Evening star. [volume], April 21, 1942, Image 2

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

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In This Edition
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kA*) M«»n$ A**oci*t«d Pr«s».
90th YEAR. No. 35,784.
WASHINGTON. D. C„ TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1942
THREE CENTS.
Japan Is Kept
On Alert by
New Alarms
Nozi Radio Reports
Warning, but Tokio
Says Nothing
*j tb« Associated Prt»«
New air-raid alarm* kept Cen
tral and Western Japan, contain
ing vital naval bases, ports and
industrial cities, under prolonged
alerts this afternoon. Axis
sources reported, even while
Japanese broadcasts continued to
minimize the effects of Satur
day's attacks attributed to
American planes.
The Japanese themselves said
nothing of the alarms, stating in
stead that the cabinet received re
port* from its ministers that Jap
anese life had been affected only to
a small degree by the Saturday raids
and that postal service was quickly
resumed
The Berlin radio, however, report
ed under a Toltlo dateline that
alarms sounded in central and west
ern Japan today between 4 and 5
pm <4 and 6 am., Eastern war
time).
All Clear at 6 P.M.
“Tor central Japan the all clear
sounded about 6 pm ," the broad
cast said, "while the alarm remained
In force for western Japan, partic
ularly for Kyushu.”
Kyushu, one of the four main
Islands, lies south and west of the
others, nearest China. On it are
the great naval base of Sasebo, the
port of Nagasaki and a heavy in
dustry belt, Including many steel
plants along the northern shore.
The broadcast made no mention of
planes seen or bombs dropped and
the alarm may have been merely
a symptom of Japanese fears of
air attack since the high command
reported raids Saturday on Tokio,
Yokohama, Nagoya and Kyoto
The Tokio radio has not been
heard reporting today's alarms.
Tojo to Make Tour.
It was announced that Premier
Gen Hidekl Tojo would leave Tokio
tomorrow for a tour of industrial
establishments in Miye prefecture.
This is a district some 250 miles
west of Tokio. just west of the
Nagova industrial district. It con
tains the port of Yokkaichi, which
Saturday's reports said was visited
by machine-gunning enemy planes,
and many industrial establishments
making war supplies.
A Berlin broadcast, quoting a
Tokio dispatch, said the Japanese
government had decided to put into
affect immediately the law passed
by the last Diet session providing
recompense for Japanese subjects
suffering aii-raid damage. Families
whose wage-earner has been killed
in a raid will be given government
support,
Further Details of Raids.
A Dome! French-language broad
cast gave some further details of
the Saturday raids.
The Tokio broadcast quoted the
operations report of "a certain Jap
anese air squadron” as saying inter
ceptor planes rose to meet the enemy
planes reported flying over Mito ton
the Pacific coast 60 miles northeast
of Tokio'.
“Shortly after 1 p.m. they picked
up an enemy plane which seemed
to be of the North American B-25
type flying at less than 1,000
meters,” the report continued. This
plane, surprised by the Japanese
attack, reduced its altitude when
an anti-aircraft battery opened fire
from a certain point.
“The enemy plane then attacked
with machine-gun Are and. flying
close to the ground, fled along a
certain river, jettisoning some
bombs in the river.
(The Tone River flows into the
Pacific south of Mito and east of
Tokio.)
“The enemy plane then climbed,
but was attacked again over Oshima
Island <60 miles southwest of To
kio) at 1.500 meters. It caught Are
and lost altitude gradually, finally
disappearing in the clouds. But from
the circumstances it appears the
plane must have fallen into the sea."
Another Fight Described.
The Tokio broadcast quoted Air
Force Lt Umegawa as describing
another encounter:
'When we were flying over Mito
we picked up an enemy plane of a
t See RAIDS. Page A-4.1
2,000,000 Tons of Ships
Sunk Off U. 5„ Axis Says
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN (From German Broad
cast#' April 21— The German ra
dio said today that more than two
million tons of shipping had been
sunk by Axis submarines operating
oft the East and West American
coasts in the last three months
Between January 15 and April
14, Axis submarines sank 1.772.900
tons of British and American ship
ping off the American Atlantic
Coast, the radio said.
