Evening star. [volume], June 17, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast “ ~ ~
Cloudy, light showers tonight: to- Circulation Gains
morrow partly cloudy and warmer.
* Temperatures today—Highest, 74, at The circulation of The Evening
^'at8^^m°WeSt 69' at 12 40 Pm ’ Star is 11,000 daily greater than at
From the United States Weather Bureau report. time last year and 23,000
fuii details on Pa*e a-2. greater than 2 years ago.
Closing New York Morkets-Solcs, Poge 18____m-. A.Me.„ed pre„
88th YEAR. No. 35,111._WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1940—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. *** THREE CENTS
FRANCE, STILL FIGHTING, ASKS PEACE;
HITLER AND PUCE TO CONFER ON TERMS
Britain, Anxious About French Fleet, Determines to Fight on Alone
Full Capitulation Sole Basis
For Armistice, Nazis Declare;
Henderson Warns of Invasion
Spain Reported Invited
To Parley, Expected
At Munich Tomorrow
BULLETIN.
ROME WPi.—The Rome radio announced that Premier
Mussolini and Foreign Minister Count Ciano left Rome
tonight. Presumably they were en route to the meeting with
Adolf Hitler to consider France's request for an armistice.
8y th# As*oetated Press.
BERLIN, June 17.—Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini
will meet to formulate the attitude of Germany and Italy
toward France's request for terms on which she would lay
down her arms, said a high command announcement
today from Hitler’s headquarters.
The conference probably will take place at Munich
tomorrow, a trustworthy source said today in Rome.
The high command announcement said:
"The Premier of the newly formed French government (Mar
shal Petaini has declared in a radio address to the French nation
that France must lay down her arms.
“He referred therein to the step already taken by him to inform
the Reich government of this decision and to learn the conditions
under which Germany would be prepared to meet the French
wishes.
“The Fuehrer will meet the Italian Prime Minister, Benito
Mussolini, for a discussion in which the position of the two states
will be examined.”
(In Madrid the Foreign Ministry asserted that Germany
had invited Spain to take part in peace negotiations with
France.
(Official circles disclaimed knowledge of Generalissimo
Francisco Franco’s role as intermediary between France and
Germany on armistice terms, as reported in Bordeaux.)
Complete Capitulation Held Sole Basis.
“No separate armistice with France is imaginable except in j
terms of complete capitulation,” authorized sources said.
It was asserted that France was regarded as “England's sword, j
which by all means must be wrenched from England’s hand.” j
Informed observers explained that an armistice short of
capitulation would leave the French forces free for reorganization
for a possible smash against the Italians. This Germany never j
would permit, they said.
“We continue to fight,” declared a spokesman in discussing j
what he termed “rumors and conjecture of French capitulation |
offers.”
The news of Marshal Petain's offer to lay down the French
arms amazed Berlin.
For a long time after it flashed^
through the Wilhelmstrasse and
the various government bureaus
and over the radio, the full im
port of the words did not seem
to register consciously on the
minds of the populace.
It was regarded as likely that the
expected meeting between Hitler
and Mussolini would take place
somewhere near the Italian-German
border. The Fuehrer is believed to
be somewhere in France with his
troops.
On March 17 the two men met at
Brenner, and a few weeks later the
Germans occupied Denmark and in
vaded Norway.
Officials would indulge in no spec
ulation on the terms which might
be presented to the French, but the
cry in the press and in official cir
cles since the start of the swiftly
moving campaign in the west more
than a month ago has been for
“complete destruction" of the French
Army.
What About England?
The question all Berlin began
asking, once the significance of the
French offer was made clear, was
“What about England?” Officials
left it unanswered in an ominous
Silence.
The official German news agency
repeated the short communique from
the Fuehrer's headquarters four
times.
The radio interrupted its pro
gram with the announcement which
It described as “of widest political
and military importance from the
Fuehrer's headquarters.”
In no time at all Berlin began
roaring the old song “Deutschland
Uber Alles” and the Nazi song
“Horst Wessel.” Excited groups
stood around radios in cafes and res
taurants and shops.
Although Mussolini will partici
pate in the discussions of the French
future, the Italian Army had little
to do with bringing France to the
point of surrender.
Britain, it is now felt, will meet
the full fury of the German attack—
if there is to be an attack—with her
powerful fleet almost intact.
Whether Hitler will risk a frontal
attack on the British Isles or will
revert to a war of waiting and watch
ing with one aim accomplished of
“forcing Britain off the continent”
is a question which captured the
minds of observers here and left
them wondering.
