republican
contest in Nebraska developed as
petitions were circulated to place
I the name of Mr. Dewey on the bal
lot of the April 9 primary.
Iron Lung Rushed From D. C.
To Save Baltimore Woman
An iron lung vu rushed from
Children's Hospital to Baltimore
today in an effort to save the life
of a 22-year-old bride-to-be who
collapsed with a cerebral hemorrage
at her birthday party Thursday and
later developed lung paralysis.
BaRimore'ftremen and police kept
the victim, Miss Dorothy R. Thater,
alive by artificial respiration from
the time her lungs ceased to func
tion yesterday afternoon while doc
tors sought an iron lung.
Children’s Hospital officials were
notified of the case this morning
and immediately loaded the port
able artificial lung on a truck and
sent it on to Baltimore.
The truck was escorted to the
District line by two Metropolitan
motorcycle police and was convoyed
from there to Baltimore by Mary
land state police.
John J. Anderson, chief engineer
of the hospital, accompanied the
apparatus.
Miss Thater was unwrapping gifts
before a party of friends which in
cluded her fiance, Joseph' Vittick,
wtMB she slumped to t***
floor. One of her gifts was an en
gagement ring from Mr. Vittick.
The young woman was rushed to
St. Joseph’s Hospital and late yes
terday her lungs became completely
paralyzed. Doctors and internes ad
ministered artificial respiration, and
later firemen were called in to take
over the task of keeping Miss Thater
alive.
Oxygen was applied and firemen
continued their aid while a spe
cialist operated to remove pressure
on Miss Thater’s brain.
At midnight last night, fire de
partment officials informed the hos
pital they regretted that firemen
could no longer be spared from ac
tive duty, and police were called
in to replace them at the young
woman’s bedside.
The officers continued to work it
15-minute shifts until the iron luni
arrived today.
A respiratory apparatus for Mia
Thater had been sought from thi
time her breathing began to fail, bui
the only iron lung found in Balti
more was at Johns Hopkins Hospita
and it was stationary and could no
be removed.
A
Farley Chooses
July 15 for
Convention
Democrats to Meet
Three Weeks After
Republicans
By the Associated Press.
MIAMI. Fla., Feb. 17.—The 1940
Democratic National Convention will
meet in Chicago beginning Monday,
July 15, to choose nominees for
President and Vice President.
Postmaster General James A. Far
ley, acting as chairman of the Dem
ocratic National Committee, made
the announcement at a press confer
ence here today.
He had been empowered by the
committee to choose the date, and
promised a decision "satisfactory to
all.”
He acted Just one day after the
Republican Committee selected Phil
adelphia for its convention and set
the date for June 24.
It had been generally assumed in
advance that the Democratic party
would hold its sessions after the
Republicans had made their nomi
nations and written their platform.
There will be a lapse of three
weeks between the start of the Re
publican meeting and the Demo
cratic convention.
mx. r ariey saia ne wouia nave set
the Cnicago sessions to start a week
earlier, on July 8, but this would
have required delegates from distant
States to be traveling on July 4.
Farley Reiterates Confidence.
Democratic party leaders were
lepresented as feeling they could
afford to have a shorter campaign
for the presidency because of the
advantages accruing during such
a race to the party in power.
Mr. Farley reiterated that he was
confident the Democratic nominees
would be successful, regardless of
i who they were.
He declined again, however, to
discuss the third term question.
Informed Senator Thomas, Demo
crat, of Utah, had declared “if the
Democratic party is in such a sit
uation that only one man can save
the country from the Republicans,
then Mr. Roosevelt should run
again and probably will.” Mr. Far
ley said he didn’t care to comment.
Then he added:
“I don’t know whether Senator
Thomas is for a third term.”
Recalls Primary Strategy.
About the prospective entry of
President Roosevelt’s name in the
Pennsylvania primary, Mr. Farley
1 said:
“Under the Pennsylvania primary
setup, it is not necessary to enter
formally.”
The national committee chairman
said the results of the early primaries
and conventions were sometimes im
portant. He pointed out that the
Maine and Vermont conventions
were among the earliest and said
they were important regardless of
how those States voted in the elec
toral college.
“In 1932,” he said, “the Maine and
Iowa conventions were held on the
same day. I was out in Iowa trying
to line up the Iowa convention for
Roosevelt. The Maine convention
went for Rooosevelt and I was able
to use that as a lever in swinging
Iowa.
"I have always felt that was the
turning point in favor of the Roose
velt campaign for the nomination,
since it disclosed the sentiment of
two entirely different sections of the
country.”
Predicts “Interesting” Session.
Pink-cheeked and affable, the
Postmaster General predicted an in
teresting but harmonious Demo
cratic session. He expessed assur
ance that the people wanted a con
tinuation of the New Deal policies.
He was impatient, however, of Re
publican campaign statements, espe
cially one in which John D. M.
Hamilton, G. O. P. national chair
man, said he would welcome a third
term candidacy.
“Mr. Hamilton talked in 1936 of
Republican successes up until the
election night, then the voters took
care of the situation,” said Mr. Far
ley. “I have enough confidence in
the American people to believe they
will do the same thing this No
vember.”
»
Bioff Extradition Papers
Signed by Gov. Olson
Bt the Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 17.—
Extradition papers for the return to
Chicago of William Bioff, head of a
big theatrical labor union, have
been signed by Gov. Culbert L. Olson,
his office announced today.
Bioff's attorneys have contended
the action, based on a long dormant
pandering charge, was a move by his
enemies to halt his organization ac
tivities in the film colony.
Bioff is the West Coast leader of
the International Alliance of The
atrical and Stage Employes.
Illinois asked his extradition oa
grounds he had not served a com-,
plete term.
I
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i
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f
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I
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Evening star. [volume], February 17, 1940, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Evening star. [volume], February 17, 1940, Image 1
About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972