In the same period, the Japanese
sank 22 ships off the American Pa
cific Coast, it added Their ton
nage was not given.
Ninety-two tankers were includ
ed In the sunken ships, it was said
The Berlin claims of tonnage sunk
in American waters would greatly
exceed figures officially announced
by United States. Canadian and
other authorities
From the United States entry Into
the war December 7 until early
March, when the Navy stopped re
vealing tonnages of vessels lost, a
total of 311,655 tons of Allied ship
ping was reported lost by enemy
action off the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of the Western Hemisphere
and in the Caribbean Of this, only
two ships, totaling 15.184 tons were
sunk off the Pacific coast of the
United States
In all, 141 vessel* were sunk in the
Atlantic and Caribbean and. of
them, the tonnage of 48 was re
vealed
O'Hare Given Promotion, Medal
In Ceremony at White House
Roosevelt Steps Up Hero Two Grades;
Mrs. O'Hare Presents His Decoration
By BLAIR BOLLF.S.
Lt Comdr Edward H O'Hare
1 until today O'Hare, lieutenant.
I )• g ), the young aviator who, in
his Grumman Wildcat fighter
piane far out over the Pacific
saved his aircraft carrier by
shooting down five Japanese
bombers, today received from
President Roosevelt personally
the Nation’s foremost award for
heroism—the Congressional Med
al of Honor.
In the President's study at the
White House Mr. Roosevelt shook
the young hero's hand in warm
congratulation, expressed for the
w-hole American people, while his
pretty young wife, at Mr Roosevelt s
Invitation, hung around his neck
the rare token of high esteem.
The accomplishment is "one of
the most daring if not the most
I daring single action in the history
of combat aviation." the citation
signed by Mr Roosevelt declared
Standing erect by the President in
unrelated at’ention. the 28-year-oM
officer said simply:
'That's very nice Thank you very
much. sir ”
O'Hare Skips Grade.
Comdr O'Kare entered the Presi
dent's office with the rank and uni
form stripes of a lieutenant junior
grade As a prelude to conferring
the Medal of Honor the President
handed him his promotion to the
rank of lieutenant commander
Thus for his bravery O'Hare of the
1937 class of Annapolis skipped a
grade.
Since January he had the tempo
rary rank of lieutenant, but he
wore the stripe and a half of a lieu
tenant junior grade to the White
House because his only blue uniform
had those markings.
The President, in beaming humor,
Invited the press to witness the ex
traordinary ceremonv which marked
the first time in this war that the
President has in person conferred
an award on an American hero.
The other observers were Secre
See O'HARE. Page A-3 >
Japanese Christians
Praying for Peace,
Tokio Radio Says
Drive to End War Is Seen
In Quotation of Kagawa,
Well Known in America
Ti the Ajtoeieted Frees.
TOKIO (From*Japanese Broad
casts), April 21.—The Tokio ra
dio today broadcast a Domei
dispatch quoting Toyohiko Ka
gawa, most famous of Japanese
Christian leaders, as asserting
that among Japanese Christians
“prayers are being said for an
early conclusion of the war and
the restoration of peace through
out the world.”
The purpose of this broadcast
by the government-controlled ra
dio is obscure, but it might be the
beginning of a Japanese "peace
offensive.’’
(Japanese leaders may be
counting on Kagawa's reputation
In the United States, where he
has lectured widely and where his
books, in translation, have had
considerable circulation, to gain
attention for the suggestion that
Japanese Christians, at least,
want peace.
(Archibald MacLeish, director
of the Office of Facts and Fig
ures, in an address at the an
nual meeting of the Associated
Press yesterday, warned that the
Axis would launch a "peace
offensive" this summer. Story
on page A-2 )
Text of Domei Dispatch.
