Evening star. [volume], March 14, 1940, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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Conferees Extend Life
Of Resources Board;
Kill Personnel Council
Sum of $144,500,000
Agreed on for Maritime
Commission Shipbuilding
Senate and House conferees on
the independent offices appropria
tion bill agreed today to extend
the life of the National Resources
Planning Board for another year, at
the request of President Roosevelt,
but killed the Council for Personnel
Management.
For the Planning Board, which is
headed by Frederic A. Delano, they
allowed the $710,000 recommended
by the Senate, in place of the orig
inal budget estimate of $1,060,000.
The agency became a part of the
White House executive office under
the President’s reorganization pro
gram last year.
r unas expire June 3U.
The Personnel Council is a co
ordinating group, engaged in study
ing Federal employment policies.
The action of the conferees will
leave it without funds to continue
after June 30. The budget esti
mate for the council was $50,000
and the Senate tried without suc
cess to have $25,040 allowed.
When the House committee draft
ed the bill originally it left out a
third agency, the office of Govern
ment reports, but made provision
for the other two. On the floor of
the House, however, the planning
board and the personnel council
also were knocked out on points of
order, based on a claim that there
is no basic law authorizing their ex
istence. This contention was chal
lenged in the Senate committee.
It is expected an effort will be
made to provide for the office of
Government reports when the work
relief bill is taken up.
Shipbuilding Compromise.
The biggest item in dispute in the
Independent offices bill was the
amount for the shipbuilding pro
gram of the Maritime Commission,
and the conferees finally compro
mised on $144,500,000.
The House started out by cut
ting $75,000,000 from the budget
estimate for this purpose. The Sen
ate restored $39,000,000 of that cut
and in conference the Senate in
crease was cut in half.
As it will go to the President,
after ratification of the conference
report by both houses, the bill to
tals about $1,118,000,000 for all in
dependent agencies, which is $76,
000,000 under the budget estimates.
Barrymore Not to Play
'Great Profile' Lead
By the Associated Press.
HOLLYWOOD. March 14.—Un
able to get John Barrymore to play
the lead in "The Great Profile,”
Twentieth Century Studio has signed
Adolphe Menjou for the part.
"It’s about jio actor,” said the
studio, figuratively; winking. Barry
more, often called ‘“Die Great Pro
file,” was invited to star in the film,
but previous commitments will keep
him busy all summer.
Stockholm
(Continued From First Page.)
own bloodless conquest of Czecho
slovakia.
Only time will tell whether the
peace of Moscow involves some form
of German guarantee for what is
left of Finland.
A Moscow dispatch to the news
paper Aftonbladet said Russia in
tends to establish a so-called "peo
ple's republic” in the area of South
ern Finland ceded to the Soviet
Union. It said Viipuri would be
the capital.
This report said prominent Com
munists would head the government
over ceded Finnish territory, which
includes Terijoki, border village
where a provisional Finnish “peo
ple's” regime was set up December
1, the day after the Finnish-Russiart
war started.
That regime, given instant
recognition from Moscow, was head
ed by Otto Kuusinen, a previously
exiled Finnish Communist leader.
Nothing has been learned of
Kuusinen's whereabouts in recent
weeks of fighting.
Scandinavian newspapers have
carried reports—without confirma
tion—that he was arrested and
executed for misinforming Joseph
Stalin as to the likelihood of a popu
lar uprising in Finland when Russia
launched her initial attack.
However, last week, after these
reports were published, the Moscow
press carried an article under his
signature, indicating that at that
time he still was in favor.
Norway Is Warned
Against Alliance
OSLO, Norway, March 14 UP).—The
liberal newspaper Dagbladet warned
Norway today not to enter into nego
tiations for a defensive alliance with
Finland and Sweden.
Norway’s foreign minister, Halv
dan Koht, said this country already
had agreed to “consider the possi
bility” of such an alliance.
The newspaper pointed out that
the third clause of the Finnish-Rus
sian peace treaty forbade Finland
to enter an alilance against the
Soviet Union, “and this excludes any
defense pact.”
It said that if Norway had declared
Its willingness to discuss such pos
sibilities. "we must assume that
answer was given before the peace
conditions were made known.
“If the cabinet should propose a
pact, the Storting (Parliament) must
reject it at any cost.”
The Dagbladet previously had
urged active Norwegian intervention
to help Finland fight Russia.
Neutral observers agreed that a
defense pact would be welcomed in
many sections of Norwegian and
Swedish public opinion, due to the
deep feeling that Finland suffered
unduly both in war and the new
peace, but the non-aggression article
In the Russian treaty was regarded
as a possible stumbling block.
