Evening star. [volume], May 24, 1940, Page A-5, Image 5

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

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U. S. Diplomacy to Try
TP Soften Impact of
Invasion for Belgians
Envoy Cudahy and Staff
To Stay in Brussels to
Help Civilian Population
9? the Associated Pres*.
American diplomacy in Belgium
will seek again, as in 1914-17, to
•often the impact of the German
occupation on the local population.
Ambassador John Cudahy and his
•tall of 12 officials expect to remain
In Brussels in the hope of improving
the lot of the Belgians. They are
> hopeful that the German authorities
wlU„ recognize their diplomatic
•tatus, as was done in 1914-17, when
brand Whitlock was American Min
ister to Belgium.
- -It also is hoped that the same suf
ferance may be extended to the
American Minister to Holland,
George A. Gordon, who likewise has
remained at his post.
Tt is evident from what always has
happened in a country occupied by
foreign troops that difficulties are
bound to occur between the civilian
population and the military occu
pants.
Improved the Lot of Civilians.
From 1914 to 1917 Brand Whitlock
end his staff made numerous suc
cessful efforts to improve the lot of
the civilian population.
The papers of former Secretary of
State Lansing show' Mr. Whitlock
also made strenuous efforts to avert
the execution of Edith Cavell.
British nurse.
When Germany invaded Belgium
In the World War, the Belgian gov
ernment moved to Antwerp August
17, 1914, and later to Le Havre,
France. Mr. Whitlock stayed on in
Brussels, called on each new Ger
man military commander as he ar
rived and was received as the diplo
matic representative of the United
States. He was thus in constant
contact with the German author
ities.
Belgium Was Grateful.
In 1914 Minister Whitlock was
able to prevent the shelling of Brus
sels by persuading the burgomaster
not to defend the civilian city. By
<v*note of January 23, 1915, the Bel
gian Minister in Washington ex
pressed the gratification of his gov
ernment that the American Lega
tion had remained in Brussels.
The German command in Bel
gium permitted Mr. Whitlock and
other neutral diplomats to send dip
lomatic dispatches in code, and per
mitted legation secretaries to move
about the country on legation busi
ness.
Relations between the legation
and the German authorities con
tinued reasonably good until the
United States severed diplomatic re
lations with Germany in February,
1917. Germany then refused to con
tinue to recognize Mr. Whitlock’s
diplomatic status. He left Belgium
April 3, 1917, and went to Le Havre.
Australians Rush to Colors
(•SYDNEY, Australia, May 24 UP).—
Australians here are enlisting for
the Army and the air force at the
rate of 1,000 a day. Heavy recruiting
also is reported in other Australian
waters.
ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND.—‘AFTER DIVE BOMBERS PASSED—
Nazi troops on guard at a bridge here recently with a large part
of the city in flames in the background. Tanks are crossing the
bridge. Nazi dive bombers were reported to have struck with
great fury and accuracy in their attack on the city. Picture and
caption passed by German censor. —Wide World Radio Photo.
All Alien Seamen
In U. S. Ship Crews
Are Being Listed
Commerce Bureau Making
Survey for Future Use
And to Check on 'Radicals'
Through the Bureau of Marine
Inspection and Navigation, the Com
merce Department is preparing a list
of all alien seamen enrolled in the
crews of American merchant ships,
it was learned today. The listing of
aliens will cover coastwise ships as
well as those operating on overseas
trade routes.
Loyal foreign-born seamen are in
no danger of losing their jobs as a
result of the survey, it was said. The
department will keep the list of for
eign seamen in its files {or possible
future reference.
In the past many European Com
munists and other aliens are be
lieved to have become members of
crews of ships bound for this coun
try and then deserted on arrival at
American ports. By listing the
aliens in American ship crews, the
Commerce Department will be able
to keep a closer check on this for
eign-born group.
The Bureau of Marine Inspection
and Navigation is charged with ad
ministration and enforcement of all
navigation and marine inspection
laws. The bureau has inspectors at
most of the larger seaports.
Under the Merchant Marine Act
of 1936 an unsubsidized American
ship is not permitted to have more
than 25 per cent aliens in its crew.
A subsidized freighter must have a
100 per cent American crew and a
subsidized passenger ship is limited
to 10 per cent foreign personnel. On
subsidized passenger vessels employ
ment of aliens is restricted to the
stewards’ department, and those
thus employed must either have
taken out their first papers or pre
sent evidence of legal entry into the
United States.
Lochner
(Continued From First Page.)
and the looks we were given were
those of hate.
We passed on to Malines. This
city, too, had been shelled. Its
fortifications constituted the outer
belt of Antwerp's forts and the Bel
gians appeared to have thought it
would be sufficient to modernize
them. They left out of considera
tion the fact that the German Army
had the most modern equipment in
the world.
Hearses Carry Living.
There was one spectacle: Two
elegant hearses moved along the
road, filled with living women and
children and their scanty belong
ings.
Every' house on one street through
which we drove had crepe on front
doors. Just outside of Mallnes we
saw five graves marked by steel hel
mets. As we came closer we dis
covered they were the peculiarly
shaped helmets of German para
chute jumpers.