The Domei dispatch said:
“Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa. interna
tionally famous Christian leader,
disclosed in an exclusive interview
with Domei that more than 200
Japanese Christians in Tokio prayed
day and night for a whole week
up to the very morning of the war
(December 8 in Japan' in hopes
that Japanese-American negotia
tions would succeed in staving off
the Pacific war.
“Kagawa explained that this pe
riod of continuous prayer was
started in response to an appeal
made by Bishop Stanley Jones of
the Methodist church and well
known American writer. Dr. Kaga
wa received a cable from Bishop
Jones exactly a week before war
broke out asking Japanese to par
ticipate in a period of prayer for
prevention of catastrophe in the
Pacific.
"Responding to this appeal more
than 200 members of the Japanese
Method is' Church, including mem
bers of the Women's Christian
Temperance Union, began at once
to hold prayer meetings day and
night in the Kanda Methodist
Church (in Tokio', according to
Kagawa
Prayers at Y. M. C. A. Building.
' Prayers also were held during the
day at the headquarters of the W.
C T. U. and all-night services were
held a; the Y. M C. A Building.
Dr Kagawa revealed that Masa
hashi Matsutani, director of the
Christian Association of Railway
Employes, 'never slept a wink' dur
ing the whole week.
As for himself. Kagawa said he
washable to stay up only three con
(See KAGWA. Page A-*.)
Jap Residents in Alaska
Report for Evacuation
By tht Associated Pres*
JUNEAU, Alaska. April 21 —
Alaska's Japanese residents reported
at military posts Monday for evac
uation.
There are about 200 in the ter
ritory. exclusive of children. The
order includes half-blood Japanese.
Continued Defense
Of France Pledged
By Admiral Darlan
Will Proceed Further
'Along Path of Honor/
Order of the Day Says
the Associated Press.
VICHY, Unoccupied France,
April 21.—Admiral Jean Darlan,
commander of all of France’s
armed forces, promised his fight
ing men today that "you can rely
on me as I rely on you to proceed
further along the path of honor
and to defend the empire.’’
The commander in chief's order
of the day said:
"Since the marshal (Petaini has
done me the great honor to nom
inate me commander in chief of the
military forces under his direct com
mand, he has drawn more closely
the ties which for long months past
have bound me to you and this Alls
me with great pride.
"Freed of the obligations which I
had taken upon myself out of dis
cipline and love of my country, I can
devote my whole time and my whole
energy to you, my comrades.
“You can rely on me as I rely on
you to proceed further along the
path of honor and to defend the
empire under the high authority of
the marshal.
"Long live the marshal!
"Long live France!”
(Admiral Darlan's order of the
day underscored the separation
of military and civil authority
arranged by Marshal Petain when
he named Admiral Darlan com
mander of the armed forces re
sponsible solely to him.)
Urges Accord With Germany.
Speaking last night amidst new
stirrings of unrest and Nazi orders
for the execution of 30 more French
men, pro-Axis Pierre Laval branded
France's 1939 declaration of war a
"crime” and told the French people
the condition for peace in Europe
lay in friendship between France
and Germany.
In his first broadcast as chief of
government. Laval placed blame for
France's predicament on the old re
publican regime, declaring he had
“no responsibility whatever in the
misfortune which has befallen us.”
He appealed to Frenchmen to sup
port his new government with the
assertion that their choice now lay
between rapprochement with Ger
many or "seeing our civilization dis
appear.”
Referring to the Anglo-Saxon
powers, he said that "in the past I
never have accepted or submitted to
any foreign influence, and such is
the explanation of the unleashing
of passions to which I am so often
subjected, above all in England
again."
"My thoughts go especially to
those among you who have sufiered
the attacks of our former ally, all
the more fierce against our ter
1 ritories because she is incapable of
protecting her own." the bitterly
anti-British Laval continued.
Bitter Attack on British.
hAfter having led us into war.
after having abandoned us in battle,
she tried to destroy our fleet; she
killed our sailors and starved our
people.
"Today her airplanes are again in
French skies; after deserting us in
a moment of danger they (the Brit
ish) would complete the destruction
of our homes which the battles have
left unscathed.”
