Evening star. [volume], July 24, 1940, Image 1

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

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generally fair tonight and tomorrow; With the Full Doy S New*
thundershower tomorrow afternoon. local national foiiign a
Temperatures today—Highest. 16, at Associated Pres# and t/Pi Wirephotos. North
1 pjn.; lowest, 72, at 6:46 a.m. American Newspaper Alliance, Chief’go
Prom tfes VfMmtunWMtMrmunM resort. Dally News Foreign Service and The 8tar a
- • Stan Writers.'fteiwrteraand Photographers.
Closing Now York Morkgts—Solti, Pog» 18 rn|
88th YEAR. No. 35,148._ " 7^** •' THREE CENTS.
60 Planes in Furious Battle
As Nazis Raid Thames Convoy;
Seven Ships Sunk, Reich Says
4
Six German Planes
Felled in Fight,
London Claims
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 24.—A furious air
battle involving 60 planes was fought
over the Thames Estuary today
when Germans attacked a merchant
convoy and were scattered by a
swarm of British fighters.
British communiques said six of
the German planes engaged in that
attack were shot down and three
others were shot down in raids over
the northwest and southwest coast
and Southeast Scotland—nine in
all.
The Air Ministry said four were
shot down in the southeastern raid
bv fighters and one by anti-aircraft,
while another report said a sixth
plane was forced into the sea in a
subsequent chase.
Thrilling Spectacle.
A witness of the battle over the
Thames estuary, a youth who had
just joined the Royal Air Force, said
“the planes seemed to be coming
In from all directions.
"There were 50 or 60 at one time
and as they whirled around it was
difficult to distinguish British from
German.
“It was so thrilling that watchers
forgot their own danger from fly
ing bullets and stood peering .into
the sky.”
More than 100 bombs were drop
ped by six planes swooping down on
shipping off the southeast coast.
The German high command, ap
parently referring to the same as
sault, declared that Nazi fighting
planes “annihilated” a convoy of five
commercial vessels totaling 17,000
tons and set another merchant ves
sel afire.
One of the fighters crashed in the
middle of a road near some cot
tages. The other was forced to
land in a cornfield.
Raiders Strike at Shipping.
Striking at shipping off the south
east coast, German bombers were
engaged by British fighters and one
of the bombers plunged into the sea.
The others fled.
The pilot of the plane which nose
dived into the street was killed when
his parachute broke in midair. The
other pilot was seriously injured
by machine gun bullets.
One raider dropped high explosive
and incendiary bombs on a South
west Scotland area damaging build
ings.
An 86-year-old woman was wound
ed in the arm by a machine-gun
bullet when a raider flew over a
hospital on the outskirts of a North
east England town.
Another raider was brought down
In Southwest England. One of
the crew was killed, one wounded
and the other two were taken pris
oner.
Blitzkrieg Expected Soon.
British military leaders watched
the German operations closely for
a hint that Adolf Hitler is about to
launch his promised blitzkrieg.
Everywhere belief was apparent that
the final test of strength may come
at any moment.
King George VI talked with
Prime Minister Churchill for a half
hour last night and later received
Sir Cyril Newall, chief of the air
staff. The purpose of the con
ferences was not disclosed, however.
Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of
Aircraft Production, announced ap
pointment of W. L. Stephenson,
chairman of the board of F. W.
Woolworth Co., Ltd., as director
general of equipment in his depart
ment.
Appeal by De Gaulle.
Gen. Charles de Gaulle, leader of
the “French National Committee” in
London, appealed meanwhile to
Frenchmen everywhere to continue
the fight against Germany.
“It is your duty to do so.” he
declared in a broadcast address
last night. "Do not place the orders
of a discredited authority before
your sacred obligation to fight for
the salvation of France.”
He said French operations on land
and sea would be resumed soon.
The press devoted considerable
space to comment on the emergency
war budget submitted to the House
of Commons yesterday by Chancellor
of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood,
Including heavy tax increases.