Claim Alsace, Lorraine Cut Off.
Meanwhile, lashing deep into
France with deadly strokes in two
directions. Germany claimed her
(See BERLIN. Page A-3.)
» ' —— . — I. I . I. I. . —
Italians Are Jubilant,
Believing Peace Near;
Land Action Hinted
Mediterranean Aviation
Attacks Are Expected
To Be Intensified
B> the Associated Press.
ROME, June 17.—France's request
for an armistice with Germany was
received in Rome today with jubila
tion by the Italians, who believed
the step indicated the war soon
would be over.
The announcement from Adolf
Hitler's headquarters that the
Fuehrer and Premier Mussolini
would meet soon to consider how to
deal with France was published
here.
Fascists said it was understood
the meeting would be for the pur
pose of "co-ordinating the attitudes”
of the Axis powers, both at war with
France. The date was not an
nounced, but it was assumed it
would be soon. One source said it
would be held tomorrow.
Also, authoritative Italian sources
said, it was not known yesterday
whether Hitler and Mussolini would
meet again at the Brenner Pass at
the border of Italy and Germany—
the scene of their closely-guarded
talk in March which was followed
by Germany's march into Scan
dinavia and then the outbreak of
real war in the west.
Ciano Returns From Front.
Count Galeazzo Ciano, Foreign
Minister, and Alessandro Pavolini,
Minister of Popular Culture, flew
back to Rome from the front, where
they have been serving as aviators.
They reached their offices at 6 p.m.
and found Premier Mussolini still
working in his office in Palazzo
Venezia.
The Italians were expected to in
tensify their bombardment of the
British naval bases at Malta in the
Mediterranean and at Aden off East
Africa.
Some newspapers said air attacks
on these bases and other Mediter
ranean points were preliminary to
land action against British territory
as well as sea attacks on the Medi
terranean fleet.
A headquarters communique said
(See ROME, Page A-3.)
Cannot Carry On
On Amateur Lines,
England Is Told .
(Text British Statement Page A-9.J
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 17.—Great
Britain authoritatively stated
today her, and the empire's, reso
lute determination to continue
the war until victory is won.
Last night’s statement that “in
their unshakable determination
to achieve victory, no matter
what the cost, the government
and the empire have the united
support of their people,” still ex
pressed the opinion of the Brit
ish government, an authoritative
spokesman declared.
This source said a further
statement of the British position
might be made later tonight.
The British press urged that
everything be done without delay
to buttress the defense of the king
dom.
"The full brunt of the war must
now fall on this island,” said Lord
Beaverbrook's Standard. The paper
urged that the British Isles be con
verted into a “floating fortress."
The News declared that “if the
nation rises as one man to the tow
ering heights of the struggle,” there
will be no need for dismay.”
Henderson Warns of Invasion.
In Lincoln Sir Nevile Henderson
told a meeting that he expects Adolf
Hitler to attempt the invasion of
England this month or July rather
than wait until August or September.
Sir Nevile. Britain’s last Ambassa
dor to Germany, urged every able
bodied-man and boy to learn to
use a rifle.
“Hitler,” he said, “can defeat the
British only by starving us through
a blockade, by bombing us into sub
mission or by successfully invading
our country. I think he will try all
three.
"We cannot any longer carry on
on amateur lines. We are not going
to beat Germany unless we turn
professional.”
Prime Minister Churchill will
make a statement in the House of
Commons tomorrow and is expected
to reiterate his declaration that
Britain never will sheath the sword
until the war is won.
Future of French Fleet Uncertain.
The main uncertainty is the fu
ture of the French fleet. If it es
capes general capitulation it would
be of inestimable value to the Brit
ish. If it is handed over to the
Germans—and it may be—it would
be serious for Great Britain.
It is considered certain that Ger
many's attempt to subjugate Eng
land is about to start. It may come
any minute. It may be after the
Germans have rested from the
French campaign.
The Germans for some time have
been practicing combined land, sea
and air operations off Norway.
Ireland, the Shetland Islands or
Iceland might be stopping off points
on the way to England.
It was believed Germany would
attempt to seize all those outposts
as bases preparatory to the move
against England herself.
If the fleet can maintain a block
ade against Germany and Italy, and
England can get enough additional
assistance from its Dominions and
the United States, a long war may
(See” LONDON .Page a-6.)
