Evening star. [volume], May 05, 1941, Image 2

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

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mostly cloudy; gentle winds, mostly M ■ TVlinlll Trie nOUr
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87, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 52, at 6:15 a.m. W il I Wf Star delivered to their homes every
From the United states w>ather Bureau report. w H H y weekday evening and Sunday morning.
Full Details on Page A-C.
Closing N. Y. Morkets—Sales, Page 16.__ UP) Meant Associated Press.
89th YEAR. No. 35,433. WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, MAY 5, 1941 THREE CENTS.
Iraq Air Force
Is Crippled,
British Claim
Turkey Is Reported
Planning Offer
Of Mediation
BACKGROUND—
Fighting between Iraqi and
British troops broke out last Fri
day as result of continued British
landings at Basra, at head of Per
sian Gulf. Iraqi forces besieged
English air base at Habbaniyah,
60 miles west of Baghdad. Gov
ernment of Iraq, headed by Ras
chid Ali Al Gailani, who came in
by coup a month ago, is reported
to be pro-German. Iraq is rich
in coveted oil.
By the Associated Press.
CAIRO, Egypt, May 5 —Most of ,
Iraq's air force "already has been j
destroyed,” the British Near East j
command said today, and Iraq ar- ]
tillery which nad pounded the be
sieged British airport at Habbaniyah !
was "rendered comparatively inac
tive yesterday by our aircraft.”
The British garrison at Habbani- j
yah is intact and has suffered very
few casualties.” the communique
said, and British troops remain,
“without interference,” in occupa
tion of the Basra area, at the head
of the Persian Gulf.
The Royal Iraqi Air Force consist
ed of two army-air co-operation
squadrons, a bomber-transport
squadron, a fighter squadron and a
communication squadron, besides
planes attached to a training school. I
“The greater part of the Iraqi Air
Force already has been destroyed by
our air action, either while attempt
ing to attack British camps or as a
result of attack by our air forces on
Iraqi airbases,” the communique,
taid, adding:
“After attacking an unarmed
British construction party, which
was in the vicinity, Iraqi forces on
May 2 occupied Rutba.”
British Reported Ready
To Accept Mediation
LONDON, May 5 (/P).—Turkey has
offered, or will offer, to mediate the !
undeclared war between Iraq and
Britain, reliable reports said tonight. |
Informed sources in London said )
Britain would accept mediation. |
contingent upon Iraq's withdrawal1
of forces menacing the British-held
Habbaniyah airdrome.
(If Raschid Ali A1 Gailani,
anti-British Premier of Iraq,
-withdraws his troops from
threatening positions near British
bases and stops fighting “rela
tions of full cordiality’’ will be
restored between Britain and
Iraq, the British radio said to
day. C. B. S. transcribed the
broadcast in New York.)
Oil Reported Cut Off.
Iraq is reported to have cut the ,
vital pipeline flow of oil to the Med- j
lterranean from the high Mosul
fields, and authoritative British pre-;
dieted that if Axis influences
triumphed against the British in the j
Near East Kingdom they would
thrust next at neighboring Iran,
fourth greatest oil producer in the
.world.
A Swiss radio report heard today
In London quoted a Baghdad com
munique as saying that Iraq forces
encircling the British air base at
Lake Habbaniyah were closing in.
the airport was under constant
artillery fire, and buildings were
afire.
Reports from Cairo earlier indi
cated the British troops still were
holding out last night at their Lake
Habbaniyah base, 60 miles west of
Baghdad, and that R. A. F. bombers
had taken the offensive—striking to
cripple Iraq’s small air force.
(The German radio was heard
In New York broadcasting today
what it. called “an official report
from Baghdad” saying that Brit
ish planes bombed that Iraq capi
tal yesterday morning. One Brit
ish plane was shot down, the re
port said.
(The official British radio an
nounced, .however, that 24,000
leaflets in Arabic had been show
ered over Baghdad.
(The announcement did not
disclose what the leaflets said,
but it was recalled that propa
ganda campaigns, referred to
derisively bv the Germans as
“confetti raids,” were carried out
over the Reich in the early days
of the western front stalemate.