The London Times said it was
“another interim budget” and add
ed "It remains to be seen whether
the dose is strong enough to achieve
the Chancellor’s economic object
diversion of purchasing power away
from commodities.”
Water Gate Concert
On WMAL
Another half-hour broadcast in
the “Sunset Symphony” series will
be presented over WMAL at 9:30
p.m., featuring music by the Na
tional Symphony Orchestra.
Tonight’s program will be under m
the direction again of Dr. Frank
Black, distinguished radio conduc
tor, and will originate at the Water
Gate.
By all means attend the concert
if you can. The music and the
setting provides a combination that
is exceedingly worth while. If you
cannot attend, tune in WMAL at
9:30 p.m.
In arranging these broadcasts
The Star and the National Broad
casting Co. are co-operating with
die Summer Concerts Committee
of the Symphony Orchestra in its
effort to further appreciation and
support of the orchestra in its con
tribution to the musical life of
Washington.
Tickets for the concerts can be
purchased at the Water Gate
hn tonight.
y
. [ ... II I <
Husband, Returning
From War, Is Killed
Before Wife's Eyes
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 24.—Mrs. Tess
Johnson waited happily on a
quay to greet her husband and
son-in-law, who were coming
home on the naval trawler
Campina.
The British woman was glad
for her daughter's sake, as well
as her own, for her son-in-law
was coming home to see his
wife and 9-month-old child.
Prom the shore Mrs. Johnson
could see her husband in the
wheelhouse of the trawler. She
smiled at him and waved.
A moment later the craft hit
an enemy mine. Johnson and
his son-in-law were killed.
The trawler's loss was an
nounced yesterday.
Rumania Confiscates
Biggest British Oil
Company in Country
Shell Subsidiary Accused
Of Failing to Supply
Production Information
By the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST, July 24.—The Ru
manian government today confis
cated the largest British oil com
pany In Rumania.
The confiscated concern was the
Astra-Romane Oil Co., which is
jointly owned by British and Dutch
interests.
Oil Commissar Gheron Netta ap
pointed one of his deputies to run
the company for the government.
A government order asserted that
the concern, a subsidiary of the
Royal Dutch Shell, had failed to
supply “information on production”
as required by Rumanian law.
Under the terms of a recent oil
decree the Rumanian government
now may send the company’s pro
duction to Germany for use by the
Nazi armies.
Since the start of the war the
Astro-Romane company refused
steadfastly to ship oil to the Reich.
United States oil men said the
action against Astra-Romane does
not affect American interests,
although they acknowledged a pre
cedent had been created which
might be used against any oil con
cerns in the future.
U. S. Army Plans fo Mine
New York Harbor Areas
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 24.—The Army
plans to mine the approaches to
New York Harbor as soon as present
maneuvers are completed, officers of
the 52d Coast Artillery said today.
The Army information service said
soldiers at Fort Hancock, N. J„ have
been busy laying “dummy” mines
and sweeping them up. These ma
neuvers will continue through
August.
The areas to be mined are around
Sandy Hook. Shipping will be
warned in advance.
Ths mines will be controlled elec
trically from shore points, the service
said, adding that they are not of
the European type that explode on
contact.
Man, Legally Dead,
Claims Share in Estate
By the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, July 24.—Andrew
Franey, 61, who was declared le
gally dead last October, has re
turned to St. Louis to claim part
of a $32,000 estate, his brother,
Thomas Franey, disclosed yester
day.
Andrew’s whereabouts had been
unknown to his family for 42 years
He arrived a few days ago from
Long Beach, Calif.
Andrew was declared legally dead
by Probate Judge Glendy B. Ar
nold on information furnished by
relatives that all efforts to find him
had proved futile. His share of the
estate, about $7,773, had been placed
in the care of an administrator.
Five Are Credited
To Aircraft, Two
To Submarine
B» the Associated Press.
