Evening star. [volume], June 09, 1940, Page A-4, Image 4

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

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Swiss, Fighting to Save Neutrality, Down 2 More German Planes
- *---—___
Total of Nazi Ships
Forced to Earth in
Month Now Is Nine
Prospect of Italy's Entry
In War Raises Specter
Of Holland's Fate
•y the Associated Press.
BERN, June 8.—Little Switzer
land. caught between two powerful
neighbors already fighting and a
third ready to enter the conflict,
downed two German planes Violat
ing her territory today in demon
strating anew a firm determination
to preserve her neutrality.
Swiss Army patrol planes brought
to nine the number of German
planes forced to earth in the past
month when a Messerschmitt fighter
was shot down in Lucerne Canton,
deep in Switzerland, and a Nazi
bomber was forced to land in Solo
thurn Canton, northwest of Bern
near the French frontier.
The Swiss themselves lost one
fighter which was shot down, killing
its two lieutenant pilots, in a battle
with a flight of Nazi bombers over
the Jura Mountains across the Doubs
River from France. The fate of
crews of the downed German planes
was not immediately determined.
Forebodings From Italy.
With Switzerland already on the
anxious seat because of the fighting
between neighboring France and
Germany, the prospective entry of
Italy into the war brought forebod
ings that Switzerland might suffer
the same fate as the German-con*
quered Netherlands. But the Swiss
hope to put up a better fight than
the Dutch, who capitulated after
five days of invasion.
There have been many rumors—
but no facts disclosed concerning
diplomatic moves among the tight
lipped Swiss government and its
three big neighbors.
The Swiss Army, mobilized along
the frontiers to its full strength of
a. half-million men when the Ger
mans invaded the low countries, now
perhaps is down to 300,000 troops.
Those on leave, however, carry guns
and orders on how to crush any
rearguard action or parachutists.
Some sources explained the re
lease of part of the troops from
frontier duty simply was the high
command's method of reinforcing
Interior defenses.
By order of the army, no civilians
except inhabitants of the region are
allowed to enter the Southern Va
lais Department which covers the
French Savoy and Italian Piedmont
frontier.
Tunnel Full of Dynamite.
There the great Simplon Tunnel
and mountain passes are chock full
of dynamite ready to go off at the
push of a button. The army com
mand is silent on the number of
troops in that region, but it is no
secret that famed Swiss ski troops
and mountaineer forces are in the
Alps—which Italy must cross to
Join hands with Germany on the
French border.
Few military preparations have
been undertaken in Switzerland's
Italian-speaking Ticino Canton on
the frontier. It is ringed by the
Alps on the north, but open on the
south, leaving its famous resort
cities of Locarno and Lugano like
ripe plums for an invader's grab.
On the northern frontier, where
no mountains stand in the way of
Invasion, the Swiss for years have
done everything their topheavy war
budget and their citizen army could
do to strengthen defenses.
The Rhine line of forts has been
revised completely and strengthened
from the fortress city of Basel to
Lake Konstanz. Behind these forti
fications stand the strongest de
fenses of all, the ‘‘Winkelried line.”
Zurich Fortified City.
That line is honeycombed with
tank pits, anti-tank "asparagus
fields” of rails protruding from the
ground, huge coils of barbed wire
entanglements, trenches and forts
extending from the French frontier
at the northern end of the Jura
Mountains across the entrance of
Middleland to Zurich. From there
to the east the lakes and the Alps
on the Austrian frontier form nat
ural defenses.
In recent months Zurich, like
Basel, has become a fortified city.
Between Switzerland and the Alps
on the south and the fortified lines
of the north the entire country
shows evidence that the Swiss have
been quick to take lessons from this
war of invasion.
Motorized patrols watch all roads,
all sign posts have been removed,
all public telephone boxes are closed,
and airports, powerhouses, telephone
and telegraph centers and public
buildings are heavily guarded.
