Evening star. [volume], March 15, 1941, Image 1

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

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Two Extra Pages
In This Edition Ia ^
Late news and sports are covered on Pages M I 1^^
1-X and 2-X ot this edition ot The Star, supple- | II
menting the news of the regular home delivered VI I f
edition of The Star. I
Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales, Page 19. J
£9th YEAR. No. 35,382. WASHINGTON, D. * C., SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1941—THIRTY-SIX PAGES.
100,000 BRITISH MAY SET UP BALKAN FRONT
Senate District Committee Gives Approval to Overton Formula
Late News Bulletins
British Refrigerator Ship Reported Sunk
NEW YORK (IP).—Maritime circles said today the 11,900
ton Afric Star, world's second largest refrigerator ship, had
been sunk recently "by enemy action." The 475-foot British
motorship. built in 1926. had been carrying meat and meat
products from the Argentine to England.
Killmalock Wins Sandhills Cup
PINEHURST. N. C. Killmalock. owned by W. G.
Jones, won the Sandhills Cup steeplechase cup, 3 miles over
timber, late today at the Barber course, midway between here
and Southern Pines. Killmalock, ridden by L. Gibson, finished
several lengths ahead of Memory Lane, II, owned by the
Rokeby Stables of Paul Mellon. Rustic Romance, the favorite,
another Mellon entry, fell at the 12th timber. Longitude,
entered by Mrs. Laurens M. Hamilton, finished third.
Raiders Return as Night Falls in London
LONDON WP>.—Gunfire and the drone of planes were
heard in London tonight shortly after an air-raid alarm
sounded.
Yale and Princeton Tie for Wrestling Title
NEW' YORK (/Pi.—Princeton and Yale tied for the Eastern
intercollegiate wrestling team championship at Columbia
University late today with 21 points each. Pennsylvania's
favored team and Navy tied for third, with 17 points each,
while Penn State scored 16.
Princeton Poloists Beat Cornell, 10-8
W'EST POINT. N. Y. (A\—Princeton won the first round
of the national intercollegiate polo championship against
Cornell here today, 10 to 8.
World's Record Set in 60-Yard High Hurdles
INDIANAPOLIS <A\—Bob Wright of Ohio State set a new
world indoor record of 7.3 seconds today in the 60-yard high
hurdles trials of the ninth annual Butler relays. Three ath
letes shared the old mark of 7.4 seconds.
Cincinnati Throttles
Nationals, 4 to 2;
3 Pitchers Pounded
Reds Take 1-0 Lead
In Third and Are
Never Headed
Bv FRANCIS E. STAN,
Star Staff Correspondent.
ORLANDO. Fla., March 15.—The
Cincinnati Reds pecked away at
three Washington pitchers today to
win a 4-to-2 victory in an exhibi
tion game.
The power the Nats displayed yes
terday in defeating the Cardinals
was missing as Paul Derringer. Jim
Turner and Elmer Riddle, pitching
for the Reds, throttled them with
eight hits.
The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the
third inning against Dutch Leonard
and never were headed. Boom-Boom
MacFayden followed Leonard, gave
up a run, and Rookie Hardin Cathey
finished. He was nicked for the
final two scores. The Nat trio gave
up 11 hits including three triples.
The defeat was Washington’s third
In five exhibitions so far.
FIRST INNING.
CINCINNATI — Werber flied to
Chapman. Frey fanned. Gleeson
flied to Chapman. No runs.
WASHINGTON—Case bunted and
was thrown out by Derringer.
Cramer popped to Baker. Chap
man was safe on an error by
Werber. Lewis flied to Gleeson.
No runs.
SECOND INNING.
CINCINNATI — F. McCormick
popped to Myer. Craft singled to
left. M. McCormick flied to Cra
mer. Joost flied to Cramer. No
runs.
WASHINGTON—Travis flied to
M McCormick. Archie flied to
Craft.- Joost threw out Myer. No
runs
THIRD INNING.
CINCINNATI—Baker singled to
left. Myer threw out Derringer,
Baker taking second. Werber walked.
Frev singled to center. Baker scoring
and Werber stopping at second.
Gleeson flied to Chapman. So did
F McCormick. One run.