The question was raised in some
quarters whether Norway and Swe
den, possibly convinced that the
Soviet Union was in no position to
continue a fight, ’might negotiate
an alliance in defiance of the Rus
sian peace conditions.
It was assumed, however, that
Russia could hardly fall to regard a
Phielsh alliance as directed at her*
k
WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED THIEF WORE—Policeman F. B.
Knapp with the clothing that was recovered yesterday by detec
tives who searched the rooms of a colored employe of a local
haberdashery. The man has been charged with 22 thefts from
the store over a period of several months. —Star Staff Photo.
Parade of Suspects
Continues Tonight
At Police Bureau
Between 30 and 40 Men
Will Be Viewed by
Victims of Holdups
Police, not the least discouraged by
the failure of recent victims of
crimes to identify any of the hun
dreds of suspects arrested, planned
another big line-up tonight.
Between 20 and 40 colored men, ar
rested this week as suspicious char
acters .will be viewed at 7:30 p.m. by
citizens who have reported robberies,
assaults and similar crimes lately.
Last night, 40 white men picked up
by police were paraded at headquar
ters. This was the third big line-up
since the current campaign against
crime started—and for the third
straight time the victims failed to
identify any of the suspects.
Few Linked to Crime.
Between 200 and 300 persons have
been detained by police on suspicion
this month, but only a few have been
linked to any crime. Police said that
few of those arrested had any visible
means of support.
William T. Moore, 52, of 1204
Staples street N.E., reported last
night that a lone white man had
robbed him of $4 and his taxi near
Third and Channing streets N.E. The
man had, been a passenger in the
cab, Mr. Moore said, and committed
the robbery at gun point. The cab
later was recovered.
Lu»c?ln bodge of. tag-P street
N.wV, was ribbed of $4!Lby'a colored
man, who held him up in an alley
near his home last night, police re
ported.
Another Mink Coat Stolen.
_ Another thef t of a mink coat came
to light meanwhile. ’Mrs. -Dallas
Dort, 5074 Dowell street N.W., re
ported that her coat was stolen
Sunday night while she was attend
ing the premier of “St. Joan” at the
Belasco Theater.
Mrs. Dort said she left her coat on
her seat while she went out for a
smoke at intermission. When she
returned, the coat was gone. Tues
day night Miss Eugenia Buxton,
pianist, reported that her $3,000
mink coat was stolen from the
chapel at Howard University, where
she was giving a recital.
Charles M. Shepperson
Is Taken by Death
Charles Marsh Shepperson, 60, war
veteran of Alexandria, Va., died yes
terday at his home, at 907 Prince
street, Alexandria.
Mr. Shepperson was born at Wood
ville, Miss., the son of the late Rev.
Charles Marsh Shepperson and Mrs.
Mary Virginia Baxter Shepperson
He attended the West Tennessee
Military Academy, the Hampden
Sydney College and the Presbyterian
College, Fredfericksburg, Va.
He settled in Alexandria in 1899,
following service as a volunteer dur
ing the Spanish-American War. He
served during the World War as a
lieutenant in the Motor Transport
Corps in France.
Mr. Shepperson was staff corre
spondent for the Washington Post
from August, 1921, until August of
last year. He was a member of the
Russell-Mltchell Post, Veterans of
Foreign Wars; Alexandria Post,
American Legion; Maj. James E.
King Camp, Spanish War Veterans;
Alexandria-Washington Lodge of
Masons; the Mount Vernon Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons, and the Alex
andria Kiwanis Club. For two years,
beginning in 1921, Mr. Shepperson
was captain of the Alexandria Light
Infantry.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Dolly Peyton Shepperson, and two
daughters, Mrs. C. Booker Powell
and Imogene Baxter Shepperson,
both of Alexandria.
Funeral services will be held at
the home on Prince street at 2 p.m.
tomorrow. Burial will be in Ivy
Hill Cemetery.
Congress in Brief
TODAY.
Senate:
Leaders press for final vote on
Hatch Act amendments.
House:
Debates bill to increase number of
Federal Judges.
Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee of
House District Committee begins
consideration of proposed changes
in income tax law.
Subcommittee on Appropriations
resumes hearings on District appro
priation bill.
TOMORROW.
Senate:
Will continue debate on Hatch Bill
if vote is not reached today.
Commerce Subcommittee meets
(executive) on La Guardla Airport
Bill. 10:30 am.
Civil Service Committee meets
(executive) on Ramspeck Bill. 10:30
am.
House:
Not expected to be in session.
Subcommittee of Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee eon-1
aiders miscellaneous bills. 10 am.
Man Is Shot Dead
Fighting to Protect
Woman in Holdup
Three Masked Bandits
Attack Couple Parked on
Road Near Baltimore
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, March 14.—Ten de
teptives began a search today for
three young holdup men who last
night shot and killed John K.
