Evening star. [volume], July 26, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast
Mostly cloudy, continued warm tonight;
local thundershowers late tonight or
tomorrow morning; cooler tomorrow.
Temperatures today—Highest, 97, at
2 p.m.; lowest. 76. at 6 a.m.
From the United States Weather Bureau report.
Full details on Page A-2.
Closing N. Y. Markets—Sa|es, Page 14.
'From Press to Home
Within the Hour'
Most people in Washington have The
Star delivered to their homes every
evening and Sunday morning. *■
</P) Mean* Associated Pres*. •
88th YEAR. No. 35,150. WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1940—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. *** THREE CENTS.
»__ -_ - ■■ — - - - * - — - _
Nazis Strike at 'Back Door'
Of Britain, Raiding Convoy
Off Coast of North Ireland
English Warplanes
Streak Out to
Engage Attackers
BULLETIN.
LONDON i/P).—Oil supplies at
Six points in Germany were set
afire by R. A. F. bombers carry
ing out “extensive operations
over a wide area" last night, says
the nightly Air Ministry com
munique.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. July 26 — German
bombers made a daring thrust at
Britain's "bark door" today by at
tacking a convoy off the North Irish
Coasts. Others kept up the continu
al battle for control of the English
Channel by striking again at the
southeast coastal towns.
Observers heard heavy gunfire
and saw flashes of ships' guns as the
British replied to the attack on the
convoy off the North Irish Coast—
the first made in that area since
the start of the war.
British planes streaked out to en
gage the Germans, and soon one
bomber was seen to fall.
Early reports indicated the South
east Coast attacks were not as se
vere as yesterday when Britain
fought off combined plane and tor
pedo boat raids.
Claim 28 Planes Felled.
The British reported shooting
down 28 raiders and driving off a
fleet of nine German mosquito boats
which attacked a 21-boat convoy
just off the mouth of the Thames.
Her own losses. Britain said, were
five small merchant ships, totaling
5.104 tons. In addition, five other
small boats totaling 5.133 tons, and
two destroyers, were damaged.
German claims of 43.000 tons of
boats sunk by aircraft in this raid
were called "grossly exaggerated."
The German high command also
ennounced in a special communique
that her sppedboats sank three other
mprchantships totaling 22.000 tons
in an attack off Brighton.
The planes attacked the convoy in
successive waves of 30 planes each,
the Admiralty said, but were driven
off with great losses.
The speedboat flotilla, which also
sought to attack the convoy, was put
to flight behind a smoke screen by
two destroyers and two British
motorboats.
The destroyers were damaged, the
Admiralty added, when dive bombers
attacked them twice as they re
turned from chasing mosquito boats.
The British also announced the
loss of a trawler, the Fleming, when
it and another trawler were at
tacked by four dive bombers.
The Fleming's companion trawler,
the Berberis. made a direct hit on
one of the planes' bomb racks, ex
ploding it in the air. the Admiralty
said, so that only pieces of a rubber
boat, and bits of wood could be re
covered. The Flemings crew was
rescued by another trawler.
Bomber Jettisons Load.
One German bomber, hotly pur
sued by British fighters, jettisoned
its bomb load over a Southeast Eng
land town today. The explosives
caused some casualties and damaged
several houses.
In Southwest England this morn
ing a German bomber was shot
down and three crewmen killed. An
English farmer dashed out and cap
tured the pilot.
British pursuit planes chased off
8 flight of Nazi raiders winging over
a southeast English area.
German planes were reported over
various Southwest England locali
ties and a town in Wales reported
the drone of enemy planes overhead,
but no bombs were dropped there.
The Air Ministry and the Ministry
of Home Security issued a '■om
munique saying that "in an attack
on a town on the southeast coast
this morning enemy aircraft de
stroyed some houses and damaged
others. The casualties were small.
Qne person was killed."
Record Day's Bag.
