Evening star. [volume], November 13, 1941, Image 2

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

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Closing N Y. Markets—Sales, Page 24. _(4>l M*>n* A«.oci»t«d Prt>«.__
Frith YEA It. N->. THREE CENTS.
Climactic Battle for Moscow Chest Reports
Taking Shape as Germans and $135,633 Total
Reds Pour Reserves Into Line As Drive Opens
Defenses of Kerch
Being Stormed,
Nazis Declare
F A MiiH’prl Prp'^
Masses of German and Russian
reserves were reported moving up
to the central front today for a
possible climactic battle for Mos
cow. while m the south Adolf
Hitler's Crimean armies were de
clared to be storming the forti
fications of Kerch at the gate
way to the Caucasus oil fields.
A Nazi spokesman s.ud the Ger
man air force already was roaring
over the narrow Kerch strait to
car’T the war into the gteat fields
which produce much ot Russia's oil.
German milttan disjatches said
NP-7.1 assault troops had captured
several ol Kerch's ke\ fortifications
and that the port w.i- open to
dii'pct attack from the west and
south.
Nazis Testing Soviet l ines.
On the Moscow front. Soviet re
ports said tlie Germans were in
tensifying their scouting operations,
testing Red Army lines along the
entire HOO-mile defense arc appar
ently as the prelude to ?. new grand
offensive. Fresh Soviet troops were
streaming up to the front to meet
the expected assault.
On the north (lank, m the Kalinin
Hector, the Russians said they had
driven the German invaders back
toward the Volga River despite a
hurricane of Nazi mortar, machine
gun and rifle fire.
Southwest of Kalinin, e Red Army
group was said to have crossed the
Volga m a successful raid on the
German rear.
Gravest Threat at Kerch.
The gravest three.t on the long
battlelront centered at Kerch, with
t Iip Germans apparently making
final preparations to cross the Kerch
strait and drive into the Caucasus.
Reuters, the British news agency,
quoted the Rome radio as announc
ing that German and Rumanian
forces had occupied the port, which
lies on a (narrow strait separating
thp Crimea from the Caucasus
mainland.
Dispatches to the Soviet news
paper Pravda however, asserted
that Fed Army troops had beaten
off a German attempt to turn the
Russian lines in the Kerch area.
"The German attacks were re
pulsed by the joint efforts of land
troops aircraft and naval forces."
Pravda said.
Nazi Planes Blast Ships.
Russian front-line reports said the
Germans were "equally unsuccess
ful" in fighting near Sevastopol, key
Black Sea naval base at the south
west ip of the Crimea, and that
repeated Nazi tank assaults "failed
to break through our defenses.”
German bombers were pictured
hv toe Nazi high command as
biasting furiously at Soviet ships
which might be used to evacuate
Fed Army troops from the penin
sula. A Nazi communique reported
that three cruisers, a destroyer and
five large merchant ships were badly
damaged in nearby waters.
On the central front, Soviet dis
patrhes declared that fierce battles
were raging on both flanks of Mos
cow's defense line—at Kalinin, 95
miles northwest of the capital, and
at Tula, 100 miles south.
Battle at Tula.
At Tula, where the Germans were
reported driven back 5 miles yester
riav, a Soviet correspondent gave
this account of the battle:
•Our artillery fire destroyed the
enemy fortifications at the ap
proaches to the city. Retreating
from the line, the enemy left hun
dreds of dead and wounded and
anti-aircraft guns, tractors and au
tomatic rifles. Fighting is now going
on outside the city."
The Moscow radio said Field
Marshal Gen. Fedor von Bock, com
manding the Nazi central front
armies, had moved up a division of
Hitler's elite guards in tire Voloko
lamsk sector, 65 miles northwest of
the capital, in preparation for a
new assault there.
The Finnish air command said it
had cut the Murmansk-Leningrad
railway anew in many places by
continued attacks despite unfavor
able weather. A train and a sta
tion building also were reported hit.
Reuters said a Rome radio broad
cast reported that Helsinki had been
raided by air three times within 24
hours.