./
Surgeon Shoots Self
As Germans Take Paris
By the Associated Press.
PARIS (by courier plane to Ber
lin) June 17.—Dr. Charles De Mar
tel, brain surgeon, who had been
connected many years with the
American Hospital in Paris, was
found dead June 13, the day before
the Germans entered Paris, with a
bullet wound in the head.
Authorities said he committed
suicide.
Bank of England Bans
Trading in U. S. Stocks
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 17.—The Bank of
England today banned dealings in
Canadian and United States stocks
and bonds.
The new order was the latest in
a series to conserve foreign ex
change. Permits for residents or
non-residents for such trading were
cancelled.
President Opens
Drive to Protect
American Trade
Program Is Viewed
As Move to Weld
Western Hemisphere
Bv JOHN C. HENRY.
President Roosevelt today launched
a commercial offensive apparently
intended to counter European con
quest by totalitarian Germany and
Italy.
The Chief Executive, silent about
latest developments abroad, in
structed four cabinet officers to draft
an All-American trade program and
invited such countries as might de
sire to join in its application.
This action was taken to be an
immediate move to weld the Western
Hemisphere into a stronger and
more completely self-sustaining unit.
As the meeting was being sum
moned, Mr. Roosevelt was being
kept constantly informed of de
velopments abroad. Stephen T.
Early, his secretary, told his press
conference, however, that no com
ment was expected at the moment.
Four Secretaries Called.
Called to the economic confer
ence. to be held at 3:15 o'clock this
afternoon, were Secretary of State
Hull. Secretary of Treasury Mor
genthau, Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace and Secretary of Commerce
Hopkins. The discussions will take
place at the office of Secretary Hull.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Roosevelt
was to see Secretary Hull, Assistant
Secretary of State Berle, Secretary
Morgenthau and Under Secretary
of Treasury Bell. The Chief Execu
tive conferred last night with Sec
retary Hull and Under Secretary
of State Welles.
Before any of today’s business,
it was announced, the President
signed the Naval Expansion bills
sent him by the Congress late last
week.
The program authorizes a naval
air force of 10,000 planes and 16,000
pilots and increases the fleet by 21
new warships and 22 auxiliary naval
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-6.)
British 'Seizure'
Of French Fleet
Held Possibility
By the Aysocitted Pres«.
France s petition for an armistice,'
not entirely surprising to officials
here, set experts to studying its
implications for the future defense
of the United States.
One of the most urgent questions
considered was the fate of the
French fleet. One possibility seen
here was that the British fleet, with
which the French naval forces
worked in close unison, might
“seize" French warships and mer
chant vessels before they could be
surrendered.
Another question posed for de
fense experts here was how French
defeat would affect French terri
torial possessions in the Western
Hemisphere, since any attempt by i
Germany to gain these possessions
would clash immediately with Amer
ican policy.
84 More Warships
Proposed in Bills by
Vinson and Walsh
Separate Department
For Air Forces Also
To Be Asked in House
By the Associated Press.
A new $1,200,000,000 expansion of
the Navy to provide for 84 addi
tional warships was proposed in an
administration-approved bill today
by Chairman Vinson of the House
Naval Affairs Committee.
Representative Vinson said he and
Chairman Walsh of the Senate Na
val Committee would introduce
identical bills today providing for
this big boost in the Navy amount
ing to a 22 per cent increase in the
fleet’s present authorized strength
of 1.700.000 tons.
“World conditions make it ab
solutely imperative that the Navy
be built up as rapidly as possible,"
Mr. Vinson told reporters.
Legislation to establish a separate
department for. the Nation's air
forces will be introduced by Repre
(See DEFENSEi-Page A-13.)
Congress to Drop Plan to Quit
Saturday, Bankhead Thinks
Fall of France Intensifies U. S.
Defense Problem, Barkley Says
By JAMES E. CHINN.
Deepening of America’s defense
problem and indefinite postpone
ment of the planned adjournment
of Congress at the week end were
seen by Speaker Bankhead today
as immediate results of the fall of
Prance.
Senate and House leaders of both
parties must get together to re
arrange the congressional program,
he indicated.
A recess during the Republican
and Democratic conventions must be
taken, he suggested. But he pointed
out that even before a recess Con
gress must complete action on sev
eral appropriation bills. These in
clude the national defense bill and
the second deficiency appropriation
measure, to be reported to the House
tomorrow.
A five-week recess until after the
political conventions also appeared
more likely in the Senate as it be
gan debate on the $1,007,000,000 de
fense tax bill.