The 28 German warplanes shot
down by Royal Air Force fighters
8nd anti-aircraft batteries in yes
terday's British Isles were a record
day's "bag" for R A. F. operations
from Britain.
After these losses, only a few Nazi
planes ventured over the islands
during the night.
"Slight enemy activity” was re
ported last night over Southeast and
Southwest England and Wales, and
some bombs were dropped near a
town in East Anglia, but no damage
was reported from any area, the Atr
Ministry of Home Security said.
It was the second successive night
of lulls in aerial activity—attributed
the previous night to unfavorable
weather—and the third since Ger
many began large-scale daily bomb
ings June 18.
Until. twilight, however, massed
Nazi air raiders thundered over the
English Channel in repeated waves
yesterday, striking at British ship
convoys.
2 Trawlers Are Lost.
The British admiralty acknowl
edged loss of two naval trawlers—
the Kingston Galena and the Ro
dino—but did not say where they
were sunk or give any casualty
totals.
The Admiralty also disclosed that
57 were killed and 23 wounded in the.
torpedoing and sinking of the Brit
ish destroyer Whirlwind, which it
announced was sunk on July 8.
An Air Ministry communique last
night, admitting that five British
planes were lost during the day. said
that “hour after hour from dawn to
late this evening" British fighter
planes—Spitfires and Hurricanes—
tackled large forces of German
bombers.
In one instance, the communique
aaid, six Spitfires attacked a forma
tion of 30 bombers escorted by at
least 50 fighters.
:•
Nazi Raider in West Indies
Reported Disguised as Swedish
Germans Sank British Ship in U. S. Zone
And Set Captives Free, Sailors Say
Bt thf Associated Press.
NEW YORK. July 26.—Member*
of the crew of a Norwegian ship
which rescued 25 survivors of the
British freighter Davisian declared
today a new fast 10 000-ton German
raider disguised as a Swedish ship
and named the Narvik was operat
ing in the West Indies. She car
ried disappearing 6-inch guns.
Survivors of the 6.433-ton Davisian
said their ship was attacked July
10. 240 miles east of the Virgin
Islands, in the American neutrality
zone.
Capt. Holm Brynilsen of the rescue
ship, the Norwegian freighter Lief,
said survivors of the Davisiapj told
him the German raider threw a
piece of canvas bearing the Nazi
swastika over her side and started
firing from two 6-inch guns which
suddenly appeared from side ports.
The Davisian replied with her
single 4-inch gun, but a blast from
the raider wounded the gunner and
four seamen and the Davisian was
forced to surrender.
The Germans took the Davisian's
crew on their ship and sank the
British vessel with shell. The Brit
ish sailors told Capt. Brynilsen the
raider could make 19 knots and car
ried 300 men.
Three days later, the sailors said,
the raider spotted the KinR John,
5.228 tons, which surrendered after
shells wrecked her lifeboats.
The Germans set 66 captives adrift
in threp leaky lifeboats with water
and hard tack, the sailors said, keep
ing only the captain and chief
officer of each ship and the five
wounded men.
Forty-one men in two lifeboats
reached St. Barthelmy Island, but
the 25 from the Davisian drifted on
and on. They were only a mile
from Samana when the Leif sighted
them. They were “more dead than
alive.” Capt. Brynilsen said, and
had drifted, sailed and rowed a leaky
boat 640 miles. The Lief landed the
survivors at Samana
Germany announced July 13 that ,
a Nazi raider had sunk 30.000 tons '
of shipping and the British Ad- i
miralty sent out a warning to all
ships at sea.
The presence of a Nazi raider in
the West Indies area was reported
a week ago. but the Norwegian '•
sailors brought the first description
of the German ship and details of
its operations.
Oil, Metal Control
Needed tor Defense,
President Declares
Roosevelt Cites Absence
Of Any Real Surplus
Of High-Octane Gasoline
Bv JOHN C. HENRY.