At another little Belgian village
we saw life and death in strange
juxtaposition. A man was planting
vegetables in the garden behind his
house. Right under the veranda, In
front, a Belgian soldier had been
buried. The helmet on the burial
place was bullet-ridden and blood
stained.
At Antwerp for the first time in
the operations area we saw long
queues of refugees at the “bureau
for the scattered.” These were the
unfortunates who became separated
from their families during the head
long flight of the civilian popula
tion. A systematic effort is being
made by the German occupation
administration to reunite families.
Bureaus similar to the one seen
in Antwerp soon are to be estab
lished in many places.
Odds Declared With Nazis.
Gen. Georg von Kuechlen, com
mander in chief of the German
Army driving at the Belgian coast
port of Ostend by way of Ghent
and Bruges, declared today that
"the odds are greatly in our favor.”
While his forces were engaging
the allies in a severe battle only
a few miles away, Von Kuechlen
told me:
"Our enemies are resisting brave
ly. But we are cutting our way to
the sea and expect to be there
shortly.
"We have inundations and other
difficulties of terrain to contend
with. Nevertheless, the odds are
greatly in our favor."
Von Kuechlen, commander of *he
German forces in the Antwerp sec
tor, told me his army's immediate
objective was to get control of the
Ghent Canal.
Presumably the canal referred to
is that running from Ghent to
Bruges and from there to the sea
at Ostend, 65 miles from the south
east coast of England.
One of Von Kuechlen's adjutants
disclosed that, simultaneously with
this drive, another German Army
under Gen. Walther von Reichenau
Is striving to reach the French Chan
nel ports of Calais and Dunkerque.
.The army we are with is well sup
ported by the air arm. We see
“Stukas” (dive-bombers) and heavy
bombers roaring overhead in an al
most unbroken stream. Today, for
the first time since entering the
western zone of operations. I stood
on an airport facing England—lo
cation not revealable^—only 30 min
utes from Britain as a MessCrschmitt
flies.
This field was reserved for Messer
schmitts. We saw 27 of these swift
fighters, hidden by a camouflage of
branches or by being pushed back
into the woods fringing the field.
But in addition to air force and
army officers, we also have seen
naval officers hastening back and
forth in this area. That fact speaks
volumes. These men are here for
business.
The Messerschmitt squadron we
visited was commanded by Herman
Handrick, pentathlon champion in
the 1936 Olympic games at Berlin.
As eight of his squadron took to
the air, he explained:
“As we haven't seen the enemy in
the air for the last eight days, lam
free to assist the army in its push
into Ghent from the north. Those
eight planes have started to assist
in the land fight.
“Each plane has either four ma
chine guns or two machine guns
and two cannon. They have orders i
to swoop down on marching enemy ;
columns.”
Chiropodists to Meet
Three Washington physicians will
speak at the fifth scientific session (
of the Mid-Atlantic Association of
Chiropodists tomorrow and Sunday
at the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel,
Raleigh, N. C. They are Drs.
Charles W. Shuffle, Alec C. Levin
and E. C. Rice.
War Communiques
German
BERLIN, May 24 (JP).—1The high
command communique followa:
"The region of Northern France
and Belgium in which the enemy
armies are encircled was further
tightened by successful attacks of
German troops on all sides.
“In Flanders German divisions
broke through fortified Scheldt
(river) position and advanced as far
as the western embankment of the
Lys (river).
"Tournai was taken. The French
fortress at Maubeuge, lying behind
the front, is in German hands after
the capture of the last fortified
works.
"In the Artois region German
troops conquered Loretto Heights,
northwest of Arras which were hotly
contested during the World War.
“Strong German armored forces
which are advancing between Arras
and the sea northward yesterday
neared the French Channel ports.
“A weak enemy advance from the
south toward Amiens was repelled.
Otherwise there were no special
events on the southern front.
“Strong units of the air force sup
ported the army’s fight against
enemy armies encircled in the Bel
gian and French region. On the
southern front also the air force
raided traffic facilities, transport
movements and troop concentra
tions.
“During armed reconnaissance of
the coast a large war vessel, which
probably was a cruiser, and de
stroyers were hit by heavy bombs
off Boulogne. Our airplanes en
countered strong anti-aircraft de
fense.
'Futhermore, we succeeded In
sinking six loaded transports.
“Additional information received
revealed that, during desperate
enemy attempts to break through
southward on May 21 and 22, 56
enemy tanks were destroyed by
other means.
“Yesterday's air losses total 49
planes, of which 25 were shot down
in air fights, 8 by anti-aircraft guns I
and the rest were destroyed on the
ground.
“Sixteen German planes are miss
ing.
“At Narvik the air force success
fully raided compact ground targets
such as tent encampments, mule
columns, troop concentrations and
disembarkations.
“One enemy chaser was shot
down.
“One cruiser and one transport
were damaged by bomb hits.
"Last night the opponent again
made flights over Western and
Southwestern Germany, repeating
aimless bomb droppings on non
military targets.”