Reaching an understanding with
i See FRANCE. Page A-7.)
Patched Planes Kept Up Flow
Of Medicine Till Bataan Fell
B> iht Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO. April 21 —
Bamboo-patched transport planes
kept a trickle of medical supplies
running to Bataan until the last,
an Army doctor said today, but the
loss of three ships carrying a simi
lar cargo to the American-Fdip-.no
forces sealed the fate of the embat
tled peninsula.
The medical officer, Lt. Col. Wil
liam J. Penard. was quoted in a
Melbourne radio broadcast heard by
the C. B. S. listening station. The
broadcast said Col. Penard had
reached Australia from the Philip
pines in "one of the flying fortresses
which recently bombed enemy poei
; tiona there -
"Re Mid that the (Bataanl gar
I rison could have held out for a long
ume. had it been possible to'get in
\ sufficient food, drugs and medical
supplies," it continued.
I “Lt. Col. Penard paid a tribute
to the magnificent work done by the
pilots * * * for actually flying trans
ports patched up with lengths of
1 bamboo, and with parts tied to
gether with wire and rope
"These machines carried drugs and
medical supplies to the beleagured
Bataan garrison every night for the
last month of the siege, he said. The
pilots were heroes among heroes
“When the battle ended the two
main hospitals were in the front
lines The nurses escaped to Cor
regldor, but the doctors stayed be
hind with badly wounded patients.*
Defenders Yield
Two Positions
In Panay Battle
New Landing Made by
Japs; Bombardment
Of Forts Lessens
Heavy enemy attacks have
forced the Amencan-Fiiipino de
fenders to withdraw from two
positions in the Province of An
tique on the west coast of the
Island of Panay. the War De
partment reported in a commu
nique this morning.
The withdrawal was effected suc
cessfully, and the fighting cost "a
heavy toll of enemy casualties,"
the communique said. American
forces on Panay are greatly out
numbered
Announcement of the withdrawal
followed receipt of news dispatches
from Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s
headquarters in Australia in which
Gen MacArthur's first communique
in the Southwest Pacific told of a
new Japanese landing on Panay at
San Jose, west coast town 40 miles
west of Iloilo.
The heavy bombardment of the
Island forts in Manila Bay by
240-mm. guns on both shores of the
bay lessened late yesterday, the War
Department communique said, and
the damage “was not great.” Dive
bomber attacks continued, however,
it was reported.
Intermittent Shelling.
Concerning this phase of the
Philippine action, Gen. MacArthur's
communique said, "The enemy con
tinued intermittent shelling and
bombing of Corregidor with negli
gible effect; enemy artillery action
is abating. Harbor defenses regis
tered hits on enemy troop move-4
ments.”
The Manila Bay dive-bomber at-1
tack was directed chiefly at Forts
Hughes and Drum. The War De
partment reported that most of the
bombs dropped harmlessly in the
water, and no damages or casual
ties were reported at either fort.
Corregidor apparently was bearing
up wrell under the pounding of big
Japanese guns. Yesterday, the War
Department had reported the Jap
anese were blasting the island with
9-inch artillery, and that some
damage had been done by these
huge guns.
A forenoon report said American
guns returned the fire, "silencing at
least three enemy batteries and
breaking up three truck and VO°P
concentrations in Bataan.”
Army officers said the artillery
pounding undoubtedly was the most
severe thus far aimed at the fortress,
which controls the entrance to
Manila Bay,
Town Taken, Japs Claim.
Domei, Japanese news agency, re
ported from Tokio that Japanese
forces on Panay had occupied the
town of Calinog, 40 miles north of
Iloilo.
The Japanese, with air support,
were said to have merged forces
from north and South Sunday be
low the midisland town of Dumarao ;
and to be furiously attacking 3,000
enemy troops at the foot of Mount
Tigatav, in Western Panay. The
town of Tapaz was reported afire.
A large armed United States mer- I
chant vessel "attempting to escape
from Manila" was sunk by Japanese
Army planes and another was dam
aged severely, the Japanese said.