Reasons of national defense alone
were cited today by President
Roosevelt for yesterday's action in
extending export licenseing control
to petroleum and scrap metals.
While addition of these vital war
time commodities to the long list.
of materials which may be shipped
out of the country only on Gov
ernment permission indicated that
discontinuance of Indirect American
aid to the war machines of Japan
and Germany is imminent, the
President emphasized the action is
not in it*elf an automatic embargo.
Principal concern of this Gov
ernment, he said today, is the
absence of any real surplus of high
octane gasoline in this country.
Amendments to Proelamatinns.
Specifically, yesterday's proclama
tions w-re amendments to procla
mations issued on July 2, and added
petroleum and petroleum products,
scrap iron and scrap metals to the
list of materials for which export |
licenses are required. A supple- I
mentary order probably will be
issued soon, redefining some of the
categories, the President said today.
While hpavv Japanese purchases
of scrap metals have been under
way in this country for many
months, suspicion that German in
terests have been obtaining Amer
ican oil through Spanish purchases
has arisen only recently. Yester
day's action was preceded by refusal
of the Maritime Commision to per
mit use of two tankers under its
control for transport of oil to Spain.
Asked this morning if there had
been any reaction from the Japanese
government to the threat of a ban
on metal shipments. Mr. Roosevelt
said he had heard nothing, and that
he understood the Japanese Am
bassador had been informed in
advance that the proclamations
were pending.
Quota System Possible.
He said he did not know at this |
time whether the shipments might j
be continued under a quota system
rather than stopped completely.
A few minutes later. Ambassador
Kensuke Horinouchi of Japan called
on Sumner Welles. Acting Secretary
of State, and was understood to
have discussed the licensing system.
Afterward. Mr Horinouchi would
tell reporters only that he and Mr.
Welles talked about matters of
'mutual interest" to their govern
ments. The Ambassador added that
he had not received any instructions
from Tokio concerning the licensing
system.
While the export control policy
may result in materially decreasing
American shipping to Europe, the
President said today that the Gov
ernment hopes to keep the Portugees
and Spanish coast open to vessels
as long as possible.
Virtually the last point of Euro
pean coast line not already barred
to American shipping, this south
western corner of Europe might also
(See OIL. Page A-5.)
--
Churchill Discusses China
LONDON, July 26 <£>).—Prime
Minister Churchill and Dr. Quo Tai
chi. Chinese Ambassador to London,
have reviewed the Far Eastern situ
ation “in a frank and friendly
spirit." British sources reported to
day. The two held a long conver
; sation last night.
Woman Shot at Prayer
COLUMBUS. Ohio. July 26 (ffV—
A mysterious assailant shot MrJ.
Beulah Wofford. 49, while she knelt
in prayer at home. A bullet passed
through her hands, raised In wor
I ship.
Wallace to Resign
After Notification,
Roosevelt Indicates
President Says Secretary
May Follow Precedent
Set by Him in 1920
BULLETIN.
Secretary Wallace said today
he planned to resign or take a
leave of absence without pay
from his cabinet post as soon as
he begins active political cam
paigning for the vice presidency.
Secretary of Agriculture Wal
lace, Democratic vice presidential
nominee, probably will resign his
cabinet post late in August after re
ceiving formal notification of his
nomination, it was indicated by
President Roosevelt at a press con
ference today.
Mr. Roosevelt had an hour's con
ference with his campaign running
mate yesterday, and it was in con
nection with this meeting that the
Chief Executive today mcuvted the
cabinet officer's eventual di cision.
To tell the story, the President
described to the press conurence his
own conduct when nominated for
the vice presidency in 192u At that
time he was Assistant Secretary of
the Navy and. following the conven
tion. returned to Washington for a
conference with President Wilson.
President Cites Precedent.
Mr. Roosevelt asked his chief
when he wanted his resignation.