WASHINGTON—Joost threw out
Ferrell. Leonard popped to Joost.
Case singled to center. Cramer flied
to McCormick. No runs.
FOl'RTH INNING.
CINCINNATI — MacFayden now
pitching for Washington. ' Craft
fouled to Archie. M. McCormick
took a third strike. Joost tripled to
center. Baker singled to left, scor
ing Joost. Mele batted for Derringer
and singled to left. Baker stopping
at second. MacFayden tossed out
Werber One run.
WASHINGTON—Turner now
pitching for Cincinnati. Chapman
(See BASEBALL, Page 2-X )
President's Talk
To Be Radioed
In 14 Languages
(Earlier Story on Page A-l.
Translations of President Roose
velt's speech on American foreign I
relations tonight will be "beamed" I
in 14 languages to various countries
in Europe on separate programs to
: morrow by shortwave station WRUL
I at Boston, Mass.
Arrangements for the rebroadcasts
were announced here today by a
representative of the Boston station,
a non-profit organization which
broadcasts shortwave educational
programs to Europe daily on a
"beam'’ system to make them easily
heard in the countries to which they
are directed.
Rebroadcasts of the President's
1 speech will be German, Italian,
French. Turkish. Greek, Norwegian,
Dutch. Spanish. Portuguese. Al
banian. Serbian. Yugoslavian, Czech
and Slovak languages.
The President will speak at 9:30
o'clock tonight while attending the
annual banquet of the White House
’ Correspondents’ Association.
51 More Selectees Sent
To Baltimore From D. C.
(Earlier Story on Page A-5.)
A supplementary contingent of 51
selectees slated eventually for serv
ice with the 260th Coast Artillery
at Fort Bliss, Tex., was sent to the
Army induction station in Balti
more today, leaving less than 150
men yet to be inducted to fill the
Fort Bliss requisition for 1.100 Wash
ingtonians.
Three absentees were noted when
the roll was called at the National
Guard Armory, but these men were
j expected to appear later. Following
| their induction, the selectees were
i to be directed to the Camp Lee <Va.) !
| reception center for classification.
A group of some 70 additional
men to be sent to Texas will be j
| inducted Monday, their names to
I be announced at the time of their
departure for Baltimore.
Princeton's Eberle Wins
His Third Mat Title
tbe Associated Press.
NEW YORK. March 15,-Bob
Eberle. Princeton captain, won the
128-pound title for the third straight
| year in the Eastern Intercollegiate
Wrestling championships at Colum- !
bia University today.
He pinned Pennsylvania's Jim
Laggan in 4:19 of the second period
with a half-Nelson and armlock.
The victory sent the Tigers into an
early lead for the team trophy.
In the 121-pound finals Penn
1 State's Charley Ridenour broke a
13-year Cornell domination of the
bantamweight class by outpointing
Joe Littleton of the Ithaca team.
7 to 4.
Aid Rushed to Brazilian Ship
Sinking 600 Miles Off Florida
Bs the Associated Press.
JACKSONVILLE. Fla., March 15.
—Three ships sped to the rescue
about 600 miles east of here in
the Atlantic today when a vessel,
believed to be the Brazilian freighter
Mahukona, flashed an SOS and a
few minutes' later said the crew
was abandoning ship.
The radio call letters of the dis
tressed vessel indicated it was the
former American freighter Mahu
kona which last December 28 was
sold to Brazilian shipping interests.
* A
The Puerto Rican liner Borinquen, I
which left New York Thursday with
297 passengers for Puerto Rico,
radioed it was about 90 miles from
the position given in the SOS and
would proceed to the scene.
Later the Coast Guard was in
formed that the S. S. West Shipper
also was en route to the freighter’s
aid. The Coast Guard cutter Modoc,
on patrol oft Cape Hatteras, like
wise was ordered to speed to the
scene, but she had a long run j
ahead of her.
Fiscal Measure
May Be Voted
On Next Week
Passage Would Raise
Lump Sum Payment
To $9,000,000
By JAMES E. CHINN.