A large Russian transport was
sunk yesterday when it struck a
minefield in the central part of the
Gulf of Finland, a Finnish com
munique announced.
Nazis Gird for New Drive.
London military quarters report
ed that the Nazis were apparently
girding for a new offensive against
Moscow at several points despite
enormous losses already suffered in
the 42-day-old drive on the Soviet
capital.
Authoritative London quarters
•aid 16 German armored divisions
and 70 infantry divisions—perhaps
1.290 000 troops—had suffered "ap
preciable casualties” and that in
'ome instances Nazi lasses ran as
high as 50 per cent.
Eight Nazi armored divisions were
withdrawn from the front early in
September after two phases of
"furious and exceptionally heavy
fighting.” these quarters said, and
have only reappeared in action in
the last, few days.
"Bitter fighting is continuing in
renditions in which frost, snow and
mud are additional causes for
casualties,” the source said.
London military observers said
Hitler's high command was still
naffleri in attempts to find a "soft
spot” in Moscow's defense ring.
"Thp Germans have hit the de
fenders at so many spots and found
them capable of either warding off
blow* or t a kins punishment that
(Sec AVAR., Page A-4j
Showdown Parley Tomorrow
On Coal; Phone Strike Nears
Long-Distance Workers on Verge of Walkout
In 42 States; Aircraft Stoppage Threatened
i Pictures on Parte .4-2.1
As principals in the threatened
strike of captive coal mines marked
time awaiting an "all out" con
ference at the White House tomor
row peaceful settlement of a rail
road workers’ dispute appeared more
remote today and an independent
union of lone-distance telephone
workers was on the verge of a
walkout.
Telephone union leaders asked
that the controversy be certified to
the Defense Mediation Board, and
said they would accept, in advance
any decision made bv it.
In Buffalo more trouble threat
ened when a C I. O. official pie
dated a strike would be called at
Bell Aircraft's two large warplrne
plants unless the company "begins
to bargain." He said the workers
are •getting hot."
The White House remained con
cerned principally with the coal
mine trouble. President Roosevelt
uniting John L Lewis, president of
the United Mine Workers: Philip
Murray, head of the Congress of
i Industrial Organizations: Thomas
Kennedy. U. M. W. secretary-treas
urer. and heads of three large steel
companies operating tiie captive
mines, to meet with him tomorrow
morning.
The steel men invited were Ben
iamin F Fairless of United States
Steel Corp : Eugene G. Grace of
Bethlehem Steel, and Frank Purnell
of Youngstown Sheet <Y Tube Co.
The National Polic\ Committee of
the U M W has been summoned
here for a meeting tomorrow also to
determine its action in the face of
disapproval b' the !>< fense Media
tion Board of ihr U M W demands
for a union shop in the captive coal
mines.
The U M \Y already has a union
shop m the non-captive mines, and
has sought to extend it to tlie others.
Under it. all miners must become
union members within a stated pe
riod after they ge' their job'
The failure of the Mediation
Board to recommend such a system
led yesterday to the resignation
from the board of Mi Murray. Mr.
, See STRIKES, Page A-6.•
Demand for New Front
To Relieve Russians
Flares in Commons
Shinwell Asks Explanation
Of Why Offensive in
Libya Is Held Up
By thp A >or:. ted Press.
LONDON. Nov 13—A renewed
demand that Britain form a second
fighting front to aid Russia, with
emphasis on the possibilities of
Libya, was sounded in parliamentary
debate today by Laborite Emanuel
Shinwell. who has been among the
critics mentioned as a possible re
cruit for the British cabinet.
'Why has the offensive in Libya
been delayed?" Mr. Shinwell de
manded. "It has been expected
many months.
"It would in effect have created
a second front. It would certainly
hate distracted the Nazis and cre
ated difficulties for them. Let the
government answer that question.
"Next week or next month an of
fensive in Libya may not be as
effective."
High Spot of Dehate.
If the failure to move again into
Libya was due to a lack of equip
ment. Mr. Shinwell added, then ob
viously it is idle to speak of invas
ion elsewhere.