C. B. S. recorded the British an
nouncement in New York.)
Raschid Ali Attacked.
What the British call the pro
German government which Premier
Raschid Ali set up in a coup Apr^l
4 was attacked verbally, meanwhile,
by the Emir Abdul Ilah, deposed
regent. He declared in Palestine
that he would return to restore
"lawfully constituted government.”
The Emir urged Iraq troops to re
turn peacefully to their posts.
The stoppage of Iraq oil, pumped
through a pipe line to Haifa, in Brit
kh-mandated Palestine, was said by
pouters. British news agency, to
(See IRAQ, Page A-ll.)
Forum Speaker to Talk
On Defense Savings
Harold N. Graves, assistant to
the Secretary of the Treasury,
will outline the motives and ob
jectives of the Government’s De
fense savings campaign in the
National Radio Forum at 9:30
o’clock tonight. The forum, ar
ranged by The Star and broadcast
over a National Broadcasting Co.
network, will be heard locally
over WMAL.
The vast program embarked on
by the Treasury to help finance
defense expenditures through the
sale of savings bonds and stamps
is in direct charge of Mr. Graves,
who will make it clear why the
Government has chosen this
method of financing in preference
to borrowing the sums needed.
The campaign was launched
Thursday.
Nazis Think Position of U. S.
Makes Peace Date Uncertain
Intervention Would Prolong Conflict, but
Not Alter Result, Germans Declare
Br the Associated Press.
BERLIN, May 5.—The chance of
American intervention in the war
makes it impossible from the Ger
man side to speculate on the dura
tion of the conflict, the well-posted
commentary Dienst aus Deutsch
land said today in comment on
Adolf Hitler's speech yesterday.
Dienst, which has close Foreign
Office connections, hinted at the
possibility that the war may extend
into 1942.
"Involved in the assumption of
such a possibility,” it said, "lies un
doubtedly calculation on the possi
bility of American intervention.
"Such intervention is appraised
by Germans as an influence which
could prolong the war. but under no
circumstances alter the ultimate re
sult.”
From other sources there were
indications that Germans who gave
thoughtful study to Hitler's report
I to the Reichstag were pondering the
prospects of the United States be
coming a belligerent.
The Fuehrer’s emphasis on Ger
many’s determination to hold her
lead in “Ijistory's greatest armament
race" induced many to consider the
prospect of a longer war and more
enemies which stand in the way of
complete establishment of a “new
order.”
Thus the Deutsche Allgemeine
Zeitung considered the statement
attributed to a number of American
generals and admirals that German
armament production is at its maxi
mum while the United States is “a
nation on wheels,” and, therefore,
enjoys advantages in the mechanical
field which would be decisive in
military action.
"But one cannot swim over the
ocean on wheels,” the newspaper
observed, insisting that not ma
i See-BERLi N~Page-A-47)
German Air Attack
On Isle of Crete
Reported by British
Four Nazi Warplanes
Declared Shot Down
Over Royal Refuge
Bj the Associated Press.
CAIRO. Egypt, May 5—British
planes have shot down four Nazi
raiders over the Greek island of
Crete, the British Royal Air Force
reported today, indicating the Ger
mans were beginning a long-ex
pected intensive attack on Greece*
new headquarters.
The war bulletin said anti-air
craft guns destroyed other Nazi
planes over the island to which
King George II of Greece and his
ministers fled before the fall of
Athens.
Imperial forces counter-attacking
the Germans and Italians at Tobruk
were reported by the British Near
East command to have broken up
Axis preparations for renewal of
assaults on the encircled Libyan
port.
Heavy casualties were inflicted on
the Axis forces, which still are hold
ing a small sector in Tobruk's outer
defenses, the war bulletin said.
In East Africa the high command
announced a further advance against
Amba Alaji, some 280 miles north
east of Addis Ababa.
Fresh fighting has broken out in
the Salum sector of the North Af
rican front, along the Egyptian
Libyan border, wdth losses inflicted
on Axis troops and vehicles, it was
announced.