The Senate District Committee
late today put its stamp of approval
on the Overton bill which prescribes
a formula for measuring the amount
of the annual Federal payment
toward expenses of the municipal
government. A favorable report on
the measure is to be submitted to the
Senate early next week.
It has been estimated that adop
tion of the plan would increase the
present $6,000,000 lump sum payment
to $9.000 000 in the fiscal year begin
ning July 1.
Decision of the committee to re
port the bill favorably was revealed
by Chairman Reynolds after a poll
of the membership conducted at his
direction. He ordered the poll in
stead of calling a meeting of the
committee to pass on the bill in or
der to expedite its consideration by
the Senate. Indications are the
measure will be placed on the Senate
calendar either Monday or Tuesday,
paving the way for Senate action be
fore the end of the week.
The bill provides for division of
costs between the District and Fed
eral Governments on the basis of
land actually used by each. It was
first approved several days ago by
the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee, of
which Senator Overton, Democrat
of Louisiana, sponsor of the bill, is
chairman.
Senator Overton has predicted the
bill will pass the Senate.
The Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee
of the House District Committee is
scheduled to consider the Overton
formula at a conference Tuesday at
11 a.m with the Commissioners and
a group of other municipal officials.
Representative Hunter. Democrat, of
Ohio, chairman of this subcommit
tee, is sponsoring the plan in the
House.
I
Ferrier Becomes Pro
At Elmhurst Club
B% tte Associated Press.
CHICAGO, March 15—Jim Fer
rier. husky Australian star who was
barred from the National Amateur
Golf Tournament last year, has ac
cepted a post as professional at the
Elmhurst (111.) Country Club, Fred
B. Snite, sr., Chicago, club presi
dent announced today.
Racing Results
Entries for Monday on Page 2-X.
Tropical Park
B> tfct Associated Press.
FIRST RACK—Purse. $1,000; claiming;
4-year-olds and ud: 1 1-1« miles
Conrad Mann <Hett ger) 22.80 9.80 6 10
Tod Staff <Seabo> 7.80 4 60
Sir Brookside 'McMullen) 5.00
Time. 1:45*».
Also ran—Marching Feet. Wooden In
dian. Dodo M . Placer Inn. Bp Prepared.
Flag Post. Ninety Grand. Chicharra and
Broad Vision
SECOND RACE—Purse. $1,000: claim
ing; 4-ycar-olds and ud: 6 furlongs
Reine Margot fM'And ws> 22.90 11.To 6.30
"antovino (Haskell) 5.10 3.50
Batter (Anderson) ^ T.30
Time. 1:1313.
Also ran—Dreek Ferdinand. All Time High.
High Renown. Walda Lass. Lucky Me
Bright Snot. Col Scott and Philigal.
'Daily double Daid $338.20.)
THIRD RACE—Purse. $1,000; claiming.
1-year-olds 6 furlongs.
Bit o’Green (Ryan* 12.80 6 10 4.50
Owasse (Howell) 25.60 11.80
Largo Mint (Johnston) 4 10
Time. l:llas.
Also ran—Burning Deck. Rambunctious.
Swing Leader. Classic Beauty. Mi Due.
3adet Bob. Art of War. Clayville and Gen
eral Planet.
FOURTH RACE—Purse. $2,000 added:
Orange Blossom Stakes: 2-year-olds: 4 fur
longs.
a Bold Question (Meade) 2.80 2.50 2.20
a General Jean 'Gilbert) 2.50 2.20
Alohort <Caffarella> 2.20
Time. 0:46%.
Also ran—Methodical. Tee Midge. Sam
Houston- Patriot.
a A. T. Simmons entry.
FIFTH RACE—Purse- $1,200; allowances:
4-year-olds and up; 6 furlongs
a Potranco (Williams) 8.HO 3.40 2.'0
Colosseum (Carroll) 5.60 3.90
b Many Stings (McCreary* 3.80
Time. 1:103,
Also ran—One Witch a Jayfcee. Ftirflax.
Sundodger, Playhouse, Time o' War and
b Mar Le
a Lexbrook Stable entry
b Le Mar Stock Farm entry.
SIXTH RACE— Purse. $1,200: allow
ances; 3-year-olds; 1 mile and 70 yards
Arestino (Connolly) 11.00 4.80 3.90
Boiled Shirt <May* 5.00 4.70
Moia (Seabo* 5.60
Time. 1:41S.