BERLIN, July 24.—Nazi air and
sea raiders, tightening their drive
for the battle of Britain, destroyed
seven merchant ships totaling
31,000 tons in the last 48 hours, the
German high command said today.
They also sank a British subma
rine, two patrol boats and a mine
sweeper, according to the high com
mand.
Five of the merchant ships, total
ing 17,000 tons, were sunk by Ger
man planes this morning in an at
tack on an armed British convoy,
a communique said. A sixth com
mercial ship of 4,000 tons, last in
the convoy, was set afire, the high
command declared.
Two of the merchant ships, total
ing 14,000 tons, were picked out of
an armed British convoy by a sub
marine yesterday, an earlier com
munique said. The other British
losses yesterday were inflicted by
bombers.
The high command also declared
that Nazi bombers had wrought ex
tensive damage in Southern Eng
land yesterday, hitting several rail
lines and roads, as well as reserve
barracks.
Claim 3 Planes Destroyed.
The communique claimed the de
struction of three British planes
during R. A. P. raids over Northern
and Western Germany last night.
The raiders did little damage, the
high command declared.
DNB, official German news
agency, elaborating on the com
munique, said the British submarine
was attacked in the North Sea east
of Aberdeen, Scotland, by a plane
which dived to within 250 feet of
the water before dropping three
bombs.
One hit the submarine abaft its
conning tower, DNB said, and a few ;
minutes later the boat nosed down,
leaving a widening smear of oil on
the water.
One German plane was lost in
yesterday's raiding activities, the
high command said, noting that ad
verse weather conditions limited
flights.
Aim Is Peace in Southeast.
Meanwhile as Germany got ready
for the decisive assault on the Brit
ish Isles, her diplomats undertook
a program of “constructive diplo
macy” to insure peace in the south
east.
casting aside all reserve, German
commentators asserted Britain had
signed her ‘death warrant by re
jecting Hitler’s peace overtures and
loosed a flood of caustic criticism
of English political leadership.
British Foreign Secretary Lord
Fairfax, who voiced his country's
determination to fight on, was char
acterized as a “funeral orator" by
Hitler's newspaper, Voelklscher Beo
bachter, in an article topped by a
red bannerline proclaiming: “Eng
land chooses war!”
"England arrogant though fall
ing.” said a headline in the Boersen
Zeitung. while the Allegemeine Zei
tung declared that “All Europe dis
counts England's chances.”
Few Weeks of Good Weather.
When the long expected offensive
against Britain will start and what
form it will take remained Hitler's
secret, but it was pointed out only
a few more weeks of good summer
flying weather remain and the blow
is not likely to be long delayed.
While the west resolved itself in
the German view into “a military
situation in which weapons alone
can speak,” Nazi statesmen stepped
up their efforts to protect the
Reich’s interests in the Balkans.
An announcement that Rumanian
and Bulgarian statesmen had been
invited to confer with Foreign Min
ister Joachim von Ribbentrop later
in the week was taken as an indi
cation Germany might have sug
(See BERLIN, Page A-3.)
House .of Lords Begins
Foreign Policy Debate
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 24.—Ths House of
Lords met today in secret session
to debate the Churchill govern
ment’s foreign policy. v
The House went.into secret ses
sion on the motion of Dominions
Secretary Viscount Caldecote, over
protests of Baron Addison, Laborite,
whose questions on foreign policy
had brought on debate.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. ' Page.
Amusements, Radio.B-l«
B-18 Serial Story B-ll
Comics ..B-16-17 Society.B-3
Editorials—A-10 Sports,
Finance-A-17 A-13-14-15-16
Lost, found B-12 Woman’s Page,
Obituary —A-12 B-10
Foreign
60 planes in furious, battle over
Thames convoy. Page
German plane loss in war near 5,0flt£
British claim. Page A-l
Largest British oil company in Ru
mania confiscated. Page A-l
Daladier confined for war respon
sibility probe. Page A-4
Otto Strasser and Grynszpan report
ed taken by Germans. Page A-4
Rome defenses in action to ward off
raid. Page A-5
Notional.