Planes inflicted heavy losses on
"the retreating enemy in Panay,”
the report continued, saying United
States and Filipino troops had been \
encircled and compressed into a
small mountainous region. Japa- I
nese vanguards which applied a
pincer movement from the north
and south were said to have met
Saturday.
Port Moresby Raided.
Reports from Port Moresby,!
United Nations' base on New Guinea,i
said nine heavy Japanese planes
escorted by six fighters made a raid
there today, but that their forma
tions were broken up by anti-air-;
craft fire and R. A. A. F fighters.
Allied airmen were said to have
made far-reaching attacks from
Australian bases against Koepang,
Dutch Timor: Rabaul. New Britain. I
and Salamaua, New Guinea, over
the week end.
Imperial Tokio headquarters an
nounced that 68 enemy planes had
been destroyed, against a loss of six
planes by the naval air arm at Port
Moresby and Port Darwin since
April 1.
Two Japanese planes were said to
have oeen shot down and at least
two damaged in the week-end raids
1 See MacARTHUR, Page A-3.)
Aussies Bombed
U. S. Destroyer
By Mistake
P* the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 21—John Ral
eigh, Columbia Broadcasting System
correspondent, in a broadcast from
Australia said today the United
States destroyer Peary, acknowl
edged by the United States to have
been sunk February 19 at Darwin
when the Japanese scored five direct
bomb hits, previously had been
bombed by the Australians by mis
take.
As she was nearing Darwin after
successfully undergoing many bomb
ings at Manila and in the Indies,
Raleigh said. "Australian planes
mistook the Peary for an enemy
craft and bombed her. unfortu
nately. more accurately than the
Japanese.
"Her fire control and foremasts
were carried away by direct hits.
The ship, though frantically signal
ing, did not fire back at the Allies,
who honestly believed the vessel an
enemy one.
"Finally a bomb fell on the after
deck. setting afire the ammunition
sucked beside 4-inch guns. A sea
man rushed to the danger spot and
hurled the shell cases, afire, over
board. For this he was awarded the
Navy Cross."
f The RES A LOT Of GOOD STUFF in ThaT'"',
FELLOW PAUL 1 WISH YOU WOULD FIND OUT
what he can do best and then get /
\ him in Shape for the job'
I
ftaMw
TRAINER
AND
KomdiTiomk
Flexible Wage Ceiling
Proposed by Thomas
To Solve Labor Issue
Senator Would Peg Pay
At Present Scale, Create
Reviewing Board
Expansion of labor’s no-strike
agreement in war industries to
embrace a flexible ceiling on
wages was proposed today by
Chairman Thomas of the Senate
Labor Committee.
Senator Thomas, who often ex
presses administration views, said he
thought a voluntary stabilization of
wages on an equitable basis would
do much toward quieting the current
congressional wrangling over the 40
hour week and over-time pay.
The Utah Senator told reporters
he believed a plan could be worked
out to peg wages generally at present
levels, with adjustments provided
for low-pay groups of individuals.
He suggested that a general board
then could review war industry wages
about every eight months, and order
increases to compensate for any ad
vance in living costs.
President Asks Delay.
Senator Thofrias' proposal coincided
with a move by President Roosevelt
to have the Senate defer considera
tion of labor legislation which was
to have been taken up yesterday.
The Senate had agreed to consider
a bill by Senator Connally, Demo
crat, of Texas to permit the Gov
ernment to take over strike-bound
industrial plants and freeze their
working conditions, and some mem
bers were hoping to substitute a bill
bv Senator Ball, Republican, of
Minnesota, to provide for Govern
ment veto of wage increases in
excess of the advance in the cost of
living and to set up machinery for
regulating some union activities.
Senator Connally, however, asked
for delay on his measure, explaining
that he was acting at the personal
request of the President. At a
White House conference with Con
gressional leaders earlier in the day,
the Texan said, President Roosevelt
had disclosed his intention to send
a message to Congress dealing with
all phases of the living costs prob
lem, "including labor." With the
Senate acceding to Senator Connal
ly’s request, the Senate Labor Com
mittee decided also to defer
consideration of the Ball bill.