Also ran—Fancy Free. Royal Ruby II.
The Stork and Cadmium.
Oaklawn Park
By the Associated Press.
FIRST RACE—Purse. $600; claiming:
4-year-olds 6 furlongs (out of chute),
Reg] Plav (J. Marinelli) 4.30 3.00 2.SO
Barbara S iP Keiper) 5 00 3.40
Relief (G Martin) 4 20
Time. 1:13*5
Also ran—Blagden, Frozen Mask. The
Dentist, f Travis L. I Connie Ann, Vonceil,
Ferryboat and Petes Niece.
f Field.
SECOND RACE—Purse. $600: claiming;
4-year-olds and up; 6 furlongs.
Clean Swept iSisto) 4.30 3.10 2.60
Mistletoe tScurlock) 3.90 3.00
Nigrette < Hanauer) 3.30
Time. 1:14*5.
Also ran—Buff Ryan Millmore, The
Spotter. Marconia. Aureate and Gamaliel
(Daily Double paid $14.60.)
THIRD RACE—Purse. $600; claiming.
4-year-olds and up: 6 furlongs out of
chute.
Playmay (X Marinelli) 10.40 6,10 4.00
Legal Advice (P. Keiper) 4.80 3.30
Tadpole <R. J. Jonesi 4.30
Time. 1:15.
Also ran—Clockwinder. f Byrds Up. f Pat
tyjo David's Bov. Darby Allen. Mintson.
I Matchless, Lady Lucille and Warwil.
f Field.
FOURTH RACE—Purse. $1,000; Little
Rock Day Handicap: 3-year-olds and up:
6 furlongs.
Bill Farnsworth (Calvert) 3.60 3 20 2.50
Uncle Walter (McCombs) # 60 3.20
Mteehinee (Hightshoe) 2.60
Time. 1:13
Also ran—Some Count and Three Bangs.
A
ARMY TESTS GUN CARRIER IN MUD—Pounding over rough
terrain at Arlington cantonment today, this one-half ton Army
gun carrier plowed through a sea of mud at 40 miles an hour.
The vehicle American equivalent of the famed British Bren
gun carrier, was put through its paces in exhaustive tests to
day at the Virginia Army post. It carries heavy machine gun,
light mortar and seven-man crew. Army officers say it can go
80 miles an hour cross-country. Four-wheel drive and 15 com
binations of gear-shifts help the carries over rough spots.
—A. p. Photo.
Few Companies Get
Almost Half of Big
Defense Contracts
Du Pont, General Rotors
And Bethlehem Alone
Receive 23 Per Cent
(Earlier Story on Page A-4.)
B? tli Artociated Press.
Defense officials disclosed today
that the Du Pont interests. General
Motors Corp. and the Bethlehem
Steel Corp. obtained 23 per cent of
all defense contracts exceeding a
million dollars which were granted
during a seven-month period.
Chester C. Davis, associated with
the Defense Commission, said in a
speech in New Orleans that between
one-fifth and one-quarter of the
contracts "had gone to two groups
of companies of closely intercon
nected ownership. Between 40 and
45 per cent had gone to six closely
interconnected groups.”
Mr. Davis did not mention the
firms’ names, but officials here cited
a tabulation, which included only
prime contracts awarded between
June 13 and February 15. The con
tracts aggregated $11,500,000,000. Of
ficials said the Du Pont interests
and the General Motors Co. together
constituted one of the two groups
and Bethlehem the other.
The six groups of companies, they
said, included the first two and
Curtiss-Wright. United States Steel,
Aviation and Transportation Corp.
and the Newport News Shipbuilding
& Dry Dock Co. These six. they
said, obtained 44 per cent of the
contracts.
Elizabeth Hicks Shoots 71
To Beat Dorothy Kirby
B> the Associated Press.
BELLEAIR. Fla., March 15.—
Elizabeth Hicks, tiny Long Beach
(Calif.) linkswoman. shot an amaz
ing 71, six under women’s par. for a
new record on the No. 1 Belleair
course today and defeated the de
fending champion. Dorothy Kirby
of Atlanta. 8 and 6, to win the an
nual Belleair women's golf cham
pionship.