Waterbury, 25-year-old gas com
pany employe, when he tried to
protect his young woman com
panion on a lonely suburban road.
Detective Capt. John A. Cooney
said the attack on Mr. Waterbury
and hi3 companion, Miss Phyllis
Taylor, 24-year-old stenographer,
who was hit on the head with a
pistol, occurred shortly after the
bandit trio had held up George
Seward, 21.
Capt. Cooney said one of the
men held Mr. Seward at gun point
while the other two approached
Mr. Waterbury’s parked car, robbed
him and Miss Taylor and engaged
in a fight that ended with Mr.
Waterbury shot in the heart.
Series of 14 Holdups.
The holdup was 1 of 14 that have
occurred her since March 1. On
Monday night Robert B. Murray,
4t-year-old Baltimore Sun copy
reader. was shot by a man who
held up a tavern. His condition
remained serious today.
Mr. Cooney said police believed
the men who attacked Mr. Water
bury and Miss Taylor were the same
Jnasked, hatless, gun-carrying trio
who committed a series of “Lovers'
Lane’’ holdups in Baltimore and
Anne Arundel Counties.
Working on a clue provided by a
license plate picked up near the
scene of the WateMmry shooting;
police kept two houses under
surveillance in the Hampden section.
A stolen automobile, parked on a
vacant lot by three men around
midnight, also was being watched.
Police Commissioner Robert F.
Stanton announced, meanwhile,
that the identity of two suspected
accomplices of James Charles Smith,
22-year-old Washington mechanic
held in the Murray shooting, was
known and that arrests could be
expected “almost any time.”
Miss Taylor, a bad gash in her
head, was confined to her home to
day under a physician's care. She
said that after Mr. Waterbury was
snot one of the men hit her on the
head with a pistol because she was
screaming.
Bandits Flee on Foot.
The bandits then fled on foot and
after a few minutes, Miss Taylor
got out of the car, stopped a passing
motorist and' told an incoherent
story of what had happened.
Police said Miss Taylor told them
she and Mr. Waterbury were sit
ting in his parked automobile when
the men approached and ordered
them to open the doors “or we'll kill
you.”
They complied with the demand,
she said, and the men took $10 from
Mr. Waterbury and . two rings, a
watch and a purse from her.
Mr. Waterbury objected when one
of the men reached for Miss Taylor.
He jumped from the car and began
battling the pair in the road. Miss
Taylor said she heard a shot and
saw Mr. Waterbury fall.
Yankee Clipper Leaves
With 48 Passengers
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, March 14. —The
Yankee Clipper took off yesterday
on its regular trans-Atlantic flight
to Lisbon, Portugal, carrying the
Vinter’s largest passenger load, 48
persons, including a counteas and
two diplomats.
Bound for Sweden to join her
husband and two children was the
Countess Estelle Bemadotte of Wis
borg, American-born daughter of
the industrialist, H. E. Manville.
Among the other passengers bound
for Europe were Jonusz Zoltowskl,
Polish diplomat en route to confer
with officials Of the Polsih govern
ment in France, and Bo Gunnar
Richardson Haggloff, Swedish dip
lomat.
Scratches
Oaklawn Park
(Clear and Good.)
First race—Izarra, Miss Sonada.
Eighth race—Maria Juliet, Golden
Quest.
Ninth and tenth races declared
off.
Tropical Park
By the AuocUUd Preu.
(Cloudy and fast.)
First race—My One, Dosage.
Second race—Abanico, Epical.
Adolf, Epitaph, White Topper,
Whisper, Miss Hildur, Skipped.
Fourth race—Sallie Kay.
Sixth race—Free Bid, Sweet Lav
ender, Jo Mary, Paper Girl, Hills
Palm, Black Time, Unravelled.
Seventh race—Naughty, West
Wichjta, Travel Agent, Marching
Feet.
Ninth race
Daladier to Explain
Conduct of War to
Senators Today
Premier Seeks Speedy
Settlement of Criticism
For Finnish Policy
Bj the Auoclated Preu.
PARIS, March 14.—The Senate
voted unanimously this afternoon to
go into immediate secret session to
hear Premier Daladier explain his
conduct of the war to date.
The vote was taken after the Pre
mier himself, responding to clamor
ous press comment on the Russian
Finnish peace and pressure in Par
liament, offered to discuss with the
Senators both the war and the
political situation.
M. Daladier said specifically he
agreed to "immediate discussion
of Interpellations regarding Fin
land.” Among those asking ques
tions is former Premier Joseph
Paul-Eoncour.