It happened, the President ex
plained today. that President
Wilson had made some considerable
study of precedent and tradition in
this situation and on the basis of
this had suggested the resignation
might be held until active cam
paigning began. Since Mr. Roose
velt's program at that time was to
receive his formal notification in
August, he said he cleaned up his
departmental duties and made his
resignation effective on the day
prior to the notification.
Asked if Secretary Wallace might
instead ask a long leave of absence,
Mr. Roosevelt indicated an outright
resignation would be more in order.
The President said today that no
progress has yet been made on plans
for replacing James A. Farley as
Postmaster General and Democratic
national chairman.
While the possibility of Mr. Wal
lace remaining in the cabinet al
ready had prompted Republican
criticism, a counter-attack was
launched last night at Senator Mc
Nary, Republican vice presidential
nominee, for retaining his Senate
post. A rap at the Senator was is
sued by the Democratic National
Committee in the name of Senator
Minton of Indiana.
Meanwhile, the Republicans con
tinued to report an "avalanche of
sentiment” for their presidential
ticket and to add to the list of Dem
ocrats who are indicating favor for
| the Republican cause. The latest
reports to this effect weie brought
by WSilter B. Hallanan. Republican
National Committeeman for West
Virginia, who quoted John J. Corn
well, publisher and former Dome
cratic Governor, in opposition to a
third term for President Roosevelt.
Japanese Halt
U. S. Trade in
North China
Import Licenses
Denied; Oil-Iron
Curbs Rouse Tokio
By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, July 26.—Coincident
with United States action licensing
all oil and scrap iron exports it was
reported today that Japanese re
strictions have halted all activities
of American traders in North China.
As a result of Japanese pressure
British authorities were reported
to have ordered the United States ;
marine radio station at Tientsin
closed effective August 20.
Since the trade restrictions at
Tientsin went into effect June 26.
Japanese have issued no permits to
import American goods and Amer
icans said all signs pointed to a
freeze-out of American business in
North China similar to that which
occurred when Japan took over
Manchukuo. These sources said the
new restrictions were being enforced
in such a manner as to exclude all
but officially needed imports, which
were being diverted into the hands
of Japaneses dealers.
As a result, American exporters
are unable to obtain foreign ex
change to cover their shipments to
the United States.
Incidents Settled.
A Japanese Embassy spokesman,
declared today that two recent Jap
anese-American incidents at Tsing
tao involving United States sailors'
had been settled with American
expressions of regret.
The first incident was a clash be
tween United States sailors and
Japanese policemen reported last
Monday, which Domei. Japanese of
ficial news agency, said started
when two sailors left a cafe without
paving their bill.
The United States consulate at
Tsingtao accepted Japanese de
mands for an apology, compensa
tion and steps to prevent a recur
rence, the spokesman announced.
He said the other incident oc
curred at a beach July 20. when an
in'oxicated sailor seized a 16-year
old Japanese girl, who was rescued
by Japanese petty officers.
A letter was received signed by
the senior American naval officer
expressing regret for the incident,
the Embassy spokesman continued,
and the sailor involved personally
apologized. The spokesman said
there recently had been four other
Japanese-American incidents at
Tsingtao.
Deportation of Six Demanded.
The Central China Daily News,
organ of Wang Ching-wei, head of
the Japanese-dominated Nanking
regime, reported that Mayor Fu
Siao-en had asked the American
consulate here to deport 'without
delay" six Americans whose banish
ment Wan grecently ordered.
A similar letter regarding a Brit
ish subject. Sanders Bates, was sent
to the British consulate, the news
paper said.
Other pro-Wang Ching-wei news
papers described the seven for
eigners as "wicked visitors in China
who are conspiring with rebels in an
attempt to overthrow the Nanking
government."
A mandate of July 15, in which
Wang Ching-wei ordered arrest of
the Americans at once, grew out of
a cafe scuffle the previous night in
which Japanese were involved.
