Evening star. [volume], July 17, 1940, Page A-2, Image 2

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

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Race of Airliners
Symbolizes Struggle
In South America
Pan-American Plane
Defeats Junkers in
1,700-Mile 'Contest'
Mr. Edgerton is touring South
America as a guest of Pan
American Airways. His articles,
sent by mail, will be published
as they are received. This is
the sixth of a series.
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Stir Aviation Editor.
SANTIAGO. Chile (By Airmail).
—For 1,700 miles down the rugged
South American coast, between the
blue Pacific and the mighty western
Cordillera of the Andes, we have
been staging an informal race with
a German tri-motored Junkers air
liner reported to be carrying $1,000,
000 worth of cocaine destined for
Nazi Germany. It Is a competition
symbolical of the economic warfare
which observers believe is going to
be waged by the United States and
its sister American republics and
the Germans for economic control
of this great continent.
The Junkers, according to infor
mation in the hands of airport offi
cials along the Peruvian and
Chilean coast, had two purposes.
The first was to expedite delivery
to Germany of the great cocaine
shipment, which had been tied up
for some time by the Bolivian gov
ernment, and, morp important, to
survey the route between Africa and
Santiago, Chile, in an effort to es
tablish a competitive Nazi service
over this important route.
Making the flight in a big. fast
Douglas DC-3 of the Panagra di
vision of Pan-American Airways, we
first encountered the German at
the beautiful airport at Arequipa,
Peru, one of the most dramatically
beautiful spots served by any air
line. ,
Junkers Comes In.
We had Just landed at Arequipa*
4.850 miles and 30 flying hours from
home, in the late afternoon of a
beautifully clear day, with the tow
ering snow-covered peak of Cha
chani, 21,220 feet high, dominating
the skyline to the east and reflect
ing the first fed-gold of the late
sun. Arequipa is one of the highest
airports in regular use in the West
ern Hemisphere—8,100 feet above
sea level and at the very foot of the
18,600-foot peak of Pichu-Pichu.
We had made a fast landing, just
off the shoulder of the mountain,
and were enjoying 4-foot geraniums
and a view of one of the most pic
turesque cities between Quito and
Santiago when there was a roar
and in came the Junkers, en route
from La Paz, ^Bolivia, to Santiago
and Buenos Aires. It was one of
the later models of the famous Ger
man Junkers line—a 52—powered
with B. M. W. engines, which are the
German copies of the American
Pratt & Whitney Wasps. The engine
nacelles and corrugated metal nose
of the Junkers fuselage were paint
ed black, giving it the rather leering
appearance of a goggle-eyed mon
ster as it rolled up to refuel.
We learned later that the German
plane was carrying a cocaine cargo
originally purchased by Nazi agents
in Peru. Attempting to fly it tof
Buenos Aires by the short-“diagonal”
route through La Paz to Cordoba,
Argentina, the German crew was
stopped by Bolivian customs agents
and cargo and plane confiscated.
During the negotiations which final
ly resulted in clearing of cargo and
plane, the Germans completed ar
rangements for survey of the Arica
Santiago route. German air routes
already are in operation between
Buenos Aires and Santiago and be
tween the Atlantic and Pacific at
Lima, Peru, with an extension down
the coast to Arica. The new sec
tion is sought by them to complete
a circuit of some of the richest
country in South America.
The big Nazi plane completed its
refueling quickly and was off. We,
with no idea of a race and, at the
time, no more than a passing in
terest in the black-nosed Nazi, fin
ished our inspection of the airport
and distant town.
German Is Overhauled.
We got off long after the German
had disappeared and headed off over
the dry littoral sloping from the
Andes down to the sea toward our
overnight stop at 'Arica, just across
the Peruvian border in Chile. We
finally spotted the German, high up
to the west of the course, over
hauled him and forgot the matter
as we landed at Arica in the last
rays of a dusk which comes here,
the year around, at 6 p.m., as sun
light always comes at 6 am.
We left Arica, alone in its sur
rounding waste of absolute desert,
at 8 am. the next day. The Ger
man plane already was long gone
on the way south. The sky was
overcast and we pulled up through
a layer of clouds into brilliant sun
shine and a deep blue sky, with the
Andes looming over the cloud sea
to the east.
Down the nitrate coast we let the
miles slip easily by, marveling at
the scattered, lonely nitrate work
ings with their characteristic dump
piles in the shape of a giant figure
eight, at the great areas of absolute
ly barren sand and at earthquake
fault lines, visible for miles across
the bare ground. This desert was
to be with us for 500 miles and
we were by now more than a little
interested when we overtook the
German plane on the airport at
Antofagasta—an airport which
might just as well be the world’s
largest since the sand stretches per
fectly flat for miles in all directions
except to the aea, where it falls off
in a sharp, water-carved bluff of
Intricate fantasy.