Miss Hicks was out in 34. two
under men s par, and after closing
out the match on the 12th, played
out the round. She equaled men’s
par for the 18 holes.
The new Belleair champion had
birdies on the second, fifth, sixth
and eighth holes of the first nine
and on the 10th and 18th coming
back.
The lowest previous women's score
in competitive golf on the BeUeair
course was a 74 shot by Marion
Miley. Lexington, Ky.. when she de
feated Patty Berg in the tourna
ment three years ago.
$100,000 Fire Damages
Store in Asheville
By the Associated Press.
ASHEVILLE, N. C.. March 15.—
Twenty-two firemen were hospital
ized here as the result of fighting a
fire today in the J. B. Ivey de
partment store in the heart of this
tourist city’s business district which
caused an estimated loss of $100,000
to the store and goods.
None of the firemen was believed
critically injured. They were suffer
ing from the effects of the billowing
smoke. Doctors and nurses attended
them in the dormitory of the central
fire station.
The fire broke out late last night
in the basement of the four-story
building and was confined there. It
was brought under control shortly
before noon.
U. 5. Buying British
Munitions Factories
In This Country
Plants Constructed at
Cost of $46,000,000 to
Make Guns and Powder
B the Associated Press.
Federal Loan Administrator Jones
announced today that the Govern
ment was talcing over and paying
for powder and gun plants built
here by the British at a cost of
$46 000.000.
Mr. Jones said that Defense
Plant Corp., a subsidiary of the
R. F. C.. was arranging to make
the purchases at the request of the
War Department and with the ap
proval of President Roosevelt. Other
plants, he added, might be acquired
later.
The plants to be taken over in
clude a powder factory near Mem
phis. Term., built for Great Britain
by the Du Pont company at a cost
of approximately $25,000,000, and
these four machine gun plants,
worth about $21,000,000:
Buffalo Arms Corp.. at Buffalo,
N. Y.: Colt's Patent Firearms Manu
facturing Co.. Hartford, Conn.: Kel
sey-Hayes Wheel Co.. Plymouth,
Mich., and High Standard Manu
facturing Co., New Haven, Conn.
Mr. Jones said in a statement :
"Ownership of all of these plants
by the United States, in the opinion
of the War Department, is neces
sary to our national defense.
"To the extent that any of the
plants continues to manufacture for
the account of Great Britain. De
fense Plant Corp. will receive a
rental or a charge at a rate suffi
cient to amortize the cos» of the
plant over a period of five years."
Pope to Give Important
Speech Easter Sunday
B» tbe Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, March 15.—An
Important speech dealing with war
and peace will be delivered Easter
Sunday by Pope Pius XII. Vatican
City prelates said today. The ad
dress presumably will be broadcast.
The Pope will celebrate solemn
pontifical mass in St. Peter's and it
is expected he will deliver his homily
in Latin.
White House
Wants Data on
Hottelet Arrest
RICHARD C. HOTTELET.
Photo taken from a collecre
year book.—A. P. Wirephoio.
I Earlier Story on Pape A-l.)
The White House instructed the
State Department today to ask the
American Embassy in Berlin for full
details on the arrest by the Nazis
of Richard C. Hottelet, United Press
newspaperman. on charges of
“suspicion of espionage.'’
SYRACUSE. N. Y„ March 15 (iP).
—Chester A. Kahn of this city,
brother of Mrs. Etta Kahn Shiber,
an American sentenced to three
years' imprisonment by a German
military court in Paris, said today
he would request the State Depart
ment at Washington to use “what
ever influence it can to obtain her
release. ’ The last letter Mr. Kahn
received from his sister was dated
August 10.
Markets at a Glance
NEW YORK. March 15 uP).—
Stocks steady: specialties again
popular. Bonds quiet; long-term
governments improved. Foreign ex
change quiet; generally unchanged.
Cotton higher; Bombay, mill and
New Orleans buying. Sugar firm;
Cuban and trade buying. Metals
steady; foreign demand for export
copper slackens. Wool tops lower;
Boston selling.