The Americans are Carroll D. Al
cott of the Shanghai China Press;
Norwood P. Allman, lawyer, member
of the municipal council and a di
rector of the pro-Chiang Kai-shek
newspaper Shunpao; C. V. Starr,
publisher of the Shanghai Evening
Post and Mercury; Hal P. Mills.,
publisher of a Chinese language
local newspaper; J. B. Powell, pub
lisher of the China Weekly Review,
and Randall Gould, a correspondent
of the Christian Science Monitor.
Japan Orders Envoy
To Probe Export Curbs
TOKIO. July 26 The Japa
nese Foreign Office instructed its
Ambassador to Washington today
to investigate the United States
curb on oil and scrap iron exports
after a spokesman had described
Japanese reaction as likely to be
“very great."
Domei, Japanese news agency,
said that while the presidential or
der requiring licenses for such ex
ports “may be aimed at Germany
and Italy,” it was evident it also
was “intended to curb Japan."
The Embassy, besides making a
(See FAR EAST. Page A-5J
Clipper Brings Children
Of Empress Zita to U. S.
By the Associated Press.
LISBON. July 26.—The trans
Atlantic clipper took off for the
United States today with four chil
dren of former Empress Zita of
Austria. They will join their
mother in the United States.
The clipper carried 44 passengers
and 3.537 pounds of mail.
Dutch Appeal to Roosevelt
To Seek Peace Reported
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. July 26.—The Ger
man-controled Dutch radio at
Helversum announced today that
a committee in the Netherlands
had cabled President Roosevelt a
request to arrange a discussion
for “establishment of an honor
able peace between Germany and
England.”
President Roosevelt said at his
press conference today that he
had never heard of an appeal
from a committee in the Nether
lands that he urge that England
and Germany negotiate a peace.
Both the committee and the
broadcast promptly were disa
vowed by Netherlanders in Lon
don.
The committee was described
by the radio announcer as “the
Netherlands Committee for Or
ganization of an international
Peace Conference at the Hague.”
It asked the President to do
everything possible "in the name
o fhumanity to prevent annihila
tion of either of these brother
nations.”
Netherland sources here said
they had never heard of the
committee and that it was in no
way connected with the Dutch
government.
THEy DON'T
KNOW WHAT
HEAT is!
y
j-SeCRETAB'y"
l A6RieuLrui|iE
Accord on Mandates Expected
As Hull Sees Argentinian
Secretary of State Also Talks With
Delegates From Brazil and Cuba
Bt the Associated Press.
HAVANA. July 26.—Prominent
delegates to the Pan-American Con
ference optimistically predicted to
day an agreement on the trouble
some question of trusteeship of
European possessions in the West
ern Hemisphere after Secretary of
S'ate Hull conferred with Leopoldo
Mclo of Argentina in an effort to
iron out their divergent views.
The Argentine delegate has op
posed Mr. Hull's espousal of Cuban
and Brazilian ideas for joint man
dates over European possessions
which may be threatened with a
rhange of ownership as a result of
the war.
Following the conference. Mr
Hull joined the Brazilian delegate.
Mauricio Nabuco. and the Cuban
Foreign Minister. Miguel Angel
Campa in Campa's office, presum
ably to inform them of hi.s 'Melo's'
views.
Melo joined them later, and it
was when this conference broke up
that Nabuco. who usually wears a
stern end taciturn expression,
smilingly declared:
"I believe we still have a chance
to agree."
The belief among observers that a
compromise was shaping up also
was bolstered when an Argentine
'See HAVANA. Page A-7.i
House Unit Approves
Sending U. S. Ships
For Child Refugees
Foreign Affairs Group
Acts on Bill Backed
By the President
B' the Associated Press.
Chairman Bloom said today the
House Foreign Affairs Committee
had approved unanimously a bill
to permit the use of United States
vessels to remove refugee children
from European war zones—an ar
rangement President Roosevelt de
scribed as possible.