Furthermore, every soldier on
leave and every non-combatant cap
able of shouldering a gun keeps one
at home with 40 rounds of ammuni
tion—and instructions not to wait
for orders to use them at the first
appearance of any parachutists or
fifth columnists.
Defense
(Continued From First Page.)
representative of the Japanese Em
bassy, that machine tools are now
indispensable to American defense
and that their export is no longer
permitted. »
On Friday, however, President
Roosevelt told a questioner at his
press conference that no restriction
has as yet been imposed, but signifi
cantly he prefaced his remark by
asking if legislation authorizing
such an embargo had then been en
acted by Congress.
Already approved by the House
and now pending in the Senate, the
legislation in question would give
to the Chief Executive the power
to prohibit or curtail the export of
munitions, machinery, tools or other
essential materials. Completion of
congressional action is expected
within a few days with the likeli
hood that formal regulations for
i further trade in machine tools will
be forthcoming quickly.
Second step under consideration
Is the expansion of our own pro
duction facilities, mentioned by the
President in his defense message to
Congress on May 16 and already
under study by William S. Knudsen,
production supervisor on the Na
tional Defense Commission. Yester
day Mr. Roosevelt discussed the mat
ter at length with Federal Loan Ad
ministrator Jesse H. Jones.
With the Reconstruction Finance
A
I
BERLIN.—GERMANS CLAIM CAPTURE OF AMBASSADOR—
The official German news agency announced yesterday that Sir
Lancelot Oliphant (left), British Ambassador to Brussels, was
captured with British Expeditionary Forces left behind in
France. Sir Lancelot is shown with Sir Nevile Henderson.
—A. P. Wirephoto.
Corporation designated to finance
plant expansions not handled by
private capital, Mr. Jones told re
porters that many inquiries already
have been received and are being
given consideration. Since impor
tance of the machine-tool segment
of industry is well realized, it is
expected that inquiries from this
quarter will be given earliest and
most favored treatment.
Returning to export statistics for
this industry, Commerce Depart
ment figures show that for April
our best customer was France, with
purchases of $6,679,538. The United
Kingdom was second at $5,202,015.
Third and fourth, it is noted with
interest, were Russia with purchases
of $2,229,764 and Japan with pur
chases of $2,006,319.
Actually. Japan has been buying
machine tools here in most con
sistent quantity for several years
past. In 1938, her purchases totaled
$19,412,824 and in 1939 they were
$19,811,526. For 1940. the monthly
average would indicate that unre
! stricted continuance of their pur
chases would have boosted the
year’s total to about $24,000,000.
For all foreign purchasers, the
1940 sales in four months amounted
to about $56,000,000, as compared
to only about $27,000,000 for the
same four months in 1939 and
only $93,403,772 for the entire year
of 1939.
Planes Earmarked for France.
Among other developments on
the defense front yesterday were
the following:
1. The United States Chamber of
Commerce said in a statement that
the administration's defense pro
gram was “well within the capacity
of the country without any ma
terial interference with normal op
erations.” The program, the state
ment said, would bring into utiliza
tion capacity that has been idle.
2. Approximately 100 heavily
armed attack planes, especially de
signed to harass enemy troops from
low altitudes, were earmarked by
the War Department for possible
fighting in France, under the ad
ministration's “trade-in” arrange
ment for Army and Navy planes.
3. Representative Martin of Mas
sachusetts, the House Republican
leader, said in a radio address that
the elimination of politics in de
fense matters should be “the reso
lute purpose of both parties.” Re
publicans in Congress, he declared,
“can be depended upon to give solid
support* to all real defense meas
ures.”
Resents “Dictatorial Grants.”
Mr. Martin said, however, that
the Republicans "naturally resent
efforts to make national defense
measures vehicles for granting dic
tatorial powers to the Executive,”
and wanted defense appropriations
“honestly and prudently spent.”
“This can be done,” he added,
"only through the non-partisan ap
pointment of men and women who
have demonstrated in the past their
capacity to get results.”
He took occasion, too, to criticize
what he said was “reckless spend
ing and waste” by the New Deal.