The Shinwell criticism was the
high spot of a wide-ranging debate
in the House of Commons on the
House's reply to King George Vi s
message opening a new session of
Parliament yesterday.
Mr. Shinwell asked whether de
fense of Britain's Oriental empire
represented the government's idea
of a second front and. if so. whether
it bore Russian approval.
He asserted that if Britain actually
had what seemed to be air superi
ority over Germany, then the R. A.
p.'s "failure" to take the initiative
was "inexcusable."
He recalled that Prime Minister
Churchill made the parity claim for
the R A. F. on Monday when he also
declared that Britain would join the
United States immediately in any
war with Japan.
Croft Statement Hit.
Socialist Dennis N. Pritt called for
the removal from the government
of elements "lukewarm” to the
British-Russian alliance.
Referring to a recent statement by
Lord Croft. Undersecretary of War.
that the British should concentrate
their energies on defense of the
Eastern empire. Mr. Shinwell added:
"For a representative of the War
Office this declaration was inex
cusable. * * * This would be fatal
to victory.
"While large forces were im
mobilized Hitler would be free to
reorganize his resources and squeeze
the last ounce of production out of
the occupied territories.”
Charging that Lord Moyne had
“abused” government critics and re
ferring to his parliamentary asser
tion that an invasion of Western
Europe would be "suicide," Mr. Shin
well declared:
Mr. Shinwell made it clear he
was not accusing Prime Minister
Churchill and several others in the
government of "harboring subversive
thoughts.” but added “we are not so
sure of all the others.”
Refusal of Office Disclosed.
Replying for the government. First
Lord of the Admiralty A. V. Alex
ander disclosed that Mr. Shinwell
had refused to accept office when
Mr. Churchill first formed his gov
ernment in May of 1940.
Mr. Alexander said Mr. Shinwell
apparently had decided "that in this
war his role should be that * * •
of a self-appointed critic who re
ceives the applause of the less in
formed among the multitude rather
than to work in self-imposed dis
cipline and silence.”
Seattle Reserve Flyer
Killed in Norfolk Crash
By the Associated Press.
NORFOLK. Va.. Nov. 13—Ensign
John H. Langdon. U. S. N. R., of Se
attle. Wash., crashed to his death
in a Navy plane yesterday off Cape
Henry.
%
New Peace Efforts
Hinted as Procope
Talks Wilh Welles
Finnish Minister
Silent on Reports
Of Truce Moves
Bv the Associated Press.
The Finnish Minister railed at
the State Department todat. while
word spread in diplomatic circles
that the United States and Great
Britain might renew thPir efforts to
end Finnish Russian hostilities.
The visit of the Minister. Hjalmar
J. Ptocope. to Undersecretary of
State Wells followed closely on the
delivers- of the Finnish govern
ment’s note rejecting a Soviet offer
to negotiate peace with Finland,
which was transmitted to the Finns
by the United States.
Mr. Procope refused to make any
comment except to say he expected
to “talk" about the situation with
Mr. Welles.
The informed belief here was that
the Helsinki government had left
the diplomatic door open for further
discussions along such lines.
American officials were non-com
mittal on the subject pending a
thorough study of the note, which
set forth the Finns' position and
their insistence upon guaranteed
security for their little republic.
Secretary Hull gave the only hint
of possible future action when he
voiced the hope yesterday that an
analysis would disclose that Fin
land was not irrevocably committed
to collaboration with Nazi Germany.
In diplomatic quarters much sig
nificance was attached to the con
cluding portion of the Finnish note,
which stated:
“The supreme task which provi
dence at the present juncture has
assigned the United States for the
remedying of prevailing conditions
and insuring the existence of mil
lions of human beings, would be
achievement of a permanent state of
law between nations that would en
able also a small nation to feel its
existence secure.”
Again and again the necessity of
a guaranteed future security for
Finland was emphasized in the note,
made public late yesterday by Mr.
Procope.