Took Off With Flourish.
Just after we landed, the Junkers
took off with a flourish which would
have resulted in the immediate
grounding of its pilot by any Amer
ican aviation inspector. Although
he had passengers aboard, the
Junkers pilot pulled off the runway
into a climbing turn, dove, and
roared right over the big United
States airliner before pulling up
again and heading off south.
"They always do that when Amer
ican planes are around,” a by
stander commented.
Fifteen minutes later we, too,
took off on the 700-mile flight to
Santiago. Unlike the German, how
ever, we made a stop for fuel on
the high, wind-swept field at Valle
mar, where a pack-mule train
crossed a comer of the airport and
wound down the steep hill into a
white-walled town, i
With his 15-miniae start, the
Nasi pilot was nearly |t5 minutes to
the good by the time we left Valle
mar and roared on gown the in
creasingly snowy Andes and in
k
NEW YORK.—LARGEST DIAMOND ARRIVES BY MAIL—
Edward Sumnlck, diamond merchant, shown holding the-newly
found President Vargas diamond above the Jonker diamond at
his office yesterday after it arrived in a 70-cent registered mail
package. It is the largest uncut diamond in the world and the
fourth largest found. Named after the President of Brazil,
where it was uncovered, it weighs 724.60 carats, measures 2 Vi
inches long and 2 inches wide, 1 inch thick, and is exceptionally
clear and blue white. It was discovered by, a native farmer and
diamond digger August 13, 1938, in an alluvial layer in a region
formed essentially of Algonkian metamorphle rocks covered by
patches of cretaceous arenites. —Wide World Photo.
Axis Seen Resorting
To War of Nerves in
Peace Offensive
Possible Attempt to Split
Britain and U. S. Also
Found in Reports
-**v
By th® Associated Press.
LONDON, July 17.—Reports that
a German-Italian “peace offensive’’
is likely before any attempt to in
vade Britain were Interpreted by
some Britons today as an axis re
sort to a “war of nerves.”"
London newspapers, published
under Rome or New York date lines,
reports attributed to Italian sources,
that the axis powers would make
a "last chance” armistice offer be
fore launching an invasion, prob
ably next Friday.
The Daily Mail pointed out that
Friday, July 19, will be the anni
versary of Britain’s victory over
the Spanish armada in 1988.
Interpretations Varied.
The press declared Prime Min
ister Winston Churchill had served
notice in his broadcast last Bun
day night that Britain “will toler
ate no parley.”
“Peace offensive” reports were in
terpreted variously by the British
as intended to create • division of
opinion between Britain and the
United States, as reflecting an Ital
ian desire to avoid a long struggle
and as a German attempt to throw
the British off guard before start
ing an offensive in force.
An aerial battle was fought over
the southeast coast of England this
afternoon, with a number of planes
engaged and with the Germans
dropping bombs.
T7ie light took place after other
planes were reported flying over
the northeast and southwest coasts.
British and German warplanes
fought over the English coast again
yesterday, and last night the sound
of anti-aircraft lire over Northeast
England indicated the presence of
more hostile planes.
Three Bomber* Shot Down.
The British reported three Ger
man bombers were shot down yes
terday following attacks in which
“some houses were wrecked but the
only casualties were a few persons
injured’’ along the northeast coast
of Scotland.
Britain's Mediterranean fortress of
Gibraltar was raided four times yes
terday by bombing planes. The ex
tent of damage was not reported.
Italian bombers made a moon
light raid last night on the British
eastern Mediterranean fleet at Alex
andria, Egypt, but failed to hit any
warships, Alexandria reports said.
On the diplomatic front, a state
ment on negotiations between Brit
ain and Japan for closing supply
routes to China was expected today
in the House of Commons.
Surgeon in Paris Kills
Self to Escape Nazis
By the Auoclated Press.
LONDON, July 17.—A Reuter*
(British news agency) dispatch
from Prance said yesterday that
Count Thierry de Martel, chief sur*
geon of the American hospital iM
Paris, ended his life with poison the
day the Germans took Paris.
Dr. Martel was said to have been
unwilling to risk being required to
serve the German cause.
creasingly green valleys. There was
much talk among the passengers, in
cluding a number of South Ameri
can businessmen, of the economic
race the Germans probably would
attempt to give the United States
for domination in South America if
the European war frees the Nad
leaders for further conquest.
The idea that our race with the
German cocaine - bearing survey
plane might be a symbol of the
struggle to come was discussed and
a keen outlook was kept as the
mighty cone of Aconcagua, highest
mountain in the Western Hemi
sphere, began to dominate the east
ern sky and our 1,700-mlle game of
hide and seek with the Nasi pilot
neared a close.