Speedy Iraq Settlement
Hoped for By Turkey
ISTANBUL, Turkey, May 4 (de
layed i (/^(. — Turkish newspapers,
while admitting that the fighting
in Iraq might spread throughout
the Near East, expressed hope today
the conflict would be settled speedily.
"Young Iraq must not play with
fire which might consume her,” said
the newspaper Cumhuriyet. adding
there were rumors that the Iraq
Prime Minister went to Germany
for advice.
"It is quite possible that the Arabs
In Palestine will join the Iraqis,’’
said the paper Tan. "and doubtless
German and Italian propaganda
will try to incite all* other Arab
nations to rise against England.
"So it is up to the British to
quiet the trouble, but perhaps it is
too late because the Iraq request
for German help gives the matter
a different aspect.”
The paper Vatan criticized the
attitude of British officials in Iraq
and said this was partially responsi
ble for the trouble there.
“They are unworthy of their
duties,” Vatan said. "British work
there has not been far-sighted
enough and gave the Germans great
opportunities to work against them.”
Selassie Is Reported
Near Addis Ababa
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 1
(Delayed) <&>.—Haile Selassie neared
this capital city today to reclaim
the throne from which he was
driven by the Italians in 1936. and
his subjects began celebrating ex
citedly.
Thousands flocked to St. George’s
Cathedral for a double celebration
—the imminent return of the King
(See_BRTnSH," Page A-5.)
World Gets Warning !
U. S. Is Ready to Fight
For Freedom Again
Speech at Wilson Shrine
Is Brief and Positive in
Stand Against Dictators
(Text of President's Speech on
Page A-7.)
By JOHN C. HENRY.
The world stood informed today
that the American people, who have
fought before for their faith in the
freedom of democracy, stand ready j
to fight again.
It was a pronouncement, broad
and yet positive, made yesterday by
President Roosevelt as he stood on
the sun-drenched front steps of the
restored birthplace home of Wood
row Wilson, the Nation's Chief Ex
ecutive during its last world cru
sade on behalf of the democratic
ideals, in the little mountain city
of Staunton, Va.
Close by him as he spoke was Mrs.
Wilson, widow of the World War
President; Secretary of State Hull,
principal adviser today on the mo
mentous problem of foreign policy:
and solemn-faced Viscount Lord
Halifax the British Ambassador.
And almost at the moment of
Mr. Roosevelt's declaration, the in
dividual who is leading today's
world war against the democracies—
Reichschancellor Adolf Hitler—was
telling his listeners that the Ger
many of today is superior in power
to “any conceivable coalition” of
enemy states and that her answer
to the “democratic agitators” is that
“the German people will never again
experience such a year as 1918.”
Carefully Worded Speech.
Mr. Roosevelt's address yesterday
was a brief one. taking a scant five
minutes for delivery, but it was care
fully worded and weighted with his
manifest determination to record
this Government on the side of con
tinuing, and perhaps more active,
resistance to the powers of force
and aggression.
And his concluding thought
seemed almost complementary to;
Hitler's spoken defiance of "any con
ceivable coalition” as he remarked
with deliberate emphasis that the
Wilson ‘‘ideals of freedom were wide
enough to support democracy in all
the world. He taught that democ
racy could not survive in isolation.
We applaud his judgment and his
faith.”
At other points, too, he accorded
broad tribute to the Wilsonian
‘‘vision splendid” of a family of na
tions, embracing an “emancipation
of conscience from power and the
substitution of freedom for force in
the government of the world.”
Ever Ready to Fight Again.
The very occasion for his speech,
dedication of the Wilson home, Mr.
Roosevelt referred to as an action
‘‘bearing true witness to the faith
that is in us—a simple faith in the
freedom of democracy in the world.”
“It is the kind of faith for which
we have fought before,” he added
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-3.)
Tangier Customs Rule
Reported Taken by Spain
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 5.—A Reuters
(British News Agency) dispatch
from Tangier said Spain assumed
control of customs today at that
former international zone in Africa,
just across from Gibraltar.
Cadets Snap Through Paces
In Hiah School Drill Contest
HP
Under a hot May sun, Washing
ton high school cadet companies
snapped through their paces at
Griffith Stadium today, opening the
annual company competition.