M. Daladier replied indirectly to
criticism which has arisen in Par
liament and among the public by
declaring that "we should go into
this debate and end it; there must
be a clear and concise decision."
Welles’ Visit Advanced.
He said he had been obliged to ad
vance his reception of United States
Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles to meet him at noon in order
to rush to the Senate for the de
bate. No other reference was made
to Mr. Welles’ visit.
me innuenuai newspaper L,e
Temps got aboard the bandwagon
of criticism of the government,
terming the Russian-Finnish peace
a marked defeat for the allies.
There has been no military de
feat, out "there has been no effective
fighting in that field of operations,”
the paper said, urging that from
now on things must change.
Now the allies must “attack every
where” and "find the battlefield that
will allow them to deploy their im
mense military forces,” said Le
Temps.
Government Attitude Defended.
Authorised French quarters, de
fending the government's attitude
in the Russian-Finnish War, de
clared that material aid was rushed
to Finland immediately upon Hel
sinki’s request last December.
These quarters said Finland did
not ask for troops from France
until the latter part of February,
when the Finnish Minister informed
the French foreign office they would
be needed.
On February 26 Finland was noti
fied that troops were ready to em
bark and would leave as soon as the
Finnish government officially called
for them, it was added .
This call, described as necessary
in view of the attitude of Sweden
and Norway, never came, spokes
men said.
I. C. C. Refuses Plea
To Reopen Southern Rates
By tbc Associated Press.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission refused today to reopen for
reargument iU decision in* the long-'
'fought south-fo-north freight rate
case, in which the South won an
important victory
The commission also ordered re
ductions put into effect June 1.
As in the original decision, the
commission voted. 5 to 4, against
granting petitions filed by the
northern railroads and northern
intervenors for reargument and re
hearing.
Tie report said that after careful
consideration of the petitions' and
review of the evidence the I. C. C.
found no reason warranting reopen
ing of the proceedings.
In its original decision, the com
mission ordered reductions in rates
on 18 commodities from the South
to the north to a basis approximat
ing that within the North. The
south-to-north rates on the com
modities involved now are about 37
ner cent higher than the rates with
in the North
Commissioner William E. Lee, who
wrote the original decision, also
wrote today’s report. Joining him
in voting against reopening the case
were Commissioners Clyde B. Aitch
ison, Walter M. W. Splawn, Marion
M. Caskie and John L. Rogers.
Chairman Joseph B. Eastman and
Commissioners Claude R. Porter,
Charles D. Mahaffle and Carroll
Miller voted for reargument and fur
ther hearing.
The two newest members of the
commission, J. Haden Alldredge and
William J. Patterson, did not par
ticipate.
Commodities involved in the pro
ceeding Included stoves of all kinds,
various kinds of stone, cast iron and
brass pipe fittings, fire hydrants, iron
and brass valves and soapstone and
talc.
Bay State Notables
Fight Pari-Mutuel Law
By the Associated Press.
BOSTON, March 14—Repeal of
the pari-mutuel betting laws is the
object of the "Citizens’ Committee
of Massachusetts,” which announced
today it had filed incorporation pa
pers. It includes among its direc
tors such prominent residents as
Charles Francis Adams, former Navy
Secretary, and A. Lawrence Lowell,
president emeritus of Harvard.
Bench, bar, Industry, business and
the pulpit joined in asserting such
gambling produced "unwholesome
effects” from “an economic, civil
and moral standpoint.”
The purpose of the organization
was stated to be “an educational
program throughout the State in
an effort to bring about repeal of
the pari-mutuel betting laws.” The
organizers expressed "complete as
surance” that repeal would be forth
coming in the majority of counties
“when next presented to the voters.”
Australian Coalition
War Cabinet Announced
By the AuoeUtwf Preu.
CANBERRA, March 14.—A new
Australian coalition war cabinet was
announced today with Robert O.
Menzies, leader of the United Aus
tralia Party, remaining as Prime
Minister and minister for the co
ordination of defense.
A. O. Cameron, leader of the
United Country Party, which agrees
with the United Australia Party in
empire affairs, took the portfolios
of cotnmmpe and navy.
TERRITORIAL AND RAIL CONCESSIONS OPEN FOUR-WAY THREAT AGAINST SCANDINAVIA
—Russia’s peace with Finland brings no peace of mind today to her Scandinavian neighbors,
8weden, Norway. Definitely proved in the 105-day war was the Red Army’s need for railroad
facilities and these rail links across Finland are provided by the peace treaty. The pact of Mew
cow, further, virtually makes the Gulf of Finland a “Russian lake.” With naval and air bases
dotting both sides and the "Gibraltar” Hanko under lease to Russia, even the Gulf of Bothnia
is menaced by Red ambition. Through it passes the “lifeline” of Swedish iron ore cargoes. The
four routes open to Russia are (1) north through Murmansk, past the Petsamo region where the
peninsula's tip was ceded to Russia; (2) across Finland’s narrow waist on rail connections to be
built under the pact to the head of the Gulf of Bothnia; (3) through the Karelian Isthmus, newly
acquired, thence along Finnish railroads; (4) through the Gulf of Finland past strategic Hanko.