The watch was rewarded. Not
five minutes out of Santiago, in a
thickening haze and overcast sky, he
appeared, with startling suddenness,
almost under our left wing and we
roared on into the Santiago Airport,
landed, were out of the plane and
at the passport inspector’s office be
fore the Nazi plane landed and
rolled up.
“Let's hope we can always beat
them that easily,” muttered ohe of
our South American passengers.
'. -
Pickle Evidence
Sours Case of
The Government
The Government’s larceny case
against Walter Elder, 27, colored,
of 2624 I street N.W., In Police Court
yesterday turned "sour”—as were
the pickles.
A gallon jar of giant pickles—
valued at $1—was displayed before
Judge George D. Neilson as the
“loot” taken by Defendant Elder
from Henry Goldberg, owner of a
grocery store at 2639 I street N.W.
early Sunday morning.
Elder told the court he took the
jar during an argument with Mr.
Goldberg over his change after pur
chasing a package of cigarettes.
Arrested by Pvt. C. P. Thompson
of No. 3 precinct, who answered Mr.
Goldberg’s "holdup” complaint, the
prisoner produced the unopened jar
from a clump of bushes behind the
store where he had cached it during
his flight.
"I didn't want the pickles, judge,”
Elder said, “because I don't like
them. They were the closest thing
to me while we were arguing, so I
picked ’em up."
Judge Neilson said that he didn’t
think the evidence—“sour as it
was”—constituted a deliberate lar
ceny. He took Elder’s personal bond.
G. 0. P. Leaders Here See
Third-Term Door Open
Republican leaders in the Capital
Interpreted President Roosevelt’s
message to the Democratic conven
tion as leaving the door open to
a third term.
Representative Martin of Massa
chusetts, Republican National Com
mittee chairman, said “it will be
carefully noted that the door on a
third term is not closed,” but pre
dicted that while Mr. Roosevelt
will be renominated he will not be
re-elected.
"The American people will not
break an abiding American tradi
tion to continue the Roosevelt ad
ministration,” Mr. Martin said.
•"Diis announcement did not sur
prise any one,” commented Senator
McNary of Oregon, Republican vice
presidential nominee. Remarking
that the President "very con
veniently left the door unlocked,”
he said that "all thought this would
be the outcome” and “he certainly
will be the nominee.”
Senator George, democrat, of
Georgia, who long has been critical
of a third term, said that the
“statement made in the name of
the President leaves the way open
to accept the nomination and in
view of the time and circumstances
under which it was made, obviously
had that purpose.”
Aides of Vice President Garner
said he had no comment.
Three-Judge Court to Try
Pullman Trust Charges
Br the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, July 17.—Gov
ernment charges of "monopolistic
control" against the Pullman com
pany and its affiliates will be heard
by a special three-judge court, but
attaches said the case probably
wduld not be called before October.
United State# Circuit Judge John
Biggs, Jr., yesterday named himself
and Circuit Judges Albert B. Maris
and Herbert P. Goodrich to the “Ex
pedition Court” asked by the Justice
Department. The Government is
seeking under the Sherman and
Qlayton anti-trust laws to divorce
th# manufacture of railroad sleep
ing car equipment from its operation.
The judge also signed a special
order for service of summons upon
the 31 individuals named in the civil
suit as officers and directors of
Pullman and Its affiliated concerns,
Pullman-Standard Car Manufactur
ing Co., Pullman Car <fc Manufactur
ing Corpv and Pullman, Inc.
French Demand Britain
Pay for Fleet Damage
Br the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 17.—The Petain
government of France has de
manded reparations from Britain
for damage done to the French
fleet, the Daily Mail reported yes
terday.
This was said to be one of several
conditions which French Foreign
Minister Paul Bkudoin insists must
ba satisfied before there can be a
| bails for kittling futura diplomatic
i relation* with Britain.
A
French Government -
At Vichy Operates
In 'Goldfish Bowl'
Hotel Dm Pare Is Scene
Of Open Conferences
And Regime's Activity
r
By ROT P. PORTER,
AuoeUtcd Preu War Correspondent.
PARIS, July 17 (via Berlin).—
Prance’s new government at Vichy is
operating as a "goldfish bowl” re
gime—everything in plain sight of
all onlookers.
From the new chief of state, Mar
shal Henri Philippe Petain, down
to the lowliest undersecretary, the
process of conducting the govern
ment has been brought into the
xpen.
For example, Vice Premier Pierre
Laval has made a habit of handing
out communiques personally in the
lobby of the Hotel du Pare, where
the principal government offices
are located.
A corner of the hotel lounge has
been reserved for Marshal Petain.
There he receives all visitors, both
official and unofficial.
Other ministers of the Petain gov
ernment, particularly Foreign Min
ister Paul Baudoin, drift about the
lobby talking with politicians, vis
itors and newspapermen.
About the only officials remaining
out of the public's sight are the
censors, who occupy a fifth-floor
suite.