Company after company marched
on the field to the accompaniment
of their school bands, went through
formations and, in extended order
drill, chased imaginary enemies in
sections of the park where the Na
tionals’ outfielders chase flies. Add
ing realism to the scene, one com
pany almost “captured” several
workmen who were erecting towers
to light the ball park for night
fumps
As the dust blew off the powder
dry Infield into faces of the march
ers, two lads—Ellsworth Ely of East
ern A Company and William Hunt
ley of Roosevelt E Company—were
temporarily overcome by the heat
and removed to the first-aid tent for
treatment.
In “non-com" drill, First Sergt.
William A. Beal, Central B Com
pany, took first honors. Second
place went to First Sergt. Charles
Curtis, Anacostia B Company, and
third to Sergt. Robert Romero,
Coolidge A Company.
The schools seemed determi
to do their best to win from West
ern, which already has gold medals
in its trophy cases, won by its colonel
and one of its majors. Western, and
the other schools as well, have their
eyes on the diamond-studded Alli
son Nailor Medal, which goes to
the winner of the drill.
Eastern started the competition
today with Companies A, C and B
in that order appearing at 20-min
ute intervals. They were followed
by Companies K, E and G of Roose
velt and B and A of the separate
battalion at Calvin Coolidge. The
"non-com” competition followed the
company drill.
As the companies marched on to
the field in “columns of threes,” a
formation from the new drill manual
of last year, an old-timer in the
stands was heard to remark: “That's
a new one on me. We used to
inarch by fours."
The columns proceeded to the
southwest comer of the field and
were then presented to the judges
by their commanders. A rigid in
spection of clothing and equipment
followed, the inspection accounting
for 25 per cent of the final score in
the entire competition. After that,
(See CADETS, Page A-2.)
ft
German Planes
Cause Heavy
Belfast Damage
Explosions Set Off
In Plane Plants,
Nazis Declare
By the Associtted Press.
LONDON, May 5—Resurgent In
widespread daylight activity, the
German air force today followed up
last night’s pounding of Belfast,
capital of Northern Ireland; Liver
pool and other targets in England
and Scotland.
British fighters were said authori
tatively to have downed a German
fighter over the Channel this after
noon.
The daylight activity appeared
to be mostly reconnaissance, but four
Messerschmitts made a hit-run raid
on a village in Southeastern England
this afternoon, dropping a few bombs
and firing a few machine gun and
cannon rounds. Little damage was
reported.
Again Over North Ireland.
German planes also were sighted
over northwest England and bodies
were still being hauled from the
wreckage at Belfast, when raiders
again were reported over Northern
Ireland.
<In Berlin, the German high
command claimed that Luftwaffe
planes set fire to four ships in
Belfast harbor and started big
Ores and caused explosions in
aircraft industrial plants.)
Many business premises in Belfast
were reported in ruins and the gov
ernment there acknowledged "much
damage to commercial. Industrial
and residential property.”
Ambulances from Dublin were on
duty throughout the raid and Ire
land iEire) also sent fire-fighting
equipment as she had done before.
Liverpool Pounded Again.
Nazi bombers pounded also at
Liverpool—for the fourth successive
night—in apparent continuation of
the German effort to wreck British
ports at which United States aid
might be received.
"The air attack on Belfast last
night was heavy and sustained,”
said the second communique of the
day from the Northern Ireland Min
istry’ of National Security and
Northern Ireland R. A. P. head
quarters.
’’Large numbers of incendiaries
and high explosive bombs were
dropped and there was much dam
age to commercial, industrial and
residential property.
"Casualties will not prove as heavy
as was at first feared and the loss
of life has been less than was ex- |
pected in view of the intensity of j
the attack.”
British Defense Active.
Other raiders ranged generally
fiover England and Scotland.
Britain's defenses were active,
however, and the government said
24 raiders had been brought down
during the. week end—16 Saturday
night, a fighter before dusk yester
day and seven bombers last night.
Of this total, the British asserted,
19 could be credited to night fight
ers.