“Finland." the note said, “is de
sirous of terminating the struggle
as soon as the danger threatening
her existence has been averted and
guarantees created for continuous
security." However, any cessation in
the fighting was unacceptable if it
was to be merely an interlude in
Finland's “incessant self-defense
against (Russia's! imperialistic
strivings.”
The note reminded Americans
that Finland had been "subjected on
two separate occasions, within the ’
space of less than two years, to un- ;
justified armed attacks on the part
of the mighty Bolshevist terrorist
state.”
During the course of earlier con
versations between Undersecretary
Welles and Mr. Procope, another sec
tion of the note asserted, the “grave
doubts of Finland, based on many j
bitter experiences regarding the trust
that can be reposed in promises given
by the Soviet Union, were explained
to the Government of the United
States.” (The Russians had indi
cated readiness to make territorial
concessions.)
The United States, the note added,
had not offered any guarantees of
security “as a pledge of a new peace
between Finland and the Soviet Un
ion.”
Reply to U. S. Overtures.
A State Department memoran
dum on the Welles-Procope talks,
made public last Friday, disclosed
that the United States held that the
question of guarantees would arise
only “in the event that the govern
ment of Finland desired to explore”
peace possibilities.
The Finnish note was in answer to
diplomatic overtures by the United
States during the last three months
! to end the Finnish-Russian war.
The United States took the posi
tion that, now that Finland has re
i gained territory previously lost to
Russia, continued fighting can only
i (See FINNS. Page A-4.i
■
5,631 Pledges Are
Turned In at First
Of Luncheons
Volunteer workers who opened the
annual drive of the Community
Chest today repotted at a luncheon
inerting at the Willard Hotel shortly
after noon that $135,633.35 of the
S2.000 000 goal already had been ob
tained.
Tire total was made np of 5.631
pledges and represented 6'6 per
cent of the sum the workers hope
to solicit during lhr nr\t two weeks.
The breakdown by groups included:
From the Government unit. 4.410
pledge totaling $34,485 fo. 4 1! per
rent of its quota: group solicitation
unit. 963 pledges totaling S72.093.35,
for 10 64 per cent of its quota: me
tropolitan unit. $27,410: District unit.
258 pledges. $1,645 for 2.22 per cent
of its quota.
Ten thousand volunteer workers
tock the field, meanwhile, to spread
ovt r Washington the slogan. "For
Their Tomorrow—Give Today."
They began their canvassing
with the reminder that improved
business conditions in the District
aiP more than offset, from a wel
fare standpoint, bv the immense in
crease in population and the conse
quent growth in the number of
needy.
On tlip eve of the campaign
yesterday the District Commis
sioners issued a proclamation char
acterising the Chest drive as "an
opportunity to reaffirm our belief
in the American wav of life." and
calling upon Washingtonians to
lend their support.
49 Agency Members.
Into even home and office the
canvassers will carry their plea
during the next two weeks m ail
effort to reach their goal during
the campaign pei lod allotted They
will ask for contributions for the
continued operation of 49 Chest
member agencies each of which is
dedicated to the human welfare of
the young, the helpless, the sick
and the distressed.
Starting them out in their drive
John Clifford Folger. general cam
paign chairman, cheered them with
the thought resulting from the solic
itation efforts of the Adtanee Gilts
Unit, that the public does not
intend to give higher taxes as#a
reason for not contributing.
"Contrary to our fear.-.’’ he said,
"there has bpen no disposition on
the part of contributors to reduce
their gifts as a result of increased
taxes In other words, there has
been no tendency to pass on taxes
to the sick and the poor and the
needy."
Speaking to the public, Mr. Folger
said there is a ready answer to
the question. "Why is there need for
Chest support when business is
good?"
"Our population has increased
from 30 to 40 per cent in the last
10 years.' he explained in replying
to the question, "and when our
population goes up. the number of
dependable and sick people in
creases. People must realize that
a sick person or a' sick child or a
fellow out of luck is just as bad off
and needs help just as much in
good times as in bad."
Reminding that local hospital
needs have reached emergency pro
portions. the chairman recalled that
"informed people are concerned over
the crowded living conditions in
Washington and are fearful that
these may make thp danger of an
epidemic this winter a real possi
bility.”