Cross-hatching shows areas ceded to Russia. --A. P. Wirephoto.
Transport
(Continued Prom First Page.)
of seasoned reinforcements to re
place tired troops, Finnish morale
was unbroken.
Foreign military observers gen
erally agreed that the Red Army
would need years really to con
quer the Finns if they abandoned
the cities and fought a delaying
guerrilla war through lake, swamp
and forest regions.
The fact that the Finns calmly
chose Instead to sign peace now
on harsh Russian terms means
only to some of these observers that
Finland is willing to sacrifice great
ly for a breathing space in which
she can reorganize defense of her
independence on a modern basis—
particularly as concerns defense
against enemy bombing fleets.
Stalin's bombers paraded across
Finland's skies in this war. Plucky
Finnish pilots shot down many—
but for practical purposes the
Finnish air force and anti-aircraft
batteries were almost non-existent.
Finns say they won’t let that
happen again.
Reds' Break-Through
Dictated Peace Talk
By JAMES ALDRIDGE.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 14
(N.A.N.A.).—The prelude to the
Finnlsh-Russian peace negotiations
and the immediate reason why the
Finns started talking peace was the
break-through by the Red Army of
the third line and strongest defenses
of the famous Mannerheim Line at
Summa three weeks ago. This
break-through is the most signifi
cant military feat since the World
War—not only because of its mili
tary importance, but because of im
mediate developments which sent
the Finnish Premier Risto Ryti,
Juho Paasikivi, former Premier of
Finland, and colleagues to Moscow.
What caused the folding up of
this famous and long-held and al
most impregnable line, which was
equal to, and, in some ways, better
than the Maginot and Siegfried
Lines?
Three Reasons for Break.
Three reasons, which, put to
gether, constitute a hitherto unre
vealable answer. First, the only
weakness in the line itself was acci
dentally found by the Russians; sec
ond, the weariness of the Finns and
the impossibility of relieving their
best fighters; third, but not least
important, was the first use of their
best divisions by the Red Army com
manders.
The Mannerheim Line’s strength
was not the strength of the first line
itself, but the strength of everything
behind that first line. Dugouts, tank
traps, mne fields, sniping posts an<^
most important, a String of cement
forts hidden deep in the Karelian
earth, gave the line its great powers
of defense—particularly the forts.
mu i _ i _ x i_** i . ...
i ms is tne nrst description ever
given of these forts. They are well
constructed of reinforced concrete,
6 feet thick, and buried under 20 to
30 feet of earth. The straight front
of the forts faced toward Russia.
The oack of the forts is shaped
something like the top half of a
bottle neck, widening at right angles.
These forts are anywhere from 20
to 30 feet long. The Russia-facing
front was built to hold three guns
in the neck, two heavy machine guns
at each end and a heary artillery
piece in the center. The rest of the
fort, most of which is underground,
is for the crews’ living room and
ammunition.
Planned and Replanned.
Placed ip position before the war
and planned and replanned, the
guns nad the exact range for every
road, village, etc., which the Rus
4ans would use.
Day after day the Russian artil
lery pounded the forts, blew the
earth completely from the top, made
direct hits on the concrete face, but
did not do much damage. But when
the Russian shells got thick, many
started exploding in front of the
forts, gradually burying themselves
under them, unttl the big shells got
right under the cement forts and
exploded there, lifting the forts.
Knowing that the mechanism of
the Pli4R’ guns was out of order,
the Russians broke up their care
ful range, shells went wide and ma
chine guns had a limited target
area. Thus the forts were soon
comparatively useless.
The worst break-up of these forts
in this manner was at Summa Tues
day. January 16, when I was at the
battle of Summa road.
Not Shelled So Strongly.
As the forts at Summa were use-'
less the Russians found that they
need not be so strongly shelled, so
they advanced and the Finns had to
fight doubly hard in this Summa
area, which was the quickest en
trance point to Viipuri. And this
told on the Finnish soldiers, bring
ing us to point 2.
Fighting their hardest to prevent
the Russians from advancing any
further than Summa, the Finns
lost the most men of any single
battle as the Russians came time
and time again along the Sumkna
road. The Finnish Army command
ers had to withdraw their best, but
tired, troops and replace them with
foreign volunteers, the only available
reserves, who had not seen any fight
ing before, but were fresh and well
fed.