High-flying planes, apparently en
route to Liverpool and the Mersey
side, caused an alert in London at
midnight, which lasted until 5:30
am., but there was little activity
in the capital. The attack on Liver
pool, while heavy, was not so severe
as the one the night before, when
hundreds of Nazi raiders blasted the
big port.
(The Germans said the Satur
day night attack on liverpool
was the heaviest yet made on
any English city.)
The same night British raiders
showered Cologne with Britain's
new high-powered bombs and the
Air Ministry said they ‘'must have
done immense damage’’ in the great
Rhineland industrial center.
Four Vessels Set Afire
At Belfast, Nazis C aim
BERLIN, May 5 (tf*).—Luftwaffe
raiders pounding Belfast, Northern
Ireland, set afire four ships last
night in the harbor and started
tremendous fires and explosions in
aircraft industrial plants, the Ger
man high command announced to
day.
The daily war bulletin spoke of
(See RAIDS, Page A-3.)
King Christian III
COPENHAGEN (via Berlin), May
5 OP).—A stomach disorder confined
70-year-old King Christian X of
Denmark to his palace today, but
physicians said his illness was not
alarming.
Summary of Today's Star
Page.
Amusements.
B-eo
Comics _-B-18-19
Editorial_A-8
Finance_A-15
Legal Notices,
B-17
Lost and Found.
B-15
Page.
Obituary ...A-l#
Radio Programs,
B-18
Serial Story, B-12
Society.B-3
Sports ..A-12-14
Woman’s Page,
B-14-15
Foreign
German battleships hit by bombs at
Brest, British claim. Page A-2
Canadian press executive missing in
sea action. Page A-ll
Notional.
N. B. C. threatens court fight to save
network. Page A-2
Week-end talks fail to break G. M.
deadlock. Page A-5
Washington and Vicinity.
Potomac tub* held best of 3 pos
sibilities. Page B-l
Three killed in Washington area
traffic over week end. Page B-l
Randolph asks D. C. Committee to
support Overton plan. Page B-l
Dr. Gates, "Addling dentist." is dead
at 71. Page B-2
*
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HaIM i 5^ibi
Coast Guardsmen
Board 3 Yugoslav
Ships in New York
'Precautionary Measure/
Headquarters Says
Of Surprise Action
B» the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 5—Coast
Guardsmen today boarded Yugoslav
ships in New York harbor as a "pre
cautionary measure." Coast Guard
officers said, after having received
“certain rumors.”
Two ships were boarded, the Sreca
and Neti in Brooklyn, and a third,
the Predsednik Kopajpic, was said
to have been boaraed off Stapleton,
Staten Island.
The Coast Guard several times de
nied that the ships were “seized,” but
indicated they either were placed in
protective custody or were being
wachea closely.
Boarding parties moved on the
ships during the early morning
hours, executing a surprise maneu
ver. At the 2.906-ton freighter Neti’s
Brooklyn dock. Coast Guardsmen
also took possession of the pier.
Sreca Recently Arrived.
The 5.355-ton freighter Sreca, re
cently arrived from St. Thomas, was
boarded a few minutes later at a
nearby dock.
The Predsednik Kopajpic. a 1.798
ton ship, it wes reported, had at
tempted to sail from its Staten
Island pier before boarding parties
reached it off Stapleton.
Combined Argosies, Inc., operators
of the Predsednik Kopajpic, said
the ship was preparing to sail for
Cuba in ballast when the Coast
Guardsmen boarded her. They said
the vessel was under charter to the
North Atlantic and Gulf Steamship
Co., an American firm.
After Inspecting the ship officials
left three Coast Guardsmen aboard.
The action was similar to that
taken when the Government took
charge of German, Italian and Dan
ish vessels here. In Washington, the
Coast Guard also denied it had
“seized” the Yugoslav vessels, but
added that the Guardsmen were
closely watching them.
New York Coast Guard headquar
ters did not amplify its statement.
Determined Crews’ Stand.
In Washington its was understood
that the action was taken to deter
mine whether the officers and crews
of the Yugoslav ships were loyal to
King Peter or to the new govern
ment set up by Germany after in
vasion of the little kingdom.