Wholesale Resignations Leave
Only 4 in Tuberculosis Office
Wholesale resignations, said to
have been requested by Harald H.
Lund, new executive secretary of
the District. Tuberculosis Associa
tion, today cleared the office of all
but four employes, it was learned
this afternoon.
ITiose “let out” of the association
included Mrs. Adeline Gooch, for 16
years head of the seal sale depart
ment: Philip Joachim, director of
health education: Mrs. Mildred
Lemeshewsky, secretary to Mrs. Er
nest R. Grant, who resigned as man
aging director late in January, and
half a dozen women employes of
the seal sale department.
Mr. Lund denied a mass firing
and, asked specifically about Mrs. j
Gooch, said that she had resigned'
as of today.
One of the employes "let out”
today, however, said: “We resigned
because we were told to resign."
Last week, the former employe
s
said, Mr. Lund called a staff meet
ing at which he told the workers
that he couldn’t tell them definitely
whether they would be retained.
Mr. Lund said the resignations
were part of the “reorganization”
of the association and added that
he was preparing a statement.
Retained, according to the former
employe, were Albert H. Pike, as
sistant director of the rehabilitation
department; Mrs. Alexine Tanner,
director of the Negro health educa
tion program; the switchboard op
erator and Mr. Pike’s secretary.
The entire staff of the association
had submitted resignations to Mrs.
Grant at the time she resigned—
when a plenary committee was ap
pointed by the association’s Board
of Directors to reorganize the as
sociation.
The workers were told, however,
It was said, to submit their resig
nations again.
i
Italian Planes Bomb
Greek Lines Along
7-Mile-Wide Strip
Attempt to Dislodge Fee
From Mountain Peaks
Near Tepeleni
BULLETIN.
B1TOLJ, Yugoslavia, March 15 |
IjP).—Heavy Greek and Italian
losses were reported here today
as the Italian offensive between
Tepeleni and the Skumbi Valley
continued at full tilt. The Ital
ians were reported to have
launched five mass attacks
around Tepeleni. Observers said
the Italian troops were mostly
well equipped new arrivals, but
suffered by “inadequate prepara
tions and bad staff work."
(Earlier Story on Page A-l.) j
Bj the Associsted Press.
ROME, March 15.—Dispatches
from the Central Albanian front
today indicated that hundreds of
Italian planes were bombing Greek
lines in a 7-mile-wide strip along
a highway northeast of Tepeleni
in an attempt to dislodge the Greeks
from mountain positions
Only local land operations were
reported; the dispatches emphasized
aerial assaults in which squadron
after squadron of Italian bombers
were reported dumping tons of ex
plosives on Greek troops massed
in the heights of the Tepeleni area
and along the road north of Premeti.
(Greek accounts of Premier j
Mussolini's visit to the Albanian
front had said this was the day
of his scheduled departure for
home and that he had warned
his generals they must "do some
thing” before he left.)
The weekly Assalto. organ of the
Bologna Fascists, said the Italian
forces were increasing steadily in
numbers and strength in Albania,
where "a desperate Greek offensive
was smashed.” The Greeks have
called the action an Italian offen
sive.
- I
Hillman Urges Strikers
To Accept 0. P. M. Terms
(Earlier Story on Page A-l.)
By the Associated Press.
Sidney Hillman wired striking
workers at the Vanadium Steel Co.'s
Bridgeville (Pa/> plant today, urging
them to accept a proposed settle
ment advanced by the Office of j
Production Management and not
"hamper” the defense program.
At the same time the associate j
director of O. P. M. asked the C. I.
O. union bo permit Vanadium prod- j
ucts to be removed from the strike- J
bound plant this afternoon.
Mr. Hillman sent this message to
Frank A. Pugne, president of the
Bridgeville local:
“During week of March 3 an offer
was presented on behalf of O. P. M
under which all workers employed
at the time of the strike should re
turn to work immediately without
discrimination and that all charges
by the company against the con- '
dnct of any individual employe
should be taken up in conference
10 days following the return to work
with the understanding that any
failure to agree on these charges
will be submitted to arbitration. In
the judgment of O. P. M. this offer
is essential, fair and reasonable. It
j was expected that the workers
j would have returned to work before
this time. Offer still holds and
} O. P. M. expects your co-operation
so that national defense efforts shall
1 not be further hampered.”