Under the bill each vessel so used
shall $riave painted plainly on both
sides an American flag "and a
statement that such vessel is a
refugee-child rescue ship of the
United States or under United'
States registry, so that night or
day there ean be no mistake as to |
the identity of such vessels.”
Also any American vessel to be
used for child rescue work must
have its safe conduct granted by
all nations at war.
Refugee Transfer Discussed.
Meanwhile the problem of the ;
transfer of intellectual and political j
refugees fro mEurope to this country
was discussed at the State Depart
ment with Acting Secretary Welles
by two members of the President's
Advisory Committee on Refugees—
James G. McDonald, the acting
chairman, and George Warren.
The committee wishes that these
adult refugees could be admitted
on visitors' visas.
Mr. Welles said the committee
suggested that it act as a channel
to the State Department on par
ticular refugee cases. The Acting
Secretary told the press that he
approved this proposal heartily.
At the present time the depart
ment is receiving requests for action
from many individuals and groups.
May Ask Safe Passage.
Asserting that the United States
had a deep desire to do everything
possible to help remove children
from England, President Roosevelt
said today the administration even
tually might ask for reasonable as
surances that refugee children could
(See REFUGEES. Page A-3.)
100 Believed Killed
In Chilean Landslides
By the Associated Press.
ANTOFAGASTA. Chile, July 26.
—More than lbo persons were feared
today to have been killed by land
slides which followed rare rain
storms along Chile’s nitrate coast
yesterday.
Reports by radio from the north
ern nitrate port of Tocopilla said
almost 100 were killed in that region
alone.
Sides of sandy hills tumbled down
upon towns in Antofagasta Prov
ince, burying many persons and
rendering hundreds homeless.
Numerous mines were flooded in
the nitrate and copper-producing
desert between the Andes and the
ocean, where rainstorms are un
usual.
Broken communications prevented
the full extent of the casualties and
damage from being known imme
diately.
Joint Committee
Will Launch Drive
For Cleaner City
Commissioners Vote
For Co-operation
With Association
The Commissioners voted today to
establish a joint committee repre
senting the city and the District
Outdoor Cleanliness Association to
study existing anti-litter regulations
and determine if any new ones are
needed to make Washington a
cleaner city.
The six-man committee was sug
gested by Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen at a meeting of the Commis
sioners with members of the Dis
trict's recently organized clean-up
i group in the District Building today.
At the same time, the three Com
missioners applied for membership
in the association which pledges
them to observe the anti-litter ordi
nances themselves.
After hearing Jesse C. Suter. vice
president of the association, outline
the purposes of the organization and
state that on the basis of articles
appearing in The Star there ap
peared to be some “passing the
buck" between the various city
agencies responsible for keeping the
city clean and free from health
menaces. Commissioner Hazen said
he believed a great co-ordination
of the services of these agencies was
necessary.
Education Not Enough.
He also insisted that education of
the public alone would not correct
the evils of the present situation.
“You have to take offenders into
court," he declared. “That's the
only way to make them obey the
regulations."
Commissioner J. Russell Young,
suggesting immediate action to go
hand in hand with the joint com
~ “ (See CLEANUP. Page~A^5T)
Many U. S. Bureaus
Close as Mercury
Reaches 96
G. A. 0. Branch Releases
Workers at 10:30 After
14 Are Overcome
Thousands of Government work
ers in buildings without air-cooling
systems were being relieved of then
duties ahead of schedule today due
to the excessive heat, which was
expected to send the mercury up to
at- least 97 degrees, the high mark
for the year.
Scores of heat victims had been
treated in various building clinics
throughout the city by 1 o'clock. At
that time the temperature registered
96 at the Weather Bureau and was
rising steadily.
The intense heat today promised
to be a prelude to a much cooler
week end. Thundershowers are ex
pected tonight, with even more
pleasant temperatures in prospect
for tomorrow afternoon and Sunday.