Example of Contrast.
An incident which I observed on
a recent trip to Vichy emphasized
the “goldfish bowl” contract to for
mer administrations.
The night after the National As
sembly had voted to give Marshal
Petain power to write a new con
stitution those of use who were
sitting in the lounge observed a
commotion in the lobby.
M. Laval and several of his aides
were arguing heatedly. It turned
out that copies of new decrees to
be published in the official Journal
were missing.
After a lengthy search, the miss
ing documents were found, and M.
Laval, clutching them firmly, hur
ried out to have them signed by
Albert Lebrun, still nominally Presi
dent.
Ten minutes later M. Laval re
turned, still carrying the papers.
He stalked across the lounge to
Marshal Petain's comer. With a
flourish, he produced a fountain
pen, and, while about 100 persons
watched, the marshal countersigned
the Assembly’s orders. Every one
knew then the old constitution had
been abrogated.
Several hours later M. Laval was
heard in another discussion, even
more animated. Onlookers learned
M. Lebrun had declined temporarily
to sign his resignation in favor of
Marshal Petain.
Petain Persuades Lebrun.
M. Laval called a session of his
aides—several cabinet ministers and
French newspaper men. They
talked quietly nearly half an hour.
Then M. Laval arose. To a query
from a nearby table, he replied
with a smile: "Nothing new for
the moment. Walt until tomorrow.
Good night.”
This was the signal every one
had been awaiting, since M. Laval
always announces when he is going
to bed. and then every one else
goes borne too.
The next morning we learned
Marshal Petain had seen M. Lebrun
to induce him to sign.
When the marshal returned, he
expressed casually the French
equivalent of “it's all OJC."
Thus it became known that the
President formally had resigned and
the new government could proceed.
One apparent reason for this
“goldfish bowl” procedure is the con
centration in one hotel of the major
officials. It remains to be seen
whether this continues when and
if the government returns to Paris.
Petain's Return to Paris
Expected This Week End
By tbe Associated Press.
BERLIN, July 17.—The Petain
government probably will move to
Paris from Vichy this week end,
informed Germans said today.
Leon Noel, a member of the Ger
man-French Armistice Commission
at Wiesbaden, is said to be in Paris
for preliminary negotiations with
Gen. Kurt von Briesen, German
military commander there, follow
ing a conference with Marshal Pe
tain in Vichy.
Problems to be solved involve tel
ephone, telegraph and transporta
tion systems and other public facili
ties, but it was believed here there
were no major difficulties facing
the move.
Sources close to the German mili
tary command in Paris said* with
drawal of most of the Nasi troop
units in the city was likely In event
the French government decides to
return there.
The withdrawal probably would
be carried out within two weeks,
these .sources said.
A small staff of officers and men
would remain on duty at the German
governor’s office, it was said.
Stimson Confers With Aides
On U. S. Defense Training
Secretary of War Stimson con
ferred today with his civilian aides
on plans fbr training the Nation’s
manpower for defense. Represent
atives from 42 States and nine
Army corps areas attended, as did
Gen. George C, Marshall, chief of
staff.
Members of the Military Training
Camps Association urged adoption
of a plan for further Plattsburg
camps this fall to train between 20,
000 and 30,000 potential officers, in
addition to 3,000 professional and
business men now studying at
Plattsburg, N. Y.
Julius Ochs Adler, vice chairman
of the National Emergency Com
mittee of the association, was sched
uled to explain the proposed plan so
it could be co-ordinated with the
broader scheme of the War Depart
ment.
0
British Union Opposes
Ousting of Chamberlain
By the Assoc!tted Free*.
BLACKPOOL. England, July 17.—
A resolution demanding the retire
ment of former Prime Minister
Chamberlain and his Tory colleagues
from the government was defeated
by the. British Mlneworkers Federa
tion yesterday. *
The vote wm 430,000 to 111,000.
M if » • - “ -
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE—Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith, honorary president of the Jewish
Social Service Agency, shown yesterday laying the cornerstone at the new agency bulding being
constructed at 1131 Spring road N.W. Joseph A. Wilner, president of the agency, is on her left.
_____ —Star Staff Photo.
$147,640 Is Allotted
For D. C. Students
In N. Y. A. Program
Program of Part-Time
Work to Permit Needy
To Pursue Education
The National Youth Administra
tion today announced an allocation
of $147,640 to give part-time employ
ment to students in District schools
and colleges during the coming
school year.
The amount is part of $26,240,281
spread among the 48 States, New
York City, the District, Alaska, Ha
waii and Puerto Rico, according to
N. Y. A. Administrator Aubrey Wil
liams. The funds will permit needy
students to continue their education
by providing them part-time work.
Students between the ages of 16
and 24 are eligible, it was said.