Eight report meetings, including
the one today, are scheduled to be
held between now and the end of
the drive. November 27. The others
have been set for tomorrow. Mon
day, Tuesday and Friday next week.
November 21. November 24, Novem
ber 25 and November 27.
Preparing for the drive, thou
sands of posters bearing the cam
paign slogan have been distributed
over the city, in windows, stores,
offices, corridors and on lamp posts.
Today more than 3.000 streetcars
and buses appeared with Com
munity Chest flags and posters, and
commercial and special advertise
ments have appeared with remind
ers of this annual effort to help
those who cannot help themselves.
Blue Tags for Givers.
Beginning today, a small blue
"giver tag" on a red string became
the distinguishing badge of those
who have contributed to the Chest.
The marker bears a design adopted
as the permanent Chest sea!, an
incorporation of a drawing of the
Lincoln Memorial with the words
"For Humanity.” More than 200.000
of these are expected to be given
out before the drive ends.
The volunteer workers carrying
on the campaign will give hours of
their time and effort without pay.
Community Chest officials explained,
and urged that the public be as
considerate as possible.
Meanwhile, General Chairman
Folger expressed sympathy with
local business firms, int hat the
campaign comes at a time when
the pressure of increased business
activity has placed volunteer time
tSee CHEST, Page-]A-4t
Litvinoff, Steinhardt Missing
Two Days; London Anxious
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. Nov. 13. — Increasing
anxiety was expressed in London to
night over the safety of a plane
carrying Laurence A. Steinhardt,
United States Ambassador to Mos
cow, and Maxim Litvinoff, new
Soviet Ambassador to Washington,
which was understood to have left
Kuibyshev, Russia, two days ago for
Teheran, Iran.
Usually informed persons said they
had no word as to whehter a search
hart been instituted along the route,
adding that the only definite newg
that the plane was overdue came in
press dispatches from Teheran. ,
Officials said, however, there was
a good chance that the plane had
been forced down by weather at
some point out of communication
with Teheran or Kuibyshev.
The direct air line from Kuiby
shev to Teheran is about 1,300
miles, part of it over the Caspian
Sea.
Also reported aboard the plane
were Sir Walter Monckton. chief
of British Information Services at
Cairo, and one or two other Brit
ish officials. They were due at
Teheran Tuesday and it. had been i
arranged for them to continue im
m*diet»ly to Cairo.
Tf you boys keep THAT up^\
I'M not going to be responsible
FOR FERDINAND ANY LONGER^
Cab Men Shout Down Hankin's
Proposal for 2 5-Cent Fare
Commission Chairman Offers Temporary
Increase Pending Collection of Data
A Public Utilities Commission
hearing on a proposed increase in
taxicab rates was recessed in an
uproar shortly after noon todav
when assembled cab drivers shout
ed rejection of an offer by Chair
man Gregory Hankin for a tem
porary one-zone 25-rent rate pend
ing collection of evidence" to sup
port a final order.
The cab drivers are seeking a
boost from the existing 20-cent r^tte
to one of 30 cents.
Warned that cab drivers had been
exceedingly re-tless in recent
months and that the cabs "would
be pullpd off thp street" if the com
mission insisted on its temporary
boast, of but 5 cents for a trip con
fined to one zone Mr. Hankin re
plied that the Public Utilities Com
mission would not be influenced by
any strike threat.
Testimony previously taken had
indicated Washington's cab drivers
and operators were substantially in
agreement for an increase from 20 (
to 30 cpnts for a trip confined to one
zone, without anv change in other
rates except elimination of the
"free" zone, under which no charge
now is made when a zone boundary
is crossed for a trip between points
within one zone.
While he previously had assured
the drivers the commission was en
tirely sympathetic to giving the
drivers rates sufficient to afford "an
American standard of living." he
'Cooling-Off' Law
Being Considered
By Administration
i
Officials Also Reported
Studying Plan for
Living Cost Bonuses
dj i nr nswun ru rt r."