The President’s message, which Is
to be followed by a radio talk on the
same subject Monday night, is not
expected to make specific recom
mendations for new legislation. Con
cessional leaders believing the Chief
Executive now has sufficient author
ity to order a general freezing of
prices as a brake against inflation.
Nor are any drastic proposals as to
wage controls anticipated, although
Mr Roosevelt has said this subject
is under study.
Emphasis on Profits.
It was indicated a major part of
the President's message would be
devoted to the elimination of exces
sive war profits, probably through
taxation, and to the limitation of
management salaries and bonuses.
Expressing the hope that Mr.
Roosevelt would advocate a program
of control of prices, wages, salaries
and bonuses, after the Senate had
been advised of the forthcoming
message. Senator Pepper. Democrat,
of Florida, said anything short of
that was not likely to satisfy those
who have been demanding wartime
restrictions on union activities.
“Were not going to forget about
the 48-hour week at regular pay or
the question of eliminating racket
eering union initiation fees,” Sena
tor Pepper declared. “Neither are
we going to permit management to
pay huge salaries and bonuses to
executives or stand by idly while
excessive profits are made out of
Government contracts."
Senator Pepper, who pre\iously
proposed extension of the 40-hour
week to 48 hours, said he had pre
pared an amendment putting a
ceiling of $25,000 on the salaries of
executives of companies handling
war contracts.
Cripps Back in England
After His Trip to India
By the Associated Press
LONDON. April 21—Sir Stafford
Cripps arrived back in England by
plane todav from his unsuccessful
special mission to seek an agreement
between Great Britain and Indian
leaders on India’s political status
during and after the war.
Wife of Admiral Leahy Dies
In Vichy After Operation
--- --
News Received After
Radiogram Reported
She Was Recovering
Mrs. William D. Leahy, 66, wife
of the United States Ambassador
to Vichy, died in a hospital there
today, a week after an operation
from which she was earlier re
ported recovering, according to
the Associated Press.
Attending physicians said her death
came unexpectedly, possibly from:
an embolism. Last night she and
Admiral Leahy had discussed the
possibility of her leaving the hos
pital for the Embassy residence.
When it was disclosed last week
that Admiral Leahy had been In
structed to return here for con
sultation, Acting Secretary of State
Welles said he would not be able
to return immediately because Mrs.
' Leahy had undergone an op^ratfcn.
He said she was apparently recov
ering.
Mrs. Leahy's sister, Mrs. Albert
P. Niblick, who lives here at 2129
Florida avenue N.W., said she had
received a radiogram from Vichy
last Friday informing her that the
operation W8S successful. Mrs.
Niblack. who is the widow of Rear j
Admiral Niblack, commander of our j
forces in the Mediterranean during
the last war, said she had last
heard from her sister in a letter
MR?. WILLIAM D. LE^HY,
—Bachrach Photo.
dated March 20. when Mrs. Leahy
said she was quite well,
•flecfetairyof State Hull on-learning
o/ Mrs. Leahy’s death sent the fol
lowing message of condolence to
Ambassador Leahy:
‘‘Mrs. Hull and I were greatly
distressed and pained by the sad
news which has just reached us. We
are grieving with you in the great
(See LEAHY, Page A-6.)
Nelson Tells Senators
U. S. Is 'Over Hump'
In War Production
Soon Will Offset Axis'
Reserves of Equipment,
He Informs Committee
E» the Associated Press.
Donald M. Nelson, war produc
tion chief, testified today that
the United States was “over the
hump’’ on military production
and in a few months would offset
the equipment reserves built up
by Axis nations.
“America, England and Russia
are producing in much greater
quantities essential war materiel
than our Axis enemies,” Mr. Nelson
told the Senate Defense Investigat
ing Committee in summarizing ac
complishments of the War Produc
tion Board since its organization
last January 16.
“I believe we are over the hump
on production,” he continued.