Mr. Williams also announced allo
cation of $100,000 for an N. Y. A.
special program to aid Negro college
and graduate students. The funds
will permit Negro students in States
where there are no graduate insti
tutions for Negroes to go to States
whete such schools exist.
$553,458 for Virginia.
Maryland was allotted $283,454,
and Virginia $553,458.
District N. Y. A. Administrator A1
Miller said that when necessary re
adjustments were made in Septem
ber to allocate according to need,
the amount of District participation
in the program will be about the
same as last year.
In June, for example, 880 students
in 12 local colleges, 782 in the local
white and colored public high schools
and half a dozen parochial schools,
received work.
Next year’s allotment sets aside
$113,535 for the colleges and $34,105
for the high schools.
Local Colleges Participating.
Local colleges having students par
ticipating in the program last year
and, Mr. Miller said, probably next
September, are American Univer
sity, Catholic University, Gallaudet
College, George Washington Uni
versity, Howard University, Miner
Teachers’ College, Georgetown Uni
versity, Georgetown Visitation Con
vent, Immaculate Seminary, Dun
barton College, Trinity College and
Wilson Teachers’ College.
Mr. Miller’s offices are located at
1210 Eighteenth street N.W.
0 *-—
Mrs. William Wolff Smith
Dies Here at 68
Mrs. Isabelle Geddes Smith, 68,
wife of William Wolff Smith, life
long Washington resident, died last
night in Garfield Hospital.
Mrs. Smith was the daughter of
Charles Wright Geddes, an Army
officer in the War with Mexico, and
Mrs. Annie Hill Geddes of Glen
way, Prince Georges County, Md.
She was born in the family home
on the site of the present Senate
Office Building. She was married
to Mr. Smith in 1806.
Mrs. Smith was a past president
of the Washington Chapter of the
League of American Pen Women,
a member of the Magruder Chapter
of the D. A. R„ the Guadeloupe
Society of 1848, the American Clan
Gregor Society and other patriotic
and historical groups. For many
years she was a member of the
Third Church of Christ Scientist
here, and 20 years ago was first
reader of the Second Church.
Well known as a lecturer and
book reviewer, Mrs. Smith took
courses at Oxford, Cambridge, the
University of London, Harvard and
George Washington Universities.
During the World War she was a
social service worker for the mili
tary services in Washington.
She and Mr. Smith made their
home in the Highland Apartments.
Besides her husband, she leaves
four sisters, Mrs. O. O. van den
Berg and Mrs. Joseph P. Kelley,
both of Washington; Mrs. Rosa G.
Magruder of Baltimore County, Md„
and Mrs. Daniel Dillon of Los An
geles.
Funeral services will be held at
2:30 pm. tomorrow at the Hines
funeral home, 2901 Fourteenth street
N.W. Burial will be private.
De Gaulle Takes Over
French Ships in Britain
Ml tbs Associated Press.
LONDON, July 17.—P. Demalg
laive, managing director of the
French Line in London, will take
charge of all French mercantile
shipping in British ports, it was
learned yesterday, as an associate of
Gen. Charles De Qaulle, head of
the National French Committee. ,
Demalglaive said the Normandie,
largest French trans-Atlantic liner,
“would be very useful to us, but she
still is in New York.”
The Normandie, tied up at a Ne*
York pier, apparently awaits dlspo*
sition by the new regime of Marsh*
Petaln, which does not recognise the
De Gaulle organisation.
Air Board Denies
Autogyro Mail
Service Plea
By the Associated Press.
The Civil Aeronautics Board de
nied yesterday an application by
Eastern Airlines, Inc., for a per
mament certificate for the trans
portation of mail by autogyro be
tween the roof of the Philadelphia
Post Office Budding and an airport
at Camden, or elsewhere in the
Philadelphia vicinity.
The board left the way open,
however, for the company to apply
at once for a temporary certificate.
Autogyro service between the air
port and the post office building
was conducted for a year, starting
July 6, 1939, on an experimental
basis. Congress recently gave the
Civil Aeronautics Board authority
to pass on the question of con
tinuing the service.
Four Men Arrested
In Gambling Raid
At Hyattsville
Police Court Hearing
Set for Tomorrow;
Cleanup Promised
In a new effort to stamp out
gambling in Prince Georges County,
Md., county police yesterday ar
rested three men on gambling
charges and a fourth as a State wit
ness in a raid in Hyattsville.
The three men, according to po
lice. are Julius Lohman, 48, of Bla
densburg; Charles Mulitz, 45, of the
1400 block of Oak street N.W., and
Morris Pittle, 55, of the 3300 block
of Fourteenth street N.W. All were
charged with establishing and keep
ing a place for the purpose of
gambling and betting in Hyattsville.
The fourth man, held as a State wit
ness, is listed as Frank Poleto, 34.
of the 1700 block of North Capitol
street.
Hearing Tomorrow.