Conscription bill amendment to pro
tect jobs outlined. Page A-l
Roosevelt assault on bolters indicates
fighting campaign. Page A-3
Woman’s hatred of drugs leads to
smashing of ring. Page A-6
Washington and Vicinity
Hearing set Tuesday on D. C. vote
resolution. Page A-l
Injunction continued in milk mar
keting ease. Page B-l
t
Cohen tract rezoning to residential
"B” urged by board. Page B-l
Montgomery authorizes rental of
voting machines. Page B-l
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-10
Answers to Questions. Page A-10
Letters to The Star. Page A-10
David Lawrence. Page A-ll
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-ll
Frederic William Wile. Page A-ll
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
Charles O. Ross. Page A-ll
Sports
Reds rated “in” following double
defeat of Brooklyn. Page A-13
Nats headed nowhere, but annoy
flag contenders. Page A-13
Houghton’s heroic golf feat washed
out by storm. PageA-14
Oliveri lone survivor from D. C. in
publinks tourney. PageA-15
Miller first non-Y winner to boss
athletics at Yale. Page A-10
Miscellany
Service Orders. Page A-19
Vital Statistics. Page B-9
Nature’s Children. Page B-9
Bedtime Story. Page B-16
Letter-Out. Page B-16
Winning Contract. Page B-16
Ufccle Ray’s Corner. Page B-17
Cross-Word Puzzle. Page B-17'
Plan to Save
Draftees' Jobs
Given Hearing
Army Proposes to
Call 1,400,000 Men
Within Year
By J. A. O’LEARY.
An amendment to the pending
compulsory .military training bill
designed to encourage employers
to take back men called to se
lective service duty was outlined
to the House Military Affairs Com
mittee today by Representative
Wadsworth of New York, co-author
of the measure.
After Representative Clason, Re
publican, of Massachusetts had sug
gested it would be merely “a sop”
because it expresses only the desire
of Congress to see the men re
employed, Mr. Wadsworth pre
dicted it would be observed by the
great majority of employers.
Representative Kilday, Democrat,
of Texas Joined the discussion to
point out Congress could set the
example to private industry by writ
ing into the bill the assurance that
Government employes called out for
military training would be given
civil service preference for re-em
ployment.
Draft Plans Mapped.
Earlier Brig. Gen. William E.
Shedd told the committee the War
Department plans to call out 1,400,000
men for military training within
the year starting October 1 if Con
gress passes the Burke-Wadsworth
bill.
As he testified it became known
from other official sources that the
department has set September 1 as
the tentative date for the first reg
istration, which probably would re
quire enrollment of the group be
tween 21 and 31.
Meanwhile the Senate Military
Affairs Committee continued in
executive session today, working out
details of the bill, which it approved
yesterday in principle.
Gen. Shedd told the House group
the program calls for enlistment of
400.000 men October 1. another 400,
000 next April and 600,000 in Oc
tober, 1941.
Thomason Approves Principle.
Representative Thomason, Demo
crat, of Texas, while approving the
principle of selective service, said he
wanted to be sure existing condi
tions justify calling that many men
out of other walks of life at this time.
After Gen. Shedd had given the
number to be sent to camp this jfall,
Mr. Thomason expressed fear "you
are going to disarrange a lot 01 in
dustry” If 400,000 are in3ucecTlnto
service in October after calling out
the National Guard.
Gen Shedd pointed out that if
Congress adheres to the one-year
training period, the first 400,000 men
called out this fall would return to
private life when the third group
of 600,000 is called in October, 1941.
Meanwhile. Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana joined the
ranks of opposition to the bill.