Inspections were believed, it was
said, to have demonstrated that the
men were loyal to King Peter, and
hence Great Britain, and that no
further action would be taken to
seize the ships or detain the men.
A close watch will be maintained
over them, however, as in the case
of all other foreign ships.
There are 17 Yugoslav ships in the
United States at present.
The Coast Guard reported from
New Orleans the Yugoslav .steam
ship Timok at anchor in the Mis
sissippi River was boarded yesterday
on a "routine checkup.’’
Dr. Abemethy to retire from active
ministry. Page B-6
Editorial and Comment.
Editorials. Page A-8
This and That. Page A-8
Answers to Questions. Page A-8
David Lawrence. Page A-9
Dorothy Thompson. Page A-9
Jay G. Hayden. % Page A-9
Constantine Brown. Page A-9
The Conning Tower. Page A-9
Sports.
Griffs seen victims of Feller as Tribe
seeks Uth in row. PageA-12
Four winning rookie pitchers put
Cards’ pilot on spot. Page A-12
Chipped bone on pitching hand may
shelve Hudson. Page A-12
Bold Irishman due to test Whirl
away in Preakness Saturday.
Page A-13
Four District and Mid-Atlantic golf
events upcoming. Page A-14
Miscellany.
City News in Brief. Page.B-11
Nature’s Children. Page B-15
Bedtime Story. Page B-18
Winning Contract. Page B-19
Letter-Out. Page B-19
Uncle Ray’s Corner. Page B-19
Crossword Puszle. Page B-19
Supreme Court to Reconsider
Four-Four Murder Decision
By the Associated Press.
The Supreme Court agreed today
to reconsider its recent 4-to-4 de
cision upholding the wife murder
conviction of Robert S. James, Los
Angeles barber, at whose trial two
live rattlesnakes were displayed to
the jury.
in ms petition lor renearing James
contended that "no death penalty
should be imposed through what is
really a lack of decision by the
highest court of the Nation.”
He asserted that "where consti
tutional questions are involved in
the conviction and death sentence
of a man a rehearing ought to be
granted so that the case may be
decided by a majority of the court.”
The 4-to-4 decision was made
possible by the retirement last Feb
ruary 1 of Justice James C. Mc
Reynolds. The tribunal has granted
rehearings In several other cases
decided by an evenlv divided vote.
The State alleged that James
drowned his wife in a bathtub, as
part of a plan to collect insurance,
after failing to produce death by
thrusting her foot into a box con
taining two rattlesnakes.
The Supreme Court assigned the
1 case for argument next October 13.
Britain Advances
Clocks for Double
Daylight Saving
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. May 5—To get
more daylight out of the wak
ing hours. Britain advanced her
clocks one hour yesterday on
government orders.
With the clocks already an
hour ahead, this meant double
daylight saving time.
By utilizing more fully the
hours of daylight, the British
serve the double purpose of
conserving power and of con
centrating most activity in the
hours least likely to be inter
rupted by air attack.
Under the new time, there
will be a seven-hour difference
between British and Eastern
standard time.
20,000 Made Homeless
By Brazilian Floods
By the Aseociated Press.
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil, May 5.—
At least 20 000 persons were home
less today and the entire business
district of this port city was inun
dated by the worst floods ever
recorded in the Southern Brazil
state of Rio Grande do Sul.
More than 1.000 houses were
flooded here yesterday and more
than 400 homes were under water
in the western town of Alegrete.
Much damage was caused by the
waters on rice plantations near the
towTi of Cachoeira.
Street traffic is paralyzed in Porto
Alegre and water covering the rail
road tracks has kept numerous
trains from running.
So far. however, only one person
has drowned in this city. Three
rice farmers committed suicide at
Cachoeira.
Luce and Clare Boothe
Arrive at Hong Kong
El the Associated Press.
HONG KONG. May 5—Henry
Luce, publisher of Time and Life,
accompanied by his playwright wife,
Clare Boothe, arrived today from
Manila aboard a Clipper for what
he said was to be a “busman’s holi
day" at Chungking.