Mulitz, pittle and Lohman were
released after posting bond of $500
and Poleto was released after post
ing $300 bond. The men will ap
pear for a hearing in Police Court
tomorrow.
Police who participated in the raid
were Corpl. John F. Dent, Pvts. C.
N. Thomsen, Earl J. Huber and E. R.
Thompson, all of the county police,
and Howard Holmes of the Hyatts
ville town force.
Corpl. Dent said the four men
were arrested in a room on the
second floor of a building in which'
there were about 25 people when
police entered. Mr. Dent said sev
eral escaped by a rear door when
the police arrived and that a dice
table, a chart apparently used for
racing results and a number of
racing forms were found. No cash
was found, however, he said.
Cleanup Is Promised.
Chief Arthur W. Hepburn of the
county police said that "wherever
such activities are found in the
county we are going to break them
up.”
Mayor E. M. Gover of Hyatts
ville said he planned to confer with
police tonight.
“If there is any gambling going
on in Hyattsville I am certainly
going to clean it up,” he said.
Yesterday’s raid was the fourth
in a series conducted by county po
lice in the last two weeks. A total of
eight men have been arrested.
U. S. Envoy to Holland
At Bern on Way Home
By the Associated P
BERN, Switzerlfnd, July 17.—The
United States Minister to the Neth
erlands. George Gordon, with his
Legation staff and the ministers
and personnel of seven other lega
tions at The Hague arrived here
last night from Germany en route
home.
They left The Hague on the
German suggestion that all lega
tions have their offices closed by
yesterday.
Ministers arriving with Mr. Gor
don included those of Brazil, Uru
guay, Venezuela, Colombia and Bo
livia.
Mr. Gordon’s aides said they
planned to fly to the United States.
Admiral Richardson
Flies Back to Hawaii
By the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 17,-Ad
miral James O. Richardson, who
last week appeared unexpectedly In
Washington for a talk with Presi
dent Roosevelt, was aboard the Cali
fornia Clipper as it took off yester
day afternoon for Hawaii.
Hie commander in chief of the
United States Fleet and his aide,
Com dr. Vincent R. Murphy, who ac
companied him, were listed on the
passenger list msrsly as ‘Honolulu
residents returning.”
A
Five Autos Damaged
By Gasoline Blaze
After Collision
Fuel Is Set Afire;
Woman Hurt in Crash
Near Falls Church
Five automobiles were damaged
by fire early today at Seventh and
G streets NJS., after one of the
machines overturned in a collision
and spilled gasoline under a row
of parked cars.
Police said an automobile driven
by A. Jasper Moore of 324 Ritten
house street N.W. rolled on tts side
following a collision. Gasoline
drained from the tank and ran
down the gutter next to the curb.
The usual crowd of spectators
gathered. Some one, police said,
either dropped a match or lighted
cigarette into the gasoline, which
set the overturned car ablaze and
spread flames beneath the other
machines.
The other cars, according to police,
were owned by Gideon Sawyer,
706 Seventh street NJS.; L. Shir
ley, 657 G street N.E.: Robert Com
modare, Arlington, Va., and Edgar
Muller, 631 Seventh street N.E.
Authorities had no estimate of
the damage.
Maggie Minor, colored, 26, of 3238
Idaho avenue N.W., was in an unde
termined condition at Emergency
Hospital today from injuries suffered
last night in an automobile acci
dent on Lee Highway near Falls
Church, Va. Police were told a ma
chine in which she was riding went
out of control after a tire blew out.
Five other occupants of the car
were treated for minor hurts and
sent home.
George Cole, colored, 23, of Uppe*
Marlboro, Md., was in a serious con
dition at Casualty Hospital today
from head injuries received in an
automobile accident in Upper Marl
boro yesterday.
Bertha Kerson, 26, of 307 Rock
Creek Church road N.W., suffered a
broken right leg last night when
knocked from her bicycle ov a
roller skater on Hains Point. The
young woman was taken to Emer
gency Hospital.
Food Train Leaves
Geneva for France
By tbe Associated Press.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. July
17.—A trainload of food supplies,
provided by a $100,000 fund for
French refugees, left Geneva yes
terday for Lyon, Toulouse and other
parts of France unocupied by Ger
man troops. A second train of 12
cars is being loaded today.
Van Duzer Objects
To 155-Death Total,
Census Survey Shows
Tabulation of Fatalities
Here Involving Motor
Vehicles Held Misleading
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer today described as “mislead
ing” a report issued yesterday by the
Division of Vita) Statistics of the
Bureau of the Census showing a
total of 155 District home, industrial
and traffic fatalities in which motor
vehicles were involved in 1939.
Of this number, 151 deaths re
sulted from accidents, in public
places, three in industrial locations
and one in the home, according to
the census figures.