Declaring this had made necessary
the imposition of “tremendous
taxes,” he added:
“This first call for taxes will be
followed by another, bigger demand
next year, after the election. No
one in this country will escape these
taxes. The people must begin to
plan to pay the heavy cost of the
New Deal joyride.”
To Release “Hedge Hoppers.”
Northrop "hedge hoppers” are
among some 500 Army and Navy
planes which the administration
plans to release. Fifty Navy planes
already have betn disposed of.
The Northrops are single-motor
monoplanes armed with five machine
guns. Each carries 20 small or 4
large bombs, or alternatively, a load
of chemicals for smoke screens.
In addition to the pilot, the crew
includes a gunner to operate the
rear machine guns and aim bombs.
The Army ordered scores of the
type, but after Congress voted a
$300,000,000 expansion of the Air
Corps last year, it was decided to
substitute light bombers with longer
range, and the attack planes re
cently have been used merely as
transport craft, scattered among a
number of fields.
1,000-Mile Range.
The planes, under normal condi
tions, can fly 1,000 or more miles
without refueling. Airmen figure
their operating radius, Including the
return flight, at about 400 miles.
4
This limited them to operations
close to their base, the Air Corps
decided, whereas longer range light
bombers could be dispatched to meet
any threat before an attack reached
American shores.
During the day additional op
position was expressed in Congress
to the release of the Army and Navy
planes.
Senator La Follette, Progressive,
of Wiscbnsin said he thought the
“trade-in” method of furnishing
planes to the Allies constituted a
"casus belli,” although he said he
did not wish to give the impression
that it would be seized upon as such
by any of the belligerents.
“I have never believed,” Senator
La Follette said, “that there were
effective measures short of war. I
am opposed to our entering this
war as a belligerent and I am con
vinced that there would be nothing
worse for this country than to be
half in and half out of the catas
trophic conflict which is taking
place in Europe.”
Police Leaden See Hoover.
Meanwhile, officers of the Inter
national Association of Chiefs of
Police met with J. Edgar Hoover,
director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, to set up a program
of co-operation in national defense
matters. A spokesman said tne reg
ularly constituted law enforcement
officials of the country were “pre
pared and adequately equipped to
handle national defense matters so
that there is no need for any
vigilante groups ’’
In Washington for the installa
tion of Maj. Ernest W. Brown,
superintendent of police, as head
of the association, the Board of
Officers spent several hours with
Mr. Hoover discussing the results
of the past nine months <n which
State and local authorities have
been working with Federal officials
in internal defense matters at the
behest of President Roosevelt. The
President called for this co-opera
tion when declaring at the outbreak
of the war that an emergency
existed.
225,000 'Crack Shots'
Found Available in U. S.
By the Associated Press.
TULSA, June 8. — The United
States has 225,000 civilian riflemen
who “shoot where they look” avail
able. for immediate secondary de
fense or for quick training for
front-line action, F. L. Wyman of
the National Rifle Association said
today.
Never before, asserted Mr. Wy
man of Washington, D. C., has
this country had so many trained
and competent civilian marksmen.
They are members of 3,000 local
clubs.
“And,” he added, “the English are
the only riflemen who can come
close to American shooting.”
Mr. Wyman is here for a tour
nament.
PIANOS
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NATIONAL 4730
HITT'S
1330 G STREET
Air Corps Displacing
Semi-Obsolete Craft
At Rate of 4 a Day
Deliveries Are Up to *
Schedule, Say Officials
Of War Department
By the Auoeleted Preu.
At the rate of four or more planes
a day, the Army Air Corps has
started displacing virtually all its
fighting aircraft, made semi-obso
lete almost overnight by European
war standards.
War Department officials said yes
terday that deliveries were “up to
schedule,” and the schedule called
for completion last month of 93 of
the latest type pursuit planes and
four long-range four-motor bomb
ers, aside from miscellaneous craft.
The rate of substituting the new
est for older models is to be stepped
up materially this summer, as air
craft plants undertake to more than
double their present output under
pressure from the Army and Navy
and from the hard-pressed Allies.