"I am in favor of obtaining the
men needed by voluntary enlist
ment,” the Senator said. “I am
opposed to compulsory training in
time of peace. That is the method
that was used by Mr. Hitler, by Mr.
Mussolini and the other totalitarian
governments.”
Defending the proposed declara
tion of the intent of Congress on
re-employment, Mr. Wadsworth said
it was his understanding that, un
der the Constitution, Congress can
not go as far as to compel an em
ployer to re-employ a particular in
dividual.
ravoraoie sentiment Seen.
“But I think it is far more than
a sop,” the New Yorker declared.
“I think It Will have the effect of
building up a sentiment throughout
the country that the overwhelming
majority of employers will support.”
Mr. Wadsworth revealed that the
re-employment amendment already
has been included in a tentative
redraft of the bill, reading as fol
lows:
“Every man who satisfactorily ful
fills his duties of training and serv
ice under this act, in the judgment
of those in authority over him, shall
be entitled to a certificate to that
effect on the completion of his
period of training and service (it is
declared as the purpose and intent
of the Congress that every man who
is called from a job when inducted
for training and service and who
receives such a certificate and is in
sound physical and mental condi
tion ought to be re-employed in such
job or an equally good one without
loss of seniority unless the employ
er’s circumstances have so changed
as to make it impossible or unrea
sonable to afford such re-employ
ment; and in order to aid in the
replacement of such men in their
former jobs, or if such replacement
is impracticable, in other Jobs the
director of selective service, herein1
provided for shall, if directed by the
President, establish a personnel divi
sion with adequate facilities to the
end in view).”
When Mr. Kilday sugfJRted a
(See DEFENSE, Page A-4.)
220,000 Children Moved
From Threatened Areas
By tbe Associated Press.
LONDON, July 24.—Health Min
ister Malcolm MacDonald said to
day 220,000 school children had been
removed to rural counties from Lon
don and towns along the northeast
coast in the past six weeks.
Removal from “invasion” areas
has reached “enormous dimen
sions,” the minister said.
Sunken Italian Cruiser's
Commander Succumbs
By tbe Associated Press.
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, July 24.—
Capt. Umberto Navaro, commander
of the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo
Colleon sunk last Friday off Crete,
died of wounds today aboard a
British hospital ship. He will be
accorded full naval honors at a
funeral today.
Guatemala Reported
Opposing Mandate of
British Honduras
Believed Planning to
Seek Satisfaction of
Claim in Future Change
B? the Associated Press.
HAVANA. July 24.—Guatemala
was understood today to be prepar
ing an amendment to eliminate
British Honduras from the joint
trusteeship for European posses
sions in this hemisphere which has
been proposed to the Pan-American
Conference by the United States.
Guatemala long as had clairr
against Britain for British Honduras
and was understood to be preparing
to insist that her claims be hon
ored in any future change in the
colony's sovereignty.
The United States plan called for
return to the original governing
power, or a grant of independence
to any possession taken over under
the joint trusteeship of the Americas
as a result of changes of sovereignty
threatened by the European war.
Commission Gets U. S. Plan.
The Commission for Peace Main
tenance received the United States
plan today and appointed a sub
committee composed of Secretary of
State Cordell Hull, Mauricio Nabuco,
Brazil's delegate, and Narciso Garay,
Panama's Foreign Minister, to draft
a final measure for convention
action.
Secretary of State Hull discussed
the proposal with various delega
tions.
It was understood the Cuban
delegation had a plan to present to
the Economic Committee which
would call for the refunding and
unification of all her debts in the
United States. These amount to
about $200,000,000.
Other problems were to be dis
cussed before the Neutrality Com
mittee by the delegates in secret
session.
They planned to conclude the
conference July 30, unless some
emergency arises. Rio de Janeiro
was considered a certain choice for
their next meeting.
American Proposal.
The American proposal is to set up
"collective trusteeship” over West
ern Hemisphere colonies of Euro
pean nations in the event of any
attempt by another non-American
state to acquire them.