French
PARIS, May 24 (4s).—The morning
communique said:
"In the northern region the
enemy is endeavoring to Increase
his pressure.
“On the line of the Somme our
troops are firmly holding conquered
positions.
“To the south of Sedan the enemy
has pursued his attacks without
making any appreciable progress in
spite of the means used.”
British
LONDON, May 24 OP).—The text
of the Air Ministry communique fol
lows:
“The Air Ministry announces that
R. A. P. fighter aircraft were con
tinuously engaged throughout yes
terday on patrol and escort duties
over the battle area.
"Preliminary reports show that
over a score of enemy aircraft were
shot down, Including a number of
Messerschmitt fighters, and at least
25 seriously damaged.
"Eight of our aircraft are reported
as shot down or missing. Four
others made forced landings.
"Large forces of our bomber air
craft have again heavily attacked
enemy communications both in the
neighborhood of the fighting front
and In Germany.”
A later bulletin said:
“At the end of a long day’s work,
which began well before dawn and
continued far Into the night, Brit
ish fighter patrols yesterday had
shot down 23 enemy aircraft, and
further, 26 were either shot down or
so severely damaged as to be un
serviceable. Under conditions now
prevailing In Northern France, there
can be little doubt that most of
these damaged aircraft were lost.”
Paris
(Continued From First Page.)
dous artillery preparation had blast
ed French positions and brought
replies from French batteries. The
Germans used no tanks, the spokes
man said.
In the wooded Argonne region
several infiltrations of German sol
diers managed to pass through the
French lines, he added, but these
men are being rounded up.
Artillery Dueling.
Artillery duels at the extreme east
ern end of the active front extending
across Northern France, in the
vicinity of Longuyo, near the junc
ture of the French, Belgian and
Luxembourg frontiers, were de
scribed as having calmed down
"without direct results.”
German attacks south of Sedan
yesterday were repulsed, the high
command said, "in spite of the
j means used” by the Germans. This
j was not explained further.
Along with the brief official word
came reports from the front that
the German and French Armies
were clashing in extremely heavy
fighting along the Scheldt River in
Northern France and far into Bel
gium.
The Scheldt River fighting was
| believed to Involve large masses of
1 regular French infantry.
Although the bitterest' fighting
appeared to be along this strategic
river, the opposing war machines
were locked in battle from the re
gion of the English Channel east
i ward to the Luxembourg frontier, a
distance of 300 miles as the war bird
flies but much farther over the
twisted routes of war.
It was still a war of maneuver,
with the opposing elements trying
to cut each other off, but the extent
of the area over which increasingly
large units were locked made yes
terday one of the most violent days
of the war.
The French appeared to be try
ing to advance north from Cambrai
to effect the liaison with the with
drawing allies in Belgium and at
the same time to isolate German
motorcyclists and parachutists and
tank crews pillaging at their rear.
Presbyterian Assembly
Chairmen Are Named
By the Associated Press.
ROCHESTER, N. Y., May 24.—
Dr. William L. Young, Parkville,
Mo., newly elected moderator of the
152nd Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of the United States of
America, named today his choices
of a vice moderator and chairmen
of standing committees.
Dr. Young appointed the Rev. Ray
Freeman Jenney of Syracuse as vice
moderator and announced the fol
lowing chairmen of standing com
mittees:
Bills and overtures, the Rev. Jo
seph B. C. Mackie, Philadelphia:
national missions, the Rev. Robert
B. Beattie of East Orange, N. J.;
foreign missions, the Rev. Paul Cal
houn of Spokane: Christian educa
tion, the Rev. Albert J. McCartney
of Washington: pensions, the Rev.
J. Harry Cotton, president of the
Chicago Presbyterian Theological
Seminary: polity, the Rev. Jesse
Baird of San Francisco; social edu
cation, Ilion T. Jones of Iowa City.
Dr. Robert N. MacLean, Santa
Barbara. Calif., told a stewardship
breakfast "no man can be a good
steward without first of all recog
nizing that everything he uses is the
property of the Almighty.”
Next, he said, “being a good stew
ard means that a man must really
serve,” and finally, "a steward must
seek God s will instead of his own.”
Dr. Young, 48 years old, succeeds
Dr. Sam Higginbottom, president of
Allahabad Christian College, India.
The new’ moderator has headed
Park College, Parkville. since 1936
and once worked in Illinois coal
mines to contribute to his family's
support.
Bom at Braidwood, 111., Dr. Young
is a graduate of Carroll College,
Waukesha, Wis. He took graduate
work at the Universities of Mani
toba and Montana, receiving a mas
ter of arts degree from the latter
in 1926. He was awarded an hon
orary doctorate of divinity at Car
roll in 1935 and of laws at Waynes
boro College in 1932. A first lieu
tenant chaplain in the World War,
he was ordained in 1918.
Rumanian Sees Pope
VATICAN CITY. May 24 UP).—
Pope Pius received Nicolas Petrescu,
Rumanian Ambassador to the Holy
See, in private audience today.
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