High administration officials were
reported authoritatively today to be
considering legislation requiring a
"cooling off’’ period before workers
could strike in defense industries. !
but providing for bonuses to em
ployes based on the cost of living.
President Roosevelt, a congres
1 sional informant said, has been
| studying the Canadian regulations
governing labor relations and pro- j
j viding for wage adjustments on the
basis of living costs.
In the Senate, meanwhile. Senator
Herring. Democrat, of Iowa pro
I posed sweeping legislation which
' would outlaw defense industry 1
! strikes which had not been previ
ously approved by a majority of the
affected workers in a secret vote
conducted by the Labor Relations
Board.
Senator Herring's measure would
••freeze’’ the present open and closed
shop status for the duration of the
emergency. It also would provide
for voluntary arbitration and would
suspend for a year the bargaining
rights of unions which caused work
stoppages when strikes had not been
1 voted by secret ballot.
Whether Mr. Roosevelt would ask
Congress to curb defense strikes was
said at the White House, mean
while. to be a matter which w'ould
have to be held in abeyance pending
tomorrows conference between the
Chief Executive. C. I. O. officials and
steel company officers regarding the
possible strike in the steel com
panies’ captive coal mines.
insisted tnc commission wouin ne^n
evidence as to revenues now re
ceived bv drivers under present
rates. Industry spokesmen said they
could not supply the information,
that cab drivers do not keep mani
fests.
At this juncture. Mr. Hankin said
the commission was proposing for a
temporary period an increase of .
from 20 to 25 cents for a one-zone
trip, and before he could finish
whatever else he was proposing for
the time being, a chorus of objec
tions came from the half hundred
drivers in attendance.
When the crowd quieted Chair
man Hankin announced the heating
was adjourned until 2 pm Mean
while. the commission would "con
sult" and resume the hearing after
the recess
William E Andrus.-, vice president
of the cab drivers' union, w arned the
commission that industry leaders
had been fighting to prevent a taxi
strike in recent months. Others
declared cabs would be "pulled off
the street" if the temporary rate
plan were ordered.
Jerry Faust, editor of the Taxi
Go-Round, taxicab trade paper, as
serted the publication had been in
fluential in holding the drivers in
line to await a time when the
Utilities Commission could act on
their rate increase plea, but that the
publication "could not be an apolo
gist for the commission after today."
Krjeots Hankin Plan.
F E Dollar protested that cab
drivers already get 25 cents for a
one-zone trip, including a nickel tip.
and referred to the Hankin tempo
rary plan as providing only an ad
ditional "measly" nickel
Before the adjournment was or
dered Mr. Andruss said that since
the temporary rate plan was ‘ arbi
trary and not based on evidence in
the record" that the commission
should go all the way to ordering a
temporary 10-cent boast jn the fare
for one zone. He reminded the
commission of the belief of many
dri vers that no zone fare system was
fair, that he didn't think the courts
believed some zone rates were fair
and argued that meters would give
the only fair system of taxi charges.
Harry Davis, representing Dia
mond cabs, told the commission
there had been more unrest among
drivers in the past two months than
he had ever known over a period of
years and he pleaded for a tem
porary 30-cent charge for a one
zone trip.
Chairman Hankin replied That he
“was entirely sympathic" to the case
of the drivers, but that the author
ity of the commission was limited.
He referred to an understanding pre
viously reached with the drivers that
they did not have and could not sup
ply eviednce as to what revenues
the men were receiving. It was lor
this reason he suggested a temporary
rate plan to permit time for collec
tion of data on what receipts the
drivers now are getting.
Chairman Hankin said the com
mission had received petitions from
some parties for a different schedule
of rates and even from some who
pleaded that there should be no
change in rates. He added that if
a new uniform rate were ordered,
it would be forced upon those in
disagreement with the majority pe
titioners. He said the commission
could not force these others to com
ply with a rate schedule unless the
commission had the facts to support
its decision.
The case was opened by Jack
Royer, president of the Taxicab
Owners’ Association, representing 10
taxi associations or companies seek
ing the 20 to 30 cent increases.