The first draft of this resolution
provide such a joint mandate would
be shared in only by ratifying repub
lics and would operate when any na
tion saw its security threatened.
A committee including one repre
sentative from each ratifying nation
would exercise the trusteeship, but
would vest authority In a commis
sion including one member from
each of three countries selected on
geographic, economic and strategic
considerations.
The General Committee would de
termine whatever military aid or
naval assistance was needed.
The draft made clear that only
temporary control was contemplated,
with eventual return of the colonies
to the original sovereigns or ulti
mate Independence.
Trusteeship Proposals
Cause French Concern
By PAUL GHALI,
Chicago Dally News Foreign Correspondent.
VICHY, July 24.—Secretary of
State Cordell Hull’s declarations at
Havana, particularly his suggestions
for a trusteeship over European
insular possessions in the Western
Hemisphere, are much discussed in
French official circles here today.
French spokesmen say the con
ditions of France’s armistice with
Germany do not cover French pos
sessions in the vicinity of the Amer
ican continent. Martinique, Guiana
and Guadeloupe are old French ter
ritories not threatened by anybody,
they point out by way of Intimation
that it would be better if no Pan
American action were taken that
would antagonise the Reich. (One
line censored.)
France, according to the official
mood here, once more counts on
America’s friendship not to embitter
Vichy’s relations with Berlin, and
not to puke more difficult an al
ready painful position.
(Copyright, 1940. Chicago Daily New*, tee.
$241,088 Tax Lien Filed
Against Union Head
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. July 24—A Federal
Income tax lien of $241,088 against
Michael J. Carrozzo, president of
the Chicago Common Laborers’
Union and numerous affiliates with
thousands of members, was filed in
Federal Court yesterday by Carter
H. Harrison, collector of internal
revenue.
Two week ago authoritative Fed
eral sources disclosed that Car
rozzo had paid Uncle Sam nearly
$500,000 in recent years in an ef
fort to settle income tax affairs.
The lien represented the Govern
ment's claim for unpaid taxes, in
terest and penalties for the years
T ’ and 1938.
rrozzo is under indictment for
;ged violation of the anti-trust
;ws by excluding ready-mixed con
crete from Chicago area building
operations.
Sentiment Growing
For Hull 3-Point
Defense Program
Havana Committees Have
Proposals Supported by
U. S. and Other Nations
By GARNETT D. HORNER,
Star Staff Correspondent.
HAVANA, July 24.—Increasingly
favorable sentiment for action to
put into effect Secretary of State
Hull's three-point hemisphere de
fense program against the reper
cussions of the European war was
reported today as committees con
sidered detailed recommendations
to the meeting of American foreign
ministers.
The committees had before them
specific proposals supported by the
United States and a number of other
delegates for establishing a collective
trusteeship over any imperilled
European possessions in the New
World, stamping out subversive
activities and increasing inter
American economic co-operation.
Secretary Hull hoped the proposals
could be adapted in committee to
include the views of all nations
without sacrificing the main objec
tives so that they could be pre
sented to the conference for final
action as composite recommenda
tions without any particular coun
try’s label. This procedure was de
signed to avoid friction and jeal
ousies that might develop otherwise
from jJride of authorship.
U. S. Shuns Sponsorship.
Shunning United States sponsor
ship of any detailed projects, Secre
tary Hull held up the introduction
of resolutions to implement the
program outlined in his Monday
” (See HORNER, Page A^5J
Defense Expansion
Forces U. S. to Rent
Private Buildings
Rail Retirement Board
And Social Security
Structures Are Delayed
By NELSON M. SHEPARD.
With national defense expansion
only just begyn, the Public Build
ings Administration announced to
day it was forced to take immediate
steps to rent new office space in
several additional privately-owned
buildings in Washington to meet
the demands of various Federal
agencies.