Majority Leader Barkley insisted
the question of recess or adjourn
ment was “still up in the air.” He
indicated, however, that no business
was expected to be transacted during
the Republican and Democratic con
ventions.
He also express belief that if the
recess plan is decided on, the inter
val between the two conventions
would be too short to make it worth
while to reassemble for the inter
vening period.
The Republican convention opens
in Philadelphia June 24 and is ex
pected to last a week. The Demo
crats gather in Chicago July 15.
After the tax bill, only two major
defense measures, already passed by
the House, are awaiting Senate con
sideration. One is the $1,700,000,000
(See CONGRESS, Page A-5.)
Midair Crash
Over New York
Suburb Kills 12
Two Houses Crushed
By Army Bombers;
Fires Quelled
Bt the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 17.—Twelve
Army men died today when two
twin - motored Douglas bombing
planes collided in midair and
plummeted about 2.500 feet into a
thickly-populated residential sec
tion just within the New York City
limits. There were no survivors.
Ten victims were members of the
Army Air Reserve Corps! called for
further training to Mitchell Field
on Long Island from Kelly Field,
Texas.
Another victim was a Regular
Army office, Lt. Paul Burlingame
of Louisville. Ky„ a graduate of
West Point, where he was a football
star as a cadet. He was in command
of one of the ships.
The twelfth man killed was not
immediately identified.
The midair collision, probably the
worst in the history of Mitchel
Field. Army flying station, occurred
while four planes were flying in
practice V-formation only a few
minutes after the take-off.
Two Houses Set Afire.
Both planes crashed into front
yards in Two Hundred Thirty-ninth
street, one smashing two houses and
setting them afire. A woman occu
pant of- one of the houses was
burned.
The planes quickly became fu
neral pyres of flaming, melting
metal.
George Noll heard the crash and
rushed out of his home.
"It was a tremendous noise,” he
said. “The whole street seemed to
rock. The two houses across the
way were smashed in.”
Witnesses said the planes were
part of a group flying in V forma
tion and that when one ship at
tempted to cross over another during
a change of formation their wings
locked together.
Plunging earthward in flames,
the pilot of one ship apparently
struggled to avoid a row of newly
built one-family houses, witnesses
said, and managed to crash in the
street. Wreckage of the planes was
scattered over a wide area. Firemen
extinguished several blazes.
Bodies of the victims were placed
in Army ambulances and returned
to Mitchel Field.
F. W. Watkins, whose home was
within 50 yards of the scene of the
(See PLANE CRASH, Page A-13.)
Byrd Discusses
Financial Defense
Senator Harry F. Byrd, Dem
ocrat, of Virginia, will be the
guest speaker tonight on the
National Radio Forum over
WMAL at 10:30 o’clock.
Senator Byrd, a member of
the Senate Finance Committee,
will discuss "Financial De
fense.’’
The program is arranged by
The , Star and is heard over a
coast-to-coast network of the
National Broadcasting Co.
Fierce Battle Begun
After Petain Appeal;
Nazis Sweep South
New Premier Tells Nation
He 'Asked Means to Stop the
Fight'; Maginot Line Gone
By th? Associated Press
BORDEAUX. June 17.—France, still fighting, though
near the end of her rich resources, asked Adolf Hitler
for peace today.
Saddened, 84-year-old Marshal Henri Petain. hero of
the battle of Verdun in the World War, broke the news
to his countrymen in a broadcast.
“It is necessary to try to end the fighting,” he said.
“I made contact with the adversary last night, asking him as
soldier to soldier to seek with me the means to stop the fight.”
Paris, the beloved capital, had fallen. The great industrial
cities of the north were in the hands of the Nazi invaders. The
Swastika flew over Versailles and the Eiffel Tower.
The Maginot Line, France’s half-billion-dollar hope of security,
was practically gone, and the German Army, over 2,000.000-strong,
with armored cars and tanks and airplanes was sweeping south
ward, bent on complete victory.
Fierce Battle at Pontariier.
From Les Veriers. Switzerland (at the French border), It was
reported that two hours after the Petain broadcast, a fierce battle
began on the plain behind Pontariier, where large numbers of
German motorized units found their path to the south blocked
by French infantry.
Marshal Petain, whose defense of Verdun 24 years ago gave
France her watchword, “They shall not pass!” had taken over the
government from Paul Reynaud last night after a day of cabinet
discussions on what help the United States might offer.