Shortly before noon a 10-minute
recess was called by Chairman
Hankin and thereafter Mr. Royer
was permitted to continue reading
a lengthy prepared statement show
ing how the majority of the industry
had agreed upon the new rate
schedule and arguing it was justified
by increased costs of operation and
living.
wiii|ii uiiiisr m|irrmrni.
Mr. Royer explained there was a
diversity of opinion among taxi
owners and drivers as to what
change should be made and that a
compromise plan finally had been
agreed upon, with the idea that the
various elements in the industry
would "give a little and take a lit
tle for the good of all operators. ’
He argued that less than 28 per
cent of the public would be affected
by the change from 20 to 30 cents
<Pee TAXI RATES. "•' _
A
Move Grows at Capitol
To Ask Centralization
Of Priorities Control
President May Be Told
Many Small Businesses
Face Extinction
By ih<> A'-onan-d Pr*s*.
A bipartisan appeal to President
Roosevelt for centralization of con
trol over priorities and defense con
tracts in one agency was reported
today to be under consideration in
Congress.
The move grew out of complaints
that the defense program's drain on
materials was forcing many small
businesses to suspend operations.
Administration lieutenant' were
reported to have asked opposition
leaders if thev were willing to join
in a protest to the President that
some small firms were being un
necessarily denied the mateiials to
produce non-defense products
While there was no attempt to
agree cm specific recommendation.-,
most of those interested in the move
appeared to fepl that the problem
might be solved if the Supply Pri
orities and Allocations Board were
given broader powers over the dis
tribution of materials and defense
contracts.
r. .1. d. \ aiiru inrim inr.
S. P. A B . of which Donald Nel
son is executive director, was set up
by President Roosevelt as a general
clearing house for the defense pro
gram. with a division headed bv
Floyd Odium directed to deal with
the problems of “little business."
However, one legislator, who asked
to remain anonymous, said a per
sonal investigation had convinced
him that the board's effective au
thority extended to not more than
30 per cent of the defense contracts
that were let.
This legislator said it was his un
derstanding that S. P. A. B. efforts
to channel contracts to smaller bus
iness firms had been overridden
many times bv Army and Navy offi
cials who. clothed with legal au
thority to let the contracts, had in
sisted that the orders be given to
larger (Wmipanies to avoid possible
production delays.
George Reports Complaints.
Senator George. Democrat, of
Georgia said he had received many
complaints that small firms had
been denied necessary basic mate
rials. He said he believed that the
only solution lay in centralizing
authority over the entire defense
program, a course that has been
urged strongly by Senators Vanden
berg. Republican, of Michigan and
Taft, Republican, of Ohio.
Senator Maloney Democrat, of
Connecticut told the Senate recently
that unless some action was taken
swiftly thousands of little busi
nesses were going to be forced to
the wall. His colleague. Senator
Danaher. Republican, of Connecti
cut. joining in this plea, recalled
that the Senate Finance Commit
tee had received testimony that
160.000 firms employing up to 20
persons each were likely to be put
out of business by denial of priori
ties.
5 R. A. r. Myers Killed
In Ontario Bomber Crash
By the As^ociatPd Pres«.
HAMILTON. Ontario, Nov. 13 —
Three Royal Air Force flyers were
killed and two seriously injured early
today when their bomber crashed
into the Caledon Mountain near
here.
The plane, a twin-engined Avro
Anson, was from the R. A. F. naviga
tion school at nearby Mount Hope
one of 13 taking part in routine
night exercises, an R. A. F. state
ment said.
President, Cold Better,
Still Remains in Study
President Roosevelt, the head cold
that kept him away from his office
yesterday improved, today was still
having some difficulty with sinusitis
and remained in his study.
He scheduled only two appoint
ments for the day. one with Senator
Kilgore, Democrat, of West Vir
ginia and the West Virginia con
gressional delegation, and the other
with Senator Murray, Democrat, of
Montana.
William D Hassett. White House
secretary, said the President planned
to work in his study the rest of the
dav in the hope that the constant
temperature there would clear up his
sinus trouble.