Commissioner W. E. Reynolds re
ported that the Office of Planning
and Space Control for the first time
since the emergency is unable to
house all the Increased staffs under
Government -owned roofs. For this
reason the office is negotiating the
leasing of more than 80,000 square
net feet of space in four private
buildings. In addition, the defense
program has necessitated the shift
of a number of administrative of
fices to vacated space in buildings
already owned or leased by the
Government.
Because no one is able to forecast
with any degree of accuracy the
total amount of additional office
space required in Washington under
the defense expansion, it was ex
plained the space control office is
not committed to any definite
policy. For the present at least,
it was said, the situation would be
met as new demands for office space
are created. More than 1,000,000
net square feet of office space in
many widely scattered units have
been submitted to the Government,
but it was pointed out that much
of this is unsuited for use and costs
of remodeling might make it disad
vantageous.
Strikes Delayed Two Buildings.
The Social Security and Railroad
Retirement Board buildings in the
Southwest will not be ready for
occupancy until about September
15, it was said, because of the two
recent strikes on these jobs. When
those buildings are occupied the
office space situation here will be
much improved. They are reserved
for the War Department during
the emergency.
Commissioner Reynolds reported
that the Government is arranging
to lease the American Dairy Supply
Building at Delaware avenue and
Canal street S.W. for the Alien
Registration Office of the Justice
(See BUILDINGS, Page A-3.)
Man Killed by Lightning
Special Dispatch to The Star.
MARTTNSBURG. W. Va„ July 24.
—Meredith Whitmoyer, 40, farm
worker, was instantly killed yester
day afternoon when struck by light
ning while crossing a field at Baxter.
German Plane Loss During War
Is Near 5,000, British Claim
England Is Declared Gradually Overtaking
Reich in Race for Control of Skies
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 24.—Germany has
lost 4,000 to 5,000 planes since the
war began, British sources asserted
today in support of a claim that
Britain gradually is overhauling
Germany in the raqe for control of
the sides.
The Royal Air Force is gaining
power steadily through more than
doubled home production plus in
creased American deliveries, these
sources said, although conceding
that German mass production prob
ably has raised the Nazis’ numerical
strength higher than at the outset of
hostilities.
Estimates last September placed
the German air force of first line
warplanes at 5,000 to 8,000, as com
pared with Britain’s 3,000 tp 4,000.
Reuters, British news agency, said
well-informed London circles figured
German production of planes is be
ing maintained "at around about
1,800 a month’’ and added:
"That is a figure which Britain
may be said today to be rapidly ap
proaching, although she has yet * * *
to overhaul it."
The British admitted that by the
end of summer the air battles so
far fought may appear insignificant,
but pointed to their balance sheet
of the first month of dally engage
ments and the start of the second.
Score Since June 17.
Reuters said since June 17, when
Germany launched mass air attacks
against England, the plane losses
compiled from official British' rec
ords gave this score:
German planes shot down, 133;
British, 91.
The Nazi Luftwaffe (air force)
losses were given as 92 bombers,
chiefly Heinkel Ills, Domier 17s
and Junkers 88s and 87s. and 41
fighters, Messerschmitt 109s and
110s.
Royal Air Force losses were given
as 69 bombers and 22 lighters.
Thirteen of the R. A. F. bombers
were lost in action in German-held
parts of France since the armistice,
(See PLANES, Page A-4.)
Guyer Pledges
Vote for D. C.
Franchise Bill
Sumners Resolution
Held 'Best Solution';
Movement Grows
(Text of Resolution, Page A-2.)
By JAMES £. CHINN.
The Sumners’ resolution provid
ing national representation for the
District—a measure that would give
the disfranchised people here the
right to vote for President and Vice
President and have their own repre
sentatives in Congress—was de
scribed today by Representative
Guyer, Republican, of Kansas, as the
“best solution” of the local suffrage
problem.