4
Five Divisions
Reported Now
In Greece
Yugoslavia Stiffens
Attitude Toward
German Demands
(Earlier Stories on Page A-l.)
By the Associated Press.
Belief that fighting between „
British and German troop.'
might open in Greece at an>
hour was presaged today by re
ports reaching Belgrade from
Athens that nearly 100,000 mech
anized British troops had landed
in Southern Greece. ,
As reports of the British land
ings—coupled with the belief ,
that Britain was occupying the
southern half of the Greek
mainland—spread through Yu
goslavia, trucks loaded with fully
equipped Yugoslav troops rum
bled through the streets of Bel
grade. and railway stations
teemed with conscripts called to
active service.
Yugoslavia has been making mili- '
tary preparations for days whi'“
dickering over German demarc
that she join the axis.
The first Yugoslav reaction to thr
reports was a stiffening of Yug''
slavia's attitude toward German
Government sources indicated th
an attempt would be made to fn
stall any further pressure “until t
situation of Greece is clarified.”
Germans Claim 6-to-l Margin
German sources at Sofia, the B
garian capital, said that even if fi
British divisions had disembarked
Greece, the German troops in Bu -
garia and Rumania outnumber?
them six to one One German se
ttle British would be fighting with
their backs to the sea. making po: -
sible “another Dunkerque.”
The only comment in Germai
on the reported debarkation cam°
from the commentary Dienst sr,
Deutschland, which said the repor
lacked confirmation and that ■*
would be “premature to draw ar
conclusions respecting any Germr.i
reaction."
Despite the advices. British sources
said Adolf Hitler may only be mak
ing a feint in the Balkans and that
the attempted invasion of Britain
may be his next move.
In Berlin. German sources pro
fessed interest in reports from Tan
gier. Morocco, that the British
planned to occupy Portugal's Azores
Islands and also land troops in Por
tugal. The Associated Press had not
received such advices from any other
source.
I’. S. Tieup Charged.
Dienst dealt with this report thir :
“The indication from Washington
that there is no objection on the
part of the United States to such en
English project, that in fact the
United States might have en
couraged the British in such a step,
doubtless will be of special signifi
cance to Germans."
Occupation of the Azores and
bases in Portugal. Dienst added,
would be in line with British efforts s
to obtain bases in Ireland for more
effective defense against German
submarines and long-distance bomb- ^
ing planes.
The British source w’hich sug
gested Hitler might be bluffing in
the Balkans to distract the British
from their danger at home said the
R. A. F. was taking no chances and
therefore was increasing its attacks
on Germany and Nazi-occupied ter
ritory.
Hull and Halifax Confer
On French Food Situation
(Earlier Story on Page A-2.)
The United States and Great Brit
ain. it was learned today, are in gen
eral agreement on a policy of seeking
to make it as easy as possible lor
France to resist pressure for closer „
co-operation with Germany.
French pleas for American wheat
and other foodstuffs to be permitted
to pass through the British blockade
into unoccupied France are being
considered in the light of this gen
eral policy, it was understood.
The food relief problem was one of
a number of questions pertaining
to the position of the Vichy govern
ment which were discussed by Sec- ^
retary of State Hull and Viscount
Halifax. British Ambassador, in a
40-minute conference at the State
Department today.
There was no immediate official
indication of any decisions being '
reached at the conference, but it was
understood that some arrangement
for limited additional quantities of
American foodstuffs to be sent to
France was being worked out.
--
Restoration of France
Forecast by Leahy
i By the Associated Press.
CLERMONT-FERRAND. France,
March 15.—United States Ambas- ^
sador Admiral William D. Leahy
| said tonight it was his “personal
I conviction that France will soon ^
! be restored to her rightful posi- -
tion as the torchbearer of liberty.”
i Admiral Leahy addressed a din- 'v
| ner celebrating the arrival of the
freighter Cold Harbor, which
brought American Red Cross sup- V
i plies. The dinner was attended
i by descendant* of Lafayette and
i Rocha mbeau. ,,
1