There were only 84 traffic fatalities
in Washington last year, Mr. Van
Duzer claimed, pointing out that the
census total included the number
of traffic accident victims who were
Injured in Maryland and Virginia
and died here.
According to the Census Bureau's
tabulation, although its figure rep
resented an increase of 21 deaths
over the 124 reported for 1938, it
was the second lowest figure for the
six-year period beginning in 1934.
Saturday was the worst day
of the week with a total of 30
deaths. Tuesday was the safest day,
with 10 fatalities.
August was the heaviest month
for fatal accidents, with 21 reported.
October and December tied for sec
ond with 14 each, and January was
fourth with 13.
More persons were killed in the
25-29 age group than in any other
five-year age group. There were
14 fatalities in this group. The 20-24
year age group and the 50-54-year
age group were second, with 13
fatalities each, and the 40-44 group
next, with 12.
The report concludes "it is inter
esting to note that one-third of the
fatalities among white persons oc
curred among persons over 59 years
of age, while only one-twelfth of the
fatalities among Negroes occurred
among persons over 59.
Proposal Offered to Bar
Delegates of 'Fee' Groups
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July 17.—A proposal
to bar from the 1944 Democratic
Convention any delegates directly
chosen by a political body which
levies a “membership” fee was of
fered to the current Credential*
Committee today by one member.
Another promptly argued that
such a policy matter was outside th*
province of the credientials group,
which thereupon voted to adjourn.
The proposal was put forward by
Judge Peirson W. Hall of California.
In a delegates contest over the she
votes from Puerto Rico, to which
the committee had been listening,
there had been charges and counter
charges that island Democrats had
been assessed $1 to $2 to sit in the
conventions which chose the . ival
delegations.
Mr. Hall said his proposal, while
not designed to "discourage th*
fund-raising activities of any Demo
cratic clubs,” would "prevent plac
ing a dollar sign” on the busmess of
picking delegates.
But L. H. Ellis of Alabama headed
off consideration of the plan, at
least for the time, by telling the
committee its job was to consider
contests, not make policy.
New York Man Missing
On Liner to Norfolk
Bs the Associated Press.
NORFOLK. Va„ July 17.—H.
Nordheim, 74. of New York waa
reported missing from the liner
George Washington when the vessel
docked here today.
Detective Leon Nowitzky said he
learned from the missing man*
roommate, C. V. Emanuelson, that
Mr. Nordheim disappeared from the
ship between 10 p.m. and last mid
night. Mr. Emanuelson said Mr.
Nordheim had remarked that he did
not feel well.
The missing man left only a single
piece of luggage, which contained
nothing to identify him beyond his
name.
Weather Report
(Furnished by the United States weather Bureau.)
District of Columbia—Showers this afternoon and tonight, probably
ending tomorrow morning; slightly cooler tonight; gentle to moderate
east backing to north winds.
Maryland—Mostly cloudy, with showers this afternoon and tonight,
probably ending tomorrow morning; little change in temperature.
Virginia—Showers this afternoon and tonight, probably clearing to
morrow morning; slightly cooler in east portion tonight.
West Virginia—Generally fair tonight and tomorrow, preceded by
light showers in east portion this afternoon; slightly wanner tomorrow.
uisiurosncp oi moderate inteneitr is<|
moving eastward over Montana and the
Dakotas. WlUiston. N. Dak.. 1004.1 milli
bars <29.06 inches). A minor disturb
ance is central this morning over South
Carolina. Charleston. 1015.9 millibars
(30.00 inches), and a trough extends
thence northeastward to the Bay of Fun
dy. Pressure remains high over the
Western Atlantic Ocean and from the
Upper Mississippi Valley eastward to New
England. Alpena. Mich., end Lebanon. N.
H.. 1023.7 millibars (30.33 Inches), and
a ship about 700 miles southeast of New
foundland. 1034-9 millibars (30.5B Inches).
Pressure Is relatively high over Utah and
Western Colorado Blending. Utah. 1014.2
millibars (29.92 Inches). Showers have
occurred In the Atlantic and East Gulf
States. Tennessee, the Ohio and Middle
Mississippi Valleys. North Dakota. North
ern Minnesota and the Rocky Mountain
and Plateau regions. The temperature
has fallen In the Ohio Valley. Tennessee,
the Appalachian region, the Plateau re
gion and the North Pacific States, while
the weather has become warmer In the
Plains States and Minnesota.
River Repart.
Potomac and 8henandoah Rivera clear
at Harpers Ferry: Potomac dear at Great
Falla today.
Revert far Last 24 Hears.
Temperature. Barometer.
Yesterday— Degrees. Inches.
4 p.m- 82 29.99
8 p.m.- 72 30.02
Midnight_ 70 30.08
Today—
4 a.m- 88 30.04
8 a.m- 73 30.10
Noon- 80 30.13
Retard far Last 24 Rain
(Prom peon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest. 86, at 1 p.m. yesterday. Tsar
ago. 83.