Mr. Guyer is the ranking minor
ity member of the House Judiciary
Committee which next Tuesday will
meet in special session to consider
the Sumners’ measure. At that
meeting, he said, he will vote to
send it to the House floor for con
sideration.
“I have been for sufferage for the
District for years,” he declared. "I
will vote for the Sumners resolution
Tuesday since it appears to be the
best solution of the problem.”
Movement Gaining.
A number of other members of the
Judiciary Committee have indicated
their intention of supporting the
resolution.
Mr. Guyer’s promise of his vote
came on the heels of a rising tide
of sentiment in both the Senate and
House for action at the present ses
sion of Congress on legislation to
give the voteless people here the
privilege of going to the polls on
election day like other American cit
izens and casting a ballot.
Definite action will be taken on the
resolution. Chairman Sumners said,
unless it appears a majority of the
26-man committee —16 Democrats
and 10 Republicans—is opposed to
it. Approval of the resolution auto
matically will place it on the House
calendar and in a position to be
considered before adjournment of
the present session of Congress.
Bi-Partisan Support Noted.
The special meeting was called by
Mr. Sumners following a demon
stration on the House floor Monday
after Chairman Randolph of the
District Committee made a plea for
early consideration of the suffrage
question —a demonstration which
indicated that both Republicans and
Democrats are ready at last to
concentrate on the voteless plight
of the people here. r
Action of the Democratic National
Convention in including a local suf
frage plank in the party's 1940 plat
form, actually furnished the spark
for active renewal of the long fight
to give the people of the District
voting privileges. Republicans, how
ever, have joined in the movement,
not, as has been intimated, to test
the sincerity of the Democratic plat
form, but because they believe the
residents of Washington should have
the same privileges of those in the
States in voting for President and
Vice President and having their own
representatives in Congress.
Even before Mr. Sumners called
the special meeting of his committee,
members of both the Senate and
House expressed a hope that the
suffrage question would be acted on
without further delay.
Bankhead Sees Cause Aided.
Speaker Bankhead admitted the
action of the Democratic National
Convention in writing a local suf
frage plank in the party platform
increased the “likelihood'’ of con
gressional consideration of the sub
ject before adjournment of Con
gress. He believes- however, local
suffrage would have a better chance
of congressional approval at this
time than national representation.
Among other House members who
indicated they would support suf
frage are four member of the Judi
ciary Committee — Representatives
Murdock of Utah, Tolan of Cali
fornia and Massingale of Oklahoma,
Democrats, and Robison of Ken
tucky, Republican. A number of
members of the District Committee
already have openly advocated suf-,
frage for the District, and the latest
additions are Representatives Shafer
of Michigan and Bates of Massachu
setts, both Republicans.
Sees Irony in Situation.
“It’s ironical that the people of
Washington, whc should have the
same privileges as the people in any
State, are denied the vote,” declared
Mr. Bates.
Mr. Shafer said: "It looks like
the District got a break on the suf
frage question in connection with
the action of the Democratic Na
tional Convention in placing a local
suffrage plank in the party platform
while Congress is in session. Now
the people here can expect some
action before Adjournment.
“One thing the people here do
need is the vote.”
“Some representation in govern
mental affairs must be given the
more than 600,000 persons who live
here,” said Mr. Murdock.
"I have always been in favor of
suffrage for the District,” declared
Mr. Tolan. "I would certainly vote
to report out a bill granting it to
the people here.”
Long Favored by Robsion.
Mr. Massingale said he, too, had
always been, in favor of local suf
frage. Mr. Robsion explained when
he came to Congress in 1919 he
thought the people of the District
should have Voting privileges and
he had not changed his views.
On the Senate side, Senator Cap
per, Republican, of Kansas, one of
the veteran leaders in the movement
to remove the shackles of disenfran
chisement from the people of the
District, promised to continue his
tight. He said he believed there is
more sentiment than ever before,
both in Congress and throughout the
country, In favor of giving the people
(See REPRESENTATION, Pg. A-4.)