They intend to fly Wednesday to
the Chinese capital to be guests of
Dr. H. H. Kung, Chinese Finance
Minister, and his wife.
t*
Roosevelt's Letter
On Taxes 'Useless,'
Crowther Asserts
Offers 'Little Guidance/
House Member Declares
As Hearings Reopen
B» the Associated Press.
Representative Crowther. Repub
lican. of New York today termed
"perfectly useless" a letter by Presi
dent Roosevelt asking Congress for
a $3,500,000,000 tax bill which would
not make "the rich richer and the
poor poorer.”
Criticizing the letter at the re
opening of tax hearings by the
House Ways and Means Committee.
Mr. Crowther declared It gave the
committee "very little guidance."
"It doesn’t say a word about re
duction of expenditures in connec
tion with writing the tax bill,” he
added.
Representative Cooper. Democrat,
of Tennessee replied that the letter
was "splendid and appropriate.”
Letter Sent Friday.
The letter was sent to Chairman
Doughton Friday. In it. Mr. Roose
velt said in part:
"The Income tax cannot fix the
tax liability of individuals and cor
porations with equity as long as the
tax basis is defined to exclude sub
stantial and significant elements of
income.
"i nope your committee, witn tne
help of the Treasury, will formulate
a tax bill which will convince the
country that a national defense pro
gram intended to protect ■ our de
mocracy is not going to make the
rich richer and the poor poorer.”
Representative Jenkins. Republi
can, of Ohio commented that "it's
the general consensus” that Mr.
Roosevelt “might as well not have
sent the letter.”
Chairman Doughton expressed the
view that if the President had "laid
down any hard and fast rule we
would have resented it.”
Excess Tax Revision lTrged.
The first witness. Hugh M. Bennett
of Columbus, Ohio, asked that the
excess profits tax law be rewritten to
permit property acquired in reor
ganization to be valued, for excess
profits tax purposes, at a higher
figure than the prices paid at the
reorganization sales. Higher valua
tions would give the taxpayer a
higher excess profits tax credit.
Mr. Bennett said he appeared on
(See TAXES, Page A-4.)
North Wales Club Purchased
By Chrysler for Horse Farm
Special Dispatch to The Star.
WARRENTON, Va., May 5 —
Walter P. Chrysler. jr„ son of the
late automobile magnate, bought the
North Wales estate for $175,000 to
day, shortly before it was to be sold
at public auction.
His purchase includes more than
70 buildings, including a racing stable
with a 3i-mile track on the estate's
1,000 acres!
The private sale, which halted the
auction, was made through Robert
C. Winmill, president of Colonial
Estates, Inc. The estate, a show
place of the Virginia hunt country,
has been a club since 1929.
The new owner, Mr. winmui said,
planned to use the estate as a breed
ing place for horses.
The sale was completed by long
distance telephone eight minutes
before the auction was to start. Mr.
Chrysler, who had visited the estate
several months ago, was in New
York and Mr. Winmill in Warren
ton.
A number of prospective buyers
4
had been waiting for the opening
of the auction to purchase parcels
of the land. On Friday, some of
the furnishings of the 72-room
mansion had been sold at auction.
At the time of the marriage of
the Duke and Duchess of Windsor,
the estate was considered a possible
American home for the couple. The
Duchess lived there while obtaining
a divorce from her first husband.
The original house of field stone
was built in 1773. The land is part
of a 2.900-acre grant from Lady
Culpeper to two Welshmen in 1719.
The place was sold by a descendant.
Henry Ashton, to the late Edward
Weld, New York cotton broker, in
1913.
Mr. Chrysler, a comparative new
comer to American racing, now
owns about 50 brood mares and has
an interest in the fine stallion.
Bahram, imported from England
about a year ago by a group of
Americans. Bahram now is at
Gwynne Vanderbilt's Sagamore
Farms near Baltimore.
A
Defense Housing
Order Provides
140 D.C. Units
Families of Enlisted
Men to Get Homes
At Three Posts
BACKGROUND—
Shifting of population because
of national defense program has
caused housing shortages in many
communities near industrial and
military establishments. Defense
housing authorities have obtained
appropriations ol $150,000,000 and
allocations of a similar sum under
Lanham Act to relieve emergency
situation. Washington's expan
sion is unique in that it is due
to influx of defense agency
workers rather than industrial
or military personnel.