Whether by good information
service or luck, the Russians sud
denly made their strongest attack
along the Summa road on February
10, pouring over a super-artillery
barrage as a prelude.
Untried Troops Chased.
In less than no time volunteer
replacements lost a large number
of their officers, who had no con
ception of what to do under such
tremendous fire. Following the bar
rage came the best and most lit
Russian fighters ever used on the
isthmus, slashing their way forward.
They cut their way through these
untried troops. Some of these in
experienced soldiers, now under
officered in their first fighting with
Russians, the equal of which the
Finns had never met, just folded
up and turned and ran, chased by
Russian tanks. And those dugouts,
where I had stayed the week before,
were now occupied by the oncoming
Soviet troops.
The Finns rushed up their cavalry
(Tavast Light Horse) to hold the
line. I knew these men personally;
I had lunched with their Lt. Col.
Aka Wahren. But this cavalry
regiment, too, was wiped out by
the Russians, who did not stop at
the dugouts, but kept coming on
to Naykkl and Kamara Villages
within easy walking distance of
Viipurl.
The Finns’ tired men were called
back and with what was left of the
routed volunteers were thrown in to
hold the Russians. But the Finns,
for the first time, lost their confi
dence.
Discouraged, they fought as though
their backs were against a wall, and
gradually the Russians pushed them
back until the Finns were in the
last line of defense.
Struck at mgni Moment.
And this leads to point 3—The
Russians best divisions well-timed,
well-placed; attack by the three
crack Red Army divisions made the
break-through at Summa. The
100th, 103d and 49th divisions of
the Red Army were divisions com
posed of young, first-line Russians
trained carefully in guerrilla fight
ing, with crack ski patrols and tanks
which got places—the right places.
Staffed by three of the best Red
Army divisional commanders, who
knew what they were doing and
were on the spot, they struck at the
right moment and went into their
advance with all the caginess and
cunning of the Finns. They used
the quick attack, withdraw and re
attack method, utilising the terrain
to their best advantage.
And this against untried troops.
This was the most fortunate moment
for the Soviet troops and the most
unfortunate for the Finns, and once
they had begun to advance the Rus
sians took some stopping. They for
once used the woods and left their
tanks to chase the retreating col
umns while they went ahead to
tackle the rear of the Finnish line.
The outpointed and outfought
anything they met until they, faced
the Finns again, who dug In'At their
new defense line.
These three factors together are
the rea«m for the break in the line.
Individually they would not have
had any great significance. But they
all came in a heap. That is the
secret of why the Mannerheim Line
broke.
Gandhi Seeks fo Rally
All Wings of Party
B» tfct A.'<ociated Press.
RAMGARH, India, March 14.—
Mohandas K. Gandhi came today to
this “magic city in the forest” where
he hopes to rally all wings of his
Congress (Nationalist) party behind
his “slow but sure” pressure for In
dian independence.
The little Indian leader’s problem
is to get the youthful, impatient ele?
ments to prolong their trust in him
as sole judge of whether—=and when
—to begin civil disobedience. They
are smarting under a flurry of Brit
ish arrests of anti-war lecturers.
Relatively conservative Gandhi
party leaders have the party’s
machinery securely in hand and
there is believed to be virtually no
chance of revolt against his author
ity.
Party workers, however, are anx
ious to prevent any followers from
"taking a walk” at the party con
vention next week.
Peace between Finland and Russia
and the assassination in London of
Sir Michael O'Dwyer, former Lieu
tenant Governor of the Punjab, have
had deep repercussions here. (Sir
Michael often was critical of Gandhi
and once called him an “imposter.”)
Gandhi said the O’Dwyer shooting
would not be allowed to affect his
political judgment and added that
the incident caused him deep pain.
He offered condolences to the
O'Dwyer family.
Weather Report
(Furnlahed by th* United State* Weather Bureau.)
District of Columbia—Rain this afternoon and tonight, ending to
morrow morning; colder tomorrow afternoon and night; lowest tonight
about 35 degrees; moderate easterly winds becoming northwest late
tonight or tomorrow morning.
Maryland—Rain this afternoon and tonight, ending in east portion
tomorrow morning; light snow in west portion tomorrow; colder tomorrow
afternoon and night.
Virginia—Rain this afternoon and tonight, ending in east and central
portions tomorrow morning; light snow in extreme west portion tomor
row; colder tomorrow afternoon and night.
West Virginia—Snow and colder tonight; tomorrow generally fair,
except snow flurries in northeast portion; colder in east portion.