Until the process reaches an ad
vanced stage several months hence,
however, the Army air forces, by of
ficial estimates, will be outclassed in
individual combat effectiveness by
the German and presumably the
British air forces, and in numbers by
at least two other powers.
Temporary Inferiority.
The relative inferiority will be
temporary, if President Roosevelt's
goal of 50,000 operating planes,
backed by facilities to replace them
every year, is realized in substantial
measure.
The newest warplanes completed
for the Navy as well as the Army
are being equipped with leakproof
fuel tanks, with heavier guns and
with armor to protect their crews.
First appearance of these factors in
the Nazi conquest of Poland resulted
in a sharp downward revision of
official estimates of relative Amer
ican air power.
None of the existing combat craft
—more than 1,000 fighters and
bombers—possesses what Maj. Gen.
Henry H. Arnold, Air Corps chief,
termed Indispensable “gadgets,” and
he told Congress that only about a
"half dozen” could be altered to add
the needed equipment.
He made it clear that until new
planes were substituted for old the
Air Corps would consider American
military aircraft unable to combat
the latest German craft on anything
like even terms.
Rated at Least on Equal.
The “gadgets” are essential only
to the fighting planes. Existing
American observation and training
planes are rated at least the equals
of their foreign counterparts.
As of April 1, the Army Air Corps
counted 2,709 planes of all types,
compared with 2.208 15 months
earlier. Exact numbers of each
type are confidential military in
formation, but in round figures there
are about 700 bombers, 400 fighters,
400 observation planes and about
1,000 used in training new pilots,
aside from miscellaneous cargo and
other planes.
Estimates awaiting final congres
sional action provide for an expan
sion to approximately 11,000, double
the goal of 5,500 planes set last year,
and when this is realized the pro
portions will be different. Schedules
call for approximately equal num
bers of bombers and pursuit planes.
Most of the Air Corps’ front-line
planes are a part now of the gen
eral headquarters air force, organ
ized five years ago and now com
manded by Maj. Gen. Delos C. Em
mons. It numbers about 800, and
the rest of the Army’s planes are
scattered among the overseas gar
FRENCH FIRE AND FALL BACK—In classic design for retreat, the French Army last night fell
back along a 60-mile front from Aumale (1) to Noyon (2), inflicting terrific losses on the Ger
mans as they retired. This strategic retreat placed the nearest fighting front only 48 miles
from Paris. At Forges-Les-Eaux (3) the French reported a German column of from 200 to
300 tanks was being pounded to pieces by artillery. This column had managed to cross the
Bresle River and was far in advance of its supporting infantry, which had not crossed. East
of Soissons, the French said the Germans had crossed the Aisne River and established a small
bridgehead upon which there was a continuing counterattack of great intensity (4).
—A. P. Wirephoto.
risons, National Guard units and at
training points.
Prompt Replacement Asked.
It is G. H. Q. force bombers and
fighters which Gen. Arnold contend
ed must be displaced promptly by
more modem craft, except for some
53 long-range bombers of the type
which has flown repeatedly to South
America and return on good will and
mercy missions.
From Gen. Arnold, Gen. George C.
Marshall, chief of staff, and other
officials, Congress has received ex
planations why the Air Corps has
lagged in some particulars behind
Europe, while the United States
long has maintained a position at
or near the top in aeronautical ad
vances.
In general, the explanations were
higher costs, cumbersome procure
ment methods and frequent changes
in designs. In a way, American
military planes are too good—"10
year planes"—as the Air Corps chief
dubbed them, whereas the German
warplanes were put together to last
for a few months.
It was only with respect to the
‘‘gadgets’’ that the Air Corps has
been on the “wrong track,” Gen.
Arnold said.
Power Estimate Reduced.
The status of the Naval Air Force,
a specialized auxiliary of sea power,
is somewhat similar to the Air Corps.
The estimate of its relative power
has been reduced by the European
war developments.