More than 600 employes of the
General Accounting Office, housed
in the low-ceilinged Moses Building
at Eleventh and F streets N.W.. were
released at 10:30 o'clock after 14
sorkers had collapsed from the heat
in less than an hour.
One official said that, to his knowl
I edge, the hour was the earliest the
1 employes ever had been released be
cause of the heat. None of those pros
trated was seriously affected.
Approximately 12.000 Agriculture
Department employes were let out
at 12:30.
From 300 to 500 employes of the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. who
: work in non-air-conditioned quar
ters of the agency were released, as
were employes of the Federal Com
munications Commission *in The
Star and International Buildings.
Board of Education officials at
the Franklin Administration Build
ing said as many employes as could
[ be spared were released at noon.
More than 100 civilian employes
were given the afternoon off at
police headquarters.
A thousand of the 1.200 employes
(See WEATHER. Page“A~-2.)—
Mexico Orders Closing
Of 55 Struck Schools
By the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY. July 26.—The De
partment of Public Education, by
authority of President Lazaro Car
denas. ordered today the closing of
55 rural schools where about 6.000
! students have been on strik* since
June 20.
j The department said it was unable
; to meet the strikers' demands be
1 cause they would require an ad
ditional outlay of 1.200.000 pesos
I ($240,000).
The strikers asked the government
l to provide their books, increase the
daily food allowance from 60 cen
j tavos to 75. build dormitories and
! supply drinking water and electric
I lights.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. * Page.
Amusements, Radio .. .. B-14
B-lfi Serial Story A-15
Comics B-14-15 Society . . B-3
Editorials .. A-8 Sports B-6-7-8-9
Finance_A-13 Woman's Page,
Lost, Found, B-9 B-2
Obituary_A-10
Foreign
Battle between ships and planes seen
off North Ireland. Page A-l
Japan is reported halting U. S. trade
in North China. Page A-l
Havana parley may act despite Ar
gentine stand. Page A-l
Gibraltar is bombed again by Italian
planes. Page A-3
15 British ships destroyed by planes.
Germans claim. Page A-3
Paris resuming normal life six weeks
after Nazi occupation. Page A-4
Hitler receives Rumanian emissaries
at Berchtesgaden. Page A-4
National.
President says defense needs prompt
ed oil export control. Page A-l
Dutch Committee appeals to Roose
velt to seek peace. Page A-l
La Guardia indorses conscription for
defense of Nation. Page A-6
Washington and Vicinity
97-degree weather forecast again:
relief in prospect. Page A-l
, Million women's aid in D. C. suf
frage fight is seen. Page A-l
One dies, seven burned in boat fires
on Potomac River. Page B-l
■! Man injured in storm accident dies;
traffic toll now 39. Page B-l
District schools opened" to refugee
children. Page B-l
I Editorial and Comment
i This and That. Page A-8
Answers to Questions. Page A-8
Letters to The Star. Page A-8
! David Lawrence. Page A-9
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-9
Frederic William Wile. Page A-9
Constantine Brown. Page A-9
| Charles G. Ross. Page A-9
Miscellany
Vital Statistics. Page A-12
Service Orders. Page A-12
Bedtime Story. Page B-14
! Letter-Out. Page B-14
[ Winning Contract. Page B-14
I Uncle Ray's Corner. Page B-15
j Cross-Word Puzzle. Page B-15
i Nature's Children. Page A-16
Rayburn Sees
House Passing
D. C. Vote Plan
Predicts Sumners
Proposal Will Go to
States for Action
House Majority Leader Rayburn
today predicted the House would
pass, without any considerable vote
in opposition, the Sumners resolu
tion which proposes an amendment
to the Constitution empowering
Congress to give national represent
ation to residents of the District of
Columbia Mr. Rayburn also said
he believed the amendment subse
quently would be put before the
State Legislatures for ratification.