The disturbance that was oyer Illinois'
Wednesday morning has moved northward
to the Late Sunerlor redon with Increasing
Intensity. Houghton. Mich.. 100:1.4 milli
bars (29.0.1 inches), and a trough extends
frsom the lower Lake region, southward to
the Yucatan Channel. Amerlcus. da..
1010.3 millibars (.10.01 Inches). Pressure
Is low and falling over Southern Alaska.
Cordova. 990.2 millibars (29 24 Inches).
Pressure is hleh from the Pacific Coast
eastward to the Missouri and lower Missis
sippi Valleys and over the Atlantic States.
Austin Tex.. 10.13.2 millibars <30.51
Inches): Oreenvllle. Me 10.11.5 millibars
(30.40 Inches), and Salt Lake City. Utah.
10.11.2 millibars (30.45 Inches). Precipi
tation has occurred almost generally over
the Fsstern half of th* country, except
New England and New York. Heavy rain
fell in portions of the Southealtern States.
Montgomery. Ala., reporting the greatest
amount. 2.50 Inches. The weather has
become decidedly colder over the West Gulf
States, the lower and middle Mississippi
Valley and the lower Ohio Valley, while
temperatures are hither over the Western
States and the North Atlantic States.
■sport far Last M Hears.
Temperature. Barometer.
Yesterday— Degrees. Inches.
4 p.m. _ 37 30.37
8 p.m _ 38 30.38
Midnight _ 38 30.33
Today—
4 a m. _ 34 30.30
8 a m._ 34 30.27
Noon _ 36 30.09
■eeerd far Last 24 Hears.
(Prom noon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest 38. 7:16 p.m. yesterday. Year
ago. 57.
Lowest. 82. 8:45 a.m. today. Year ago.
o9>
■eeerd Tamperatares This Year.
Highest 64. on February 12.
Lowest. 7- on January 29.
Haasldity far Last 34 Hears.
(From noon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest. 96 per cent, at 5:30 a.m. today.
, Lowest. 44 per eent. at 6:46 p.m. yester
day. ^
■leer ■apart.
Potomac and Shenandoah Hirers cloudy
:l maMT
Tide TsMaa.
(Furnished Coast mid
High _ll^Vm. "TJL
law - 5:34 a.m. 6:14 a.m.
Hlgn -11:48 p.m. 12:09 p.m.
Low —;- 6:16 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
The San and Meea.
Rises. Seta.
High 11:23 a.m. —a.m.
Sun. tomorrow_ 6:20 6:14
Soon, today - 9:16 a.m. 11:34 pm.
^u^bojtir u«r
>
PreeipMatlea.
Monthly precipitation In lnehea la the
Capital (current month to date).
Month. 1940. Arersse. Record.
January____ 2.12 3 65 7 83 '87
February- 2.77 3.27 084 'IX
- 1.23 3.75 884 91
{P™ - 3.27 9.13 '89
M*7- 3.70 10 89 '89
ini. - 413 1994 ’20
In1/..)- 4‘71 10.63
- 401 14.41 ’28
- 3.24 17.45 -34
-- 2.94 8.81 '37
November___ o 37 i «o **<>
December .."I ~ 332 ?JS '01
Weather la Varlama Cities.
Ahnl1*01"' ??,ro Hl«h"£>w R?aUL Weather.
Abilene i. 30.48 53 24 ... Clear
Albany -. 30.36 28 9 Cloudy
A{j»nta 30.06 41 35 1.35 Rain
AtlClty.. 30.33 35 31 Cloudy
fA't'more 30.30 38 32 O.m Rain'
Blrm (ham 30.18 65 39 0.87 Cloudy
g'smarclt. 30.33 23 1 ... Clear
Beaten .. 30.42 41 28 Cloudy
Buffalo _ 30.03 36 27 0.01 Rain
Charleston 30.12 54 43 Cloudy
Chicago 29.97 31 20 0.29 Cloudy
Cincinnati. 30.09 37 so 0.31 Cloudy
Cleveland- 80.03 44 27 0.30 Bnow
Columbia - 30.12 39 36 0.46 Rain
Davenport 30.08 30 17 ... Bnow
Denver 30.33 33 20 ... Clear
Dea Molnee 30.12 25 ll ... Clear
2*tr°lt ,- 30.00 34 29 0.27 Bnow
*1 Paso — 30.33 66 25 Clear
Galveston- 30.45 56 37 0.01 Cloudy
Helena— 30.24 44 34 Cloudy
Huron - . 80.24 20 6 0.04 Clear
Ind’napolU 30.09 44 24 0.13 Snow
Jacks Title 30.p9 08 63 ... Potty
Kans. City 30.27 30 20 .. Clear
Loa Angeles* 30.16 76 56 0.16 dear
Louisville 30.15 55 30 0.23 Cloudy
Miami _ 30.12 76 70 Cloudy
Mpls.-SLP. 29 94 21 13 0.34 Snow
N. Orleans 30.27 72 47 0.29 Cloudy
New York- 30.30 37 29 _ Cloudy
Norfolk . 30.21 43 36 _ Rain
Okla. City. 30.46 44 23 _ dear
Omaha . 30.21 24 14 _ Clear
Phlla'lphla 30.33 41 29 _ Rain
Phoenix 30.21 76 41 ... Clear
Ptttsburth. 30.00 44 36 9.24 Ov'eaW
Portl'd. Ma. 30.46 42 29 ... doudy
W1°*: ftft » M Birr W’
ft. Louis. 80.18 37 25 ... Bnow
Balt Lake C. 30.45 46 26 _ doudy
STAntonto. 30.51 55 83 _ Cloudy
fan Dieto 30.12 71 46 _ dear
Ban Pr’iseo 30 24 66 62 ... Clear
Seattle .. 30.16 60 47 _ Rem
ftB'f n fe
Waahufiton 3027 J)8 32 0.02 Kin
Paraitn Station*.