“Everything we have is in produc
tion and we are getting increased
quantities. We still have a reserve,
built up by the Axis nations, to
overcome, but in a few months I
think we will overcome that.”
Protests Criticism of Executives.
Mr. Nelson complained, however,
that congressional criticism of
dollar-a-year men was handicap
ping the W. P. B. in its efforts to
obtain the services of trained busi
ness executives.
"We are having increasing diffi
culty in getting good men to come
down here to do this job. They
have to face continued criticism of
the honesty of their intentions,” he
said
“It s a pity they couldn't serve a
Tsee NELSON.'Page A-4 t~
Ickes Waging Fight
To Save Remaining
Parks in Capital
New War and Navy Calls
For Building Sites May
Take Row to White House
By NELSON M. SHEPARD.
Secretary of the Interior Ickes
is forcing a final showdown with
park-grabbing war agencies, it
was learned today, in an attempt
to retain Washington’s rapidly
diminishing public recreational
facilities for civilian needs of the
war-swollen Capital.
Carrying the fight directly to the
Secretaries of War and Navy, he has
warned them that the impairment
of the local park system has gone
too far and that he will refuse any
further grants of lands under his
control for temporary buildings or
other emergency usage.
Brig. Gen. Philip B Fleming, ad
| ministrator of the Federal Works
Agency, has received a similar pro
test, lodged against the Public Build
| ings Administration. That agency
Mr. Ickes complained, seems to be
concentrating all its efforts on park
lands without giving sufficient con
sideration to the possibilities of
. other available building sites.
More Requests Made.
The issue was joined, it was
learned, by new demands from both
the Navy and War Departments for
additional park space for the erec
tion of more office buildings on Con
stitution avenue and guard barracks
south of the Treasury. Mr. Ickes'
answer to these demands, it was
understood, was an emphatic "no ” i
For humanitarian reasons if for
“ See" ICKEisrPage A-4.)
Summary of Today's Star
Foreign I
Continued defense of France pledged
by Admiral Darlan. Page A-l
Churchill approves plan to form
operations staff. Page A-5
17 strongholds seized by Russians on
Leningrad front. Page A-6
National
Nelson says U. S. is over production
• hump" and ready’ to go. Page A-l
Secretary Ickes against further
buildings in parks. Page A-l
Mrs. William D. Leahy, wife of U. S.
envoy to Vichy, dies. Page A-l
Flexible ceiling on wages proposed
by Senator Thomas Page A-l
Bill to provide for enlisted men’s de
pendents offered Page A-l
A. P. liberalizes requirements for
new members. Page A-2
Q. O. P. National Committee votes
to shun isolationism. Page A-2
Truth tn war news urged as puonsn
ers convene . Page A-2
F. B I. charges pair aided fugitive
flyer. Page A-3
Experts to decide whether Normandie
can be salvaged Page A-3
Trade body studying financial relief
for defense casualties. Page A-5
Naval officer explains seizure of
Brewster plants. Page A-5
Four commanders get Navy Cross for
submarine raids. Page A-7
Roosevelt schedules full day of war
effort parleys. Page A-13
Washington and Vicinity.
P. U. C. to insist on more "pickup”
service taxicabs. Page B-l
Miscellany
Nature's Children. B-4
Births and Deaths. A-13
After Dark B-5
Marriage Licenses. B-2
Chinese Rescue
7,000 British
In Burma
Allies Push 3 Miles '
Below Yenangyaung;.
Jap Unit Trapped
By tbc Associated Presa.
CHUNGKING. April 21—Chi
nese forces which recaptured the
oil center of Yenangyaung savrti
7,000 encircled British troops and
100 supply trucks in the first Al
lied victory in Burma, an army
spokesman said today
After rescuing the British, tfie
Chinese fought with their Allies un
der British command and dro^a
three miles south of Yenangyaupg
through the rubble of burned oil
wells.