(There wras no immediate word of a direct response to
Petain’s offer, but the German high command announced
Adolf Hitler was to see Premier Mussolini, his Italian ally.
Other German sources said there could be no armistics but
only a “complete capitulation.”)
Complete capitulation probably would mean surrender of the
French fleet, second strongest in Europe, and counted on by
England in its blockade.
Fighting was still going on, the French high command said in
its morning communique, in “the region of Laigle and Chateaudun,
as well as on the line of the Loire and south of Avallon. (The time
to which the communique referred was not clear.) The Nazis also
were reported to have crossed the Saone River, advancing in the
direction of Doubs, close to the Swiss border.
Maginot Line Guns Shell Baden.
From Basel, Switzerland, it was reported light artillery of the
Maginot line was heavily shelling German positions in Baden after
Petain's radio statement. German West Wall guns replied. There
was no other land or air action throughout the day. Guns of both
sides had been silent until the French opened fire.
(Although the French were reported to have withdrawn their
main forces from the Maginot line, it was believed they had left
small detachments to delay the German advance.)
Meanwhile the French cabinet was reported still meeting to
| “await developments.”
Contact Was Made Through Spain.
The marshal-Premier said France had entered into contact
| with Germany through the intermediation of Spain.
The Premier made his radio address at 12:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m„
j E. S. T.) after a series of dramatic conferences during which the
military reverses and the future were discussed.
His announcement of peace overtures was no surprise, since
the formation of his government generally was accepted as a
i prelude to a request for an armistice.
He succeeded Paul Reynaud,
last night as head of Prance
after M. Reynaud’s cabinet had :
spent a day in long discussions,
bearing largely on the United
States offer of help for the Allies.
(In New York the Columbia
Broadcasting System gave out
the following translation of Pre
mier Petain's speefll read from
London by the official British
■wireless:
(“French men and women: At
the call of the French President,
I have assumed the leadership of
the government of France. I
have been thinking of those who
have been fighting true to their
. old military traditions, against
an enemy of huge numerical
superiority. I also think of those
old combatants whom I com
manded during the last war. I
have given myself to France to
better her situation at this grave
hour.
(‘‘At this moment, I think of
the unfortunate refugees, the
men and women on the roads,
driven away from their homes
by the misfortunes of war.
(“I express to them my slncerest
sympathy and compassion. It is
with a heavy heart that I tell
you today that we must stop the
fight.
("I sent a message to the enemy
yesterday to ask him if he would
meet with me, as between one
soldier and another, after the
fight, and honorably, to seek a
way to put an end to hostilities.
(“Let all Frenchmen gather
around the government over
which I preside during these sad
hours. And let them do their
duty (one word inaudible) their
faith in the destiny of their
country.”)
Pontarlier is about 30 miles south
east of Besancon, in the rugged
Doubs region The rumble of field
guns was heard on the Swiss side of
the Les Veriers Valley, through
r- ---
which hundreds of refugees were
streaming into Switzerland.
They reported the battle started
when the Germans tried to enter
Pontarlier.
The French, they said, were fight
ing stubbornly. The Germans were
trying to fight their way into the
town after practically surrounding
it with motorized units and light
field pieces.
About 5:25 p.m. watchers on the
Swiss frontier saw several hundred
armed uniformed figures appear on
the crest of a hill on the French
side of the frontier and run down
across the grassy slope tow'ard
Switzerland.
Swiss frontier soldiers advanced
to meet them. They were exhausted
French Alpine Chasseurs, who said
they had been cut off from their
main force by large numbers of Ger
man troops east of Pontarlier, where
they were routed and many killed.
Soldiers a Pitiful Sight.
The men who formed part of one
of France’s most famous units were
a pitiful sight as they crossed the
frontier.
They handed their arms to the
Swiss without a word. Many fell
exhausted on the grass just inside
the Swiss frontier and fell asleep
immediately. They were unshaven,
their uniforms in rags, and some
had no helmets. Others had no
jackets. Some of them bore minor
wounds.
The men with enough energy to
speak gave their story in broken
sentences to Sw’iss officers—three
days of fighting in a retreat from
the north. They had lost their sup
plies, they were short of ammuni
tion.
They said they had been rushed
north from the Italian frontier sev
eral days ago in a desperate attempt
to halt the German advance. Swiss
Red Cross workers fed those who
could eat and gave first-aid treat
ment.
Last night's high command colfi
(See BORDEAUX, Page A-13.) ^