(Noon. Oreonwleh time, today.)
' Temperature. Weather.
Horta (Payal). Aaorea 61 Cloudy
1 (Current obaarvations.)
flan JUhn. Puerto Rica 78 doudr
Havana. Cum - #T cloudy
Colon. Canal tone_ SO fliala .
Dr. Walsh Issues Call
For Finnish Relief
Fund Drive to Go On
Needs of Civilians
May Become Even More
Urgent, He Declares
Needs of the civilian population
of Finland still are urgent and may
become even more desperate under
the new conditions imposed by the
peace treaty. Dr. Edmund A. Walsh,
8. J., chairman of the Washington
unit of the Finnish Relief Fund,
Inc., declared last night in calling
for continuation of the campaign
for relief funds
“Few Finns will want to live under
8oviet control.” he said. "The in*
habitants of Viipurl and other In
vaded regions have already been
evacuated to the extent of 1,000,000
persons who must be fed, clothed
and distributed In free Finland.
With the heroic tenacity charac
teristic of their race, they must and
will face an obscure and uncertain
future.
“These innocent victims of Boviet
Russia's inhumanity are still living
in makeshift shelters and have
claims on our charity and sympathy.
The Incredible and mysterious pro
crastination of those who might
have prevented this tragedy has
simply created a new obligation for
the conscience of the world. That
conscience cannot be very easy to
day.”
Recalling America's aid during the
great famine in Russia, Dr. Walsh
added:
“It is inconceivable that the
American people will be less consid
erate of Finland than we were of the
civilian population of Soviet Russia
in the hour of their agony. Though
the Soviet airplanes have departed,
the ghastly consequences of their
barbarism still remain. The Finn
ish relief fund will not slack in ita
crusade of mercy on behalf of the
wounded, the orphans and the dis
possessed defenders of human
liberties.”
The Executive Committee of Falla
Church Post, No. 130, American
Legion, has announced it will con
tribute all profits from a dance to
morrow night in Madison School
auditorium in Falls Church to the
Finnish Legation for unrestricted
use. The occasion is the observance
of the 31st birthday anniversary of
the Legion and the second birthday
of the Falls Church post.
Prince Bertil of Sweden
Feted in Philadelphia
By the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, March 14.—With
a bust of William Penn and a
swollen hand as souvenirs of his
second Philadelphia visit. Prlnea
Bertil of Sweden leaves for New
York today on the last leg of a
seven-week business tour of the
United States. He plans to sail for
home on the liner Rex Saturday.
The 28-year-old son of Sweden’s
Crown Prince, here as head of his
government's trade delegation, re
ceived the bust at the S widish -
American Museum last night, where
he was feted in a quiet way. Tha
swollen hand came from the hand
shakes of 200 admirers.
Prince Bertil, who first visited
Philadelphia in 1938, was reluctant
about commenting on the European
situation, especially the Finnish -
Russian peace terms. “Any peace Is
better than war,” he said.
Tokio Denies Knowledge
Of New Red Fighting
Bj the Associated Press.
TOKIO, March 14.—The Japanese
war office today disclaimed knowl
edge of a recurrence of fighting be
tween Japanese and Russian troops
on the Manchukuo-Outer Mongolian
border, saying it believed such re
ports were groundless.
Unconfirmed Manchukuoan ad
vices reaching Shanghai said Soviet
troops had advanced five miles and
were moving up men and equipment
on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Last summer's Outer Mongolian
border fighting was halted by an
armistice September 16.