Senate Passes
District Rent
Control Bill
Patman Amendment
Out, Measure Goes
Back to House
The District rent control bill to
freeze rentals at the Januan 1
level was passed quickly by the
Senate today,
It now will be returned to the
House for concurrence in amend
ments made by the Senate District
Committee and subsequently ap
proved by the Senate.
The principal change removed the
House amendment sponsored by
Representative Patman. Democrat,
of Texas which would have maelp
the investment value of a prop
erty a basis for fixing a fair ren'al.
Senate approval of the bill ar.d
the amendments came after a brief
explanation of its features bv Chair
man McCarran of the District Com
mittee.
Most of the questions mere a.skerl
by Senator McNary of Oregon. Re
publican leaner who declared n®
had long recognized t he necessity
of rent control in the District, and
wanted any iegi-lation pul into
effect to be "tight "
"If it's a good bill, I'm for it,”
he declared.
New Powerful Bomber
Being Used by British
By thp Av-ocjated
AN R. A F STATION SOME
WHERE IN ENGLAND. Nov. 13 —A
new type of British bomber powered
bv only two motors but capable of
carrying bombs deep into Germany
has been in operation since August,
the Air Ministry disclosed yesterday.
The bomber, an Amo Manchester,
has a bomb compartment about the
size of a two-car garage, it was said
Thr ministry did not give the load
capacity of the ship, but it is known
that these heavily armed planes
have earned heavy loads of high
explosive bombs as far as Stettin,
Germany. 650 miles on a direct line
from Britain.
The plane is longer and taller
than the Boeing flying fortress, hut
its wingspread is about 14 feet less
All-metal, it has a wing span of
approximately pn feet, is 70 feet
long, 19'., feet high and carries a
erfw of six.
As evidence of its maneuverability
and firepower, the ministry said one
had dropped down to 12.000 feet
over a German target area when
it was attacked by two Messer
schmitt fighters. One of the fight
ers was destroyed, the other listed
as a probable loss."
One pilot also was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order fry
bringing his Manchester home from
Berlin on only one motor.
Attorney General Blocks
Illinois State Pay Roll
Br th? A**cc:at?d Prf*i«
SPRINGFIELD. III.. Not 13 —
Payless pay days, by order of the at
torney general wete a dismal pros
pect today for 26.000 State employes
Attorney General George F. Bar
rett last night unexpectedly ordered
State Treasurer Warren Wright and
State Auditor Arthur C Lueder to
hold up all State pay rolls ••until
further notice
Mr. Barrett said he had taken
the action because an injunction
issued by Circuit Judge Phillip J.
Finnegan in Chicago Monday re
straining six State officials 'from
paying salaries of several hundred
temporary employes was "so indefi
nite it will result in utter confusion ••
He said he was unable to "dis
tinguish one group of employes
from ihe other," and planned to ask
the State Supreme Court to dissolve
the injunction The order, as it
now stands, would prevent Gov
Dwight Green and all other State
employes getting their salaries.
Bad Weather Holds Up
British Air Offensive
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. Nov. 13—Bad weather
was said today to have kept the
British air assault on Germany a'
a standstill aga:n last night, the
third in a row.
One German raider bombed a
Southwest England town last nieh’.
the government said, but caused no
casualties and only slight damage
15 Killed by Quake
In Eastern Turkey
B? the Associated Pres*.
ISTANBUL, Nov. 13 — Fifteen per
sons were killed, nearly 100 injured
and heavy property damage done
by an earthquake which shook the
Erzincan district in Eastern Turkey
yesterday, belated dispatches re
ported today.
A First-Hand Survey
Of Vital Burma Road
Leland Stowe, noted war
correspondent, has made an
inspection of the highway
which now is the only means
of carrying aid to China in
her war with Japan. Much
has been written about Burma
Road, but Mr. Stowe, in his
series of articles which start
today on Page A-3 of The
Evening Star, gives you a real
close-up of the problems in
moving vast quantities of
supplies by truck to 1h*
armies o' II..I- l.;Ii.