Mr. Rayburn made his statement
after conferring with Chairman
Sumners of the House Judiciary
Committee, who told him he believed
the resolution would be favorably
reported to the committee, which
meets in special session Tuesday to
consider the resolution.
His statement followed one made
by Minority Leader Martin, who
pledged that the Republican mem
bership of the House would vote with
the Democratic majority in passing
the Sumners resolution
Mr. Rayburn explained the Sum
ners resolution provides lor a con
stitutional amendment to be ratified
by 36 States and that the Federal
interest is protected because after
the States have acted, the degree or
method of suffrage to be permitted
residents of the Disfrict is left to
Congress—which retains the control
over the District of Columbia.
C ivir Leaders Favor Resolution.
Whatever differences there are in
their views as to the form of suf
frage the District should have, civic
leaders are agreed that the Sum
ners resolution should be backed as
the first step toward enfranchise
ment of the District.
Speaking as president of the Vote
less District of Columbia League of
Women Voters, which has long sup
ported suffrage for the District, Mrs
M. O. Lorenz was enthusiastic about
recent developments in the long
battle for the vote. She told The
Star:
'T am gratified to see the interest
now being displayed in the move for
national representation for the Dis
trict. It has been the most hopeful
thing we've seen in many years. I
personally hope it will not be a
partisan issue.
Hopr Voieed for Approval.
Both Democrats and Republicans
on the Judiciary Committee, how
ever. have voiced expressions in
favor of the Sumners resolution.
Apparently, then, neither party is
opposed to it and I trust the reso
lution will be, favorably reported to
the House.
"It seems to us that the Sumners
resolution is more likely to receive
favorable action than some of the
other proposed plans for national
representation.”
Mrs Louis Ottenberg. former
president of the Voteless D. C.
League of Women Voters, who for 25
years has led her organization in
battling for the franchise, said steps
would be taken without delay to have
1.000.000 women, though their re
spective organizations, appeal to the
House Judiciary Committee to act
favorably Tuesday on the resolution
of Chairman Sumners providing for
national representation for the Dis
trict.
Mrs. Ottenberg explained that the
1.000 000 women who will aid the
people of the District to get the
privilege of voting are connected
with national organizations which
already have gone on record in fa
vor of the franchise for the people
here. They include the National
League of Women Voters, the
National Women's Trade Union
, League, the American Federation of
Teachers, the National Council of
Jewish Women and the National
Service Star Legion.
“We have fought for a 'vote for
the District for 25 years but never
gave up hope." said Mrs. Otten
berg. "We were waiting for a
green light, and it seems to me we
have got it now. We are going to
move—and in high gear."
Meanwhile, prominent members of
Congress who had not heretofore
given particular attention to the
voteless plight of the residents of
the District indicated they are pre
pared now to give serious thought
i to the subject. These include Sen
ator McNarv of Oregon. Senate
(See FRANCHISE, Page A-3.)
Nazis Disclaim Blame
For Transport Sinking
Fr Associated Press.
BERLIN. July 26—DNB. official
German news agency, last night
disclaimed responsibility for the
sinking of the French transport
Meknes while taking 1.300 French
men from England back to France
on grounds that the German gov
ernment was not informed of any
British request for safe transport.
The agency did not say whether
Germans sank the ship, as the Brit
ish said
Quoting authorized sources, DNB
said sinking of the liner was in keep
ing with “the ruthless tradition
j which started with the Athenia.”
383 Missing From Liner.
LONDON. July 26 (4s).—Official
figures today showed 9 officers and
374 men missing from the French
liner Meknes. which the British said
was sunk Wednesday by a German
torpedoboat while engaged in re
patriating French sailors.
It was believed by authorities,
however, that some of the passen
gers made for the French coast in
the ship's boats.
In addition to 1,179 French naval
officers and men. there were two
women and one child aboard, and a
crew of 99.
The women and child and 895
officers and men were landed In
Britain.