Severe fighting with the Japanese
still is in progress, the spokesman
said
i A British military comment*-,
tor in London said Japanese^
troops around Yenangyaung were
trapped and that Allied force*
were seeking to annihilate them.X
The Chinese, commanded by
United States Lt. Gen. Joseph W.
Stilwell. moved into the British sec
tor at the request of their Allies'
high command, the spokesman add
ed. One Chinese battalion com
mander was killed leading his
troops In the recapture of Yenang
yaung.
Fiercer Battles Expected.
The fury of the Burma fighting
continued unabated throughout last
week and fiercer battles are expect
ed. the army spokesman said. The
morale of the Chinese forces, who
have fought for a month with glar
ing air inferiority, was said to be
high.
“Field dispatches assure us they
are as determined as ever to check
the enemy's advance.” the spokes
man said. “The British, who have
been hard pressed even longer, cer
tainly deserve succor in the form
of more adequate air support.”
On the Sittang front, in the center,
Japanese forces were being engaged
near Lewi, 10 miles west of Pyin
mana. The enemy was shelling
Aing, 10 miles north of Lewi,
On the Salween front, fresh
Chinese reinforcements were moving
south to support the troops con
testing a Japanese drive in the di
rection of Loikaw. The Japanese
were said to have made a slight ad
vance, but still were 50 miles from
mountainous Loikaw, which is 180
miles southeast of Mandalay.
Two Jap Bombers Downed.
Two Japanese bombers out of a
formation attempting to raid an
airdrome Saturday near the Yun
nan-Burma border were shot down
by members of the American Vol
unteer Group, a Central News dis
patch from Kunming said last
night.
A third Japanese bomber was de
stroyed In a fight over Northern
Burma yesterday afternoon, the
agency said.
Nineteen Japanese planes at
tacked widely scattered places In
the southeastern part of Klagsi
Province yesterday. Central News
said, listing among the targets the
towns of Wannien, Yukiang, Yushan
and Kian.
Burma Oil Town Capture
First Allied Victory There
LONDON, April 21 Up).—Recap
ture of the Burmese oil center of
Yenangyaung by Chinese troops op
erating with British armored units
was confirmed today by a British
communique issued at New Delhi.
It was the first Allied victory In
the Burma campaign.
Japanese pressure was intensified
against the Chinese forces under
Lt. Gen, Joseph W. Stilwell on the
Salween River front near Pylnman^
the communique added.
Chinese forces were said to be
in complete occupation of Yenang<
yaung, center of a rich oil pool
where the British destroyed 6.000
wells to prevent their falling inlb
the hands of the invader. No
further action was reported in th*t
section, where the Chinese said they
killed 500 Japanese and lost only 100.
The Chinese swept down frcah
Kyaukpadaung, 30 miles north of
Yenangyaung to the relief of tha
trapped British, and their fierrt
fighting enabled their Allies to with
draw across the Pinchuang River, a
tributary of the Irrawaddy. J,
Japanese Troops Trapped.
British tanks and Infantry and -a
Chinese rifle regiment are seeking
to annihilate isolated Japanese
troops around Yenangyuang, a mili
tary commentator said.
The trapped Japanese troops ar#
part of a force which entered the oil
fields after the British demolished
them last week. , *
These infantrymen infiltrated into
the area from the southeast anef
cut off the British rear guard soutff
of the oil fields. Now these British
troops have been united with Brfti
ish tank forces and Chinese from
the north and seek to smash thd'
Japanese.
If they are successful, the com
mentator said, they will consider
ably relieve the situation in West
ern Burma.
The remainder of the front waa
reported unchanged.
-- £
%
Jap Moves Reported
In Inner Mongolia
By chi Associated Press.
CHUNGKING, China, April 21 —
Chinese reports today asserted the
Japanese were making further prep
arations for possible war against
Soviet Russia, including heavy rein
forcement of Japanese garrisons in
Inner Monogla.
They said the Japanese weeA
building defense works in Inner
Mongolia, had transferred all de
partments of the Chahar provincial
government from the capital to
south of the Great Wall and w*p%,
holding air-raid precautions tests
throughout North China.