Lowest, 88. 3:30 a.m. today. Tsar aao.
58.
Record Temperatures This Tear.
Highest, 84. on July 11.
Lowest, 7. on January 29.
■umMity far Last 24 Hears.
(Prom noon yesterday to noon today.)
Hlgheat, 88 oer cent, at 1 a.m. today.
Lowest. 49 per cent, at 1 p.m. yesterday.
■ TMs Tablet
(Furnished by United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey.)
. Today. Tomorrow.
High_ 8:09 a.m. 8:68 a.m.
Low -12:28 a.m. 1:21 a.m.
High_ 8:37 o.m. 7:24 P.m.
Low - 1:06 p.m. 1:64 p.m.
The Sun and Mesa.
Rises. Seta.
fun, today _ 4:68 7:32
Sun. tomorrow- 4:57 7:31
Moon, today. 8:00 p.m. 8:21a.m.
Automeblls lights must be turned os
an e-Bali hour after sunset.
)-—
Precipitation.
Monthly precipitation In Inches in the
Capital (current month to date):
Month. 1940. Ave. Record
January _ 2.12 3.85 7.83 '37
February_ 2.77 3.27 6.84 '84
March - 3.42 3.75 8.84 '91
April - 6 19 3.27 9.13 '89
May- 3.10 3.70 10.69 '89
June - 0.86 4.13 10.94 '00
July- 2.79 4.71 10.63 '86
August - 4.01 14.41 "28
September- 3.24 17.45 '34
October - 2.84 8.81 '37
November _ ,_ 2.37 8 69 '89
December _ 3.32 7.88 '01
Weather in Various Cities.
_ „ Temp. Ratn
_ Barom. Hlgh.Low. fall. Weather.
Abilene... 30.00 92 71 Cloudy
Albany .. 30.21 78 54 0,11 Cloudy
Atlanta 30.03 79 «6 2.59 Clouoy
Atlantic C. 30.12 73 66, Cloudy
Baltimore 30.0ft 85 8ft 0.04 Cloudy
Birmingham 30.06 87 68 Foggy
Bismarck 29.68 92 66 0.36 Cloudy
Boston ._ 30.18 75 63 0.04 Cloudy
Buffalo... 30.21 74 62 Cloudy
Butte 29.86 84 49 0.46 Cloudy
Charleston 30.00 81 70 0.03 Cloudy
Chicago 30.18 72 51 Cloudy
Cincinnati 30.12 75 59 ... Clear
Cleveland. 30.15 75 56 „ Cloudy
Columbia . 30.00 88 71 o.ll Cloudy
Davenport 30.18 81 53 ... Clear
Des Moines 30.06 85 62 Cloudy
Detroit .. 30.21 73 51 Clear
SI Faso . 29.86 94 70 0.02 Cloudy
Galveston. 30.08 86 77 0.08 Cloudy
Huron 29.77 89 73 Cloudy
Indian polls 30.15 76 54 0 04 Cloudy
Jack'vi lie 30.06 91 71 0.55 Cloudy
Kansas c. 30.03 87 71 ... cloudy
LosAngeies 39 97 ?6 52 Cloudy
I*uisvllle 30.09 76 58 0.40 Clear
Miami 30.06 92 72 ... Cloudy
MDls.-St. F. 30.00 84 65 ... Cloudy
N. Orleans 30.09 93 75 Clear
New York. 30.15 82 84 0.01 Foagy
Norfolk _ 30.09 89 68 0.01 Cloudy
Okla City. 30.00 93 73 clear
Omaha _. 29.97 88 71 ... Cloudy
Fhlla _ 30.12 86 66 ... Cloudy
Phoenix • 29.77 96 71 Cloudy
Pittsburgh 30.09 79 61 Rain
F and %e 30.18 76 53 0.33 Cloudy
Fid, Ortg 29.97 59 ... cloudy
Raleigh . 30.06 89 65 Cloudy
St. Louli 30.18 82 60 0.29 Clear
Salt L. City 29.83 83 86 0.01 Cloudy
8. Antonio 30.03 93 73 0.50 Cloudy
San Diego 29.94 72 83 ... Cloudy
8. Pranc'co 29.91 69 56 ... Cloudy
Seattle . 29.97 71 55 ... Cloudy
Spokana . 29.80 83 62 Cloudy
Tampa 30.00 91 78 0.44 Cltar
WASH.,DC. 30,06 85 88 ... Cloudy
FOREIGN STATIONS.
(Noon. Greenwich time, today. >
Horta (Payal), Azores * 76 Cloudy
iCurrent observations.)
Ran Juan. Puerto Rico. 82 Cloudy
Havana. Cuba - fi Cloudy
Colon, canal Zona_ 77 Cloudy