In numbers. Rear Admiral John
H. Towers listed last month a total
of 1,813, including 1,367 combat
types, 288 trainers and 158 miscel
laneous utility craft.
Under the extraordinary estimates
already submitted to Congress, both
forces are to be multiplied, the Air
Corps to 11,000 planes and the Navy
to 10,000, including the trainers re
quired to school thousands of new
pilots annually.
Rotary Club Plans Dance
HERNDON. Va., June 8 <Special'.
—The Herndon Rotary Club will
hold a benefit dance Friday night in
the Herndon High School. Proceeds
will go toward the summer play
ground.
Texas Rangers Prepare
For Trouble on Border
By the AuocUted Frees.
AUSTIN, Tex., June 8.—A mech
anized detachment of Texas Rangers
is engaged In secret operations along
the lower reaches of the Rio Grande
under orders calling for swift ac
tion in any emergency.
A State official who would not
permit use of his name said the
Rangers are mounted in automobiles
for fast transit on roads and on
horses for work in mesquite thickets.
He added that possible border
disturbances developing out of the
national election in Mexico July 7
or any activities of an un-Ameri
can nature on this side of the bor
der would find Rangers ready to
strike quickly.
Meanwhile, Gov. W. Lee O'Dan
____
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VERY EASY TERMS
KITT’S
1330 G Street
lei's call to citizens to report sus
pected “fifth column” activities
brought voluminous replies which
were being filed In a cross-reference
card Index system at State police
headquarters.
Berlin Is Bombed,
French Report;
Nazis Deny It
Suburban Factories
Hit by Naval
Planes, Says Paris
Bt the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 8.—Berlin, repeated
ly scouted by Allied planes and
showered with propaganda leaflets
since the start of the war, suffered
its first bombardment last night,
when a squadron of naval bomb
ers attacked factories in the sub
urbs, the French Ministry of Ma
rine announced today.
(A German spokesman said
there was "absolutely no truth”
in the announcement, adding,
‘‘We have been out with spy
glasses all day looking for dam
age. There have been no air
raid alarms in Berlin and no
rumors of such bombings”)
The brief French communique
said:
“A squadron of navy aviation
bombarded on the night of June 7
certain factories in the outskirts
of Berlin. All planes returned to
their bases.’*
A spokesman for the French Min
istry of Marine said no additional
details could be given but that he
did not "think” the bombers were
American-made. It is known that
some American-made dive bombers
have been transferred from the
French fleet to land duties.
GRADUATION
Gifts for Catholic Graduates.
Gallery & Co., 718 Eleventh
St. N.W.
Gifts for FATHER’S DAY
At the Lewis & Thos. Saltz Shop for Men at
1409 G Street, will be found many unusual
and practical gifts for Father ... At this
time, we show many items of Haberdashery
just received from England which will lend
a certain amount of enchantment to your Gift.
Prices Are Surprisingly Modest
NECKWEAR $1.50 to $3
SHIRTS $2.50 to $5
SUSPENDERS $1.50 to $5
BELTS $1.50 to $3.50
HANDKERCHIEFS 50c to $5
ROBES $5 to $15
SPORTS SHIRTS $1.50 to $10
PAJAMAS $2.50 to $5
GOLF SHOES $12.50
All Gifts Attractively Boxed
LEWIS & THOS. SALTZ
1409 G STREET N.w! C
NOT CONNECTED WITH SALTZ BROS INC.
___
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ATCHISON A KELLER. INC.
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J. L. BATEMAN A SON
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FRANK BENTLEY, INC.
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CHARLES B. BROOME
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M. J. COLBERT CO.. INC.
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8. J. DENNY
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J. C. FLOOD CO.
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W. L. OABT CO.. INC.
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JOHN W. HIGDON
4300 10th St. N.E.
JOE HIGH. INC.
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F. G. JACKSON
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FRANK A. KERB A CO.
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ARTHUR J. THOU
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EDW. TOLLAND. INC.
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MATTHEW A. WELCH
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HARRY E. WILLIAMS
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WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMEANT
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