By JAMES FREE.
One hundred and forty dwelling
units for families of enlisted men
at the Army Medical Center, the
Army War College and Bolling Field
were included in a defense housing
program approved for 13 localitiea
by President Roosevelt today.
The program, recommended by
Defense Housing Co-ordinator C F.
Palmer, provides for construction
with public funds of a total of
11,625 units, which would cost an
average of about $3,300 each.
Seventy of the local units are to
be for the Army Medical Center
personnel. 50 at the Bolling Field
Army Air Station and 20 at the
Army War College. Building of the
houses at the medical center and
war college will be supervised by
the Federal Works Agency with
funds available under the Lanham
Act, while the air station houses are
to be constructed under the F W. A.,
i under extension of a contract as
signed to the*Navy.
2.800 Units Now Total.
The new allocations bring the
! total number of family dwelling
units scheduled for the Washing
ton are in the defense public hous
ing program to more than 2.800,
exclusive of 624 to be supplied by
private enterprise and 1.000 units in
dormitories for single girls.
Other localities with their units
under the program are:
Pittsburgh. 5.000; Bridgeport,
Conn.. 1.600; San Diego. Calif., 1.500J
Wilmington, N. C., 900; Hartford,
Conn., 585; Long Beach, Calif . 600;
Dallas-Fort Worth. Tex.. 400; Nash
ville, Tenn., 300; New Britain. Conn.,
200: Weldon Springs. Mo, 200. and
Gadsden, Ala., and Corry, Pa., 100
each.
In his letter to the President, rec
ommending the allocations, Mr.
Palmer stated that in most of the
13 areas the co-ordinated defense
housing program includes the use
of private residential construction.
Sudden Need Stressed.
Mr. Palmer pointed out that, in
j general. "National defense activities
j of the localities involved have caused
I a sudden and immediate need for
j the number of dwelling units indi
I cated for occupancy by persons of
; limited incomes engaged in national
defense activties.’’
As The Star pointed out yesterday,
the public defense housing program
in the Washington area has been
' complicated by discovery that houses
; built with Lanham Act funds ap
parently will not be available for
! defense agency workers. All dwell
ing units approved for this section
to date have been specifically in
tended for families of Army and
Navy enlisted men or workers in
military posts—except the 1,000
houses projected for Greenbelt, Md.
Defense housing authorities her*
have indicated they will seek amend
ment of the Lanham Act to mak*
the 1.000 Greenbelt homes available
to Government defense workers.
Such an amendment is also needed
to assure that future public housing
can be used for this purpose, it was
said.
Selectees Switch to Train
As Strike Ties Up Buses
Because of a strike on the Penn
sylvania Greyhound Lines, 32 se
lectees from Montgomery County
Draft Board No. 3. who planned to
go to the induction station in Bal
timore this morning by chartered
bus, were forced to make a last
minute change and take a train
j from Silver Spring.
The men had assembled at draft
board headquarters at Bethesda
I Chevy Chase Community Center for
i final instructions when they learned
j of the strike through a telephone
call to the company regarding their
I destination. The board made hur
ried arrangements with the Balti
more & Ohio Railroad to have the
men take the 8:22 am. train from
Silver Spring.
Garment Workers' Unit
Charges News Guild Gag
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. May 5 —The Inter
national Ladies Garment Workers
Publication Unit of the New York
Newspaper Guild charged today that
guild leadership was attempting to
stifle free speech and subjecting
the unit to “a typical Communist
Nazi purge.”
The charge was made in a formal
answer to earlier guild notice to
the unit to explain the stand of 11
unit members who had criticized the
guild strike against the newspaper,
the Jewish Day.
The unit, composed of employe*
on the Garment Workers' Union (A.
P. L.) publications, had criticized
the New York Newspaper Guild (C.
I. O.) for “precipitating” a strike
against the Jewish paper.
Nat Einhorn, executive secretary
of the guild, said the “first question
to be decided by the membershsip
is whether members of the guild are
to be permitted to engage in strike
breaking activity against a ■triks
I called by the guild.”
A