Evening star. [volume], August 29, 1943, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast
Continued cool today.
Temperatures yesterday—highest. 72 at
5:30 p.m.; lowest, 63 at. 8:15 a.m.
United States Weather Bureau Report.
N-^ WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION V-/
The Evening and Sunday Star la
delivered In the city and suburbs at
80c per month when 4 Sundays; 90c
ner month when 5 Sundays. The
Night Final Edition and Sunday
Morning Star at 90c when 4 Sun
days; $1.00 when 5 Sundays.
An Associoted Press Newspaper.
No. 2,005—No. 36,279.
WASHINGTON. I). C., AUGUST 29, 1943-302 PAGES.
Washlnaton mr' vr fipvrfllC! ®>rwhar«
and Suburb. UkJNIb 12 CENTS
Boris Dies; Son, 6, Is New King;
Danish Ruler Threatens to Quit
As Nazis Act to Crush Rebellion
Ankara Hears Rumor
Bulgarian Monarch
Was Assassinated
By :hf Associated Press
LONDON. Aug. 28.—King Boris
II of Bvlgaria died today at 4:42
p.m. (10:42 a.m., EWT) and his
6-year-old son Simeon succeeded
to the throne -as King Simeon II.
the German radio announced.
Boris’ death—at the age of 49—
whether by illness or assassination
—raised the critical question
whether the Nazis would be able to
tighten their slipping control of the
reluctantly aligned Axis satellite, or
whether, as in the last war, the Bal
kan nation would be the first to
open Germany's back door to the
Allies.
Berlin broadcasts recorded by the
Associated Press said Premier Bog
dan Philov announced King Si
meon's ascension in a proclamation,
calling on Bulgarians to "stand still
firmer arotfnd the throne of the
King."
Council Takes Control.
The proclamation added that by
constitutional provision, the minis
terial council “will take over ad
ministration of Bulgaria until a
settlement of the problem of the
regency.’!
The Germans said Boris had died
of sudden heart disease coupled with
lung troubles after a five-day illness.
Berlin vigorously denied that this
illness had stemmed from a violent
quarrel with Hitler at his headquar
ters. when Boris reportedly still re
fused to send Bulgarian troops to
fight Russia.
Unconfirmed reports received in
Ankara said Boris might have been
shot in the stomach by an assassin.
Boris, one of the foxiest diplomats
In Europe, had been king 23 years
and absolute master of his country's
political life for nine years, and it
was doubted that any member of the
Bulgar royal family would be able
to hold the nation together.
Wins First Round.
Simeon’s succession would indi
cate that Premier Philov, Boris’ go
between with Hitler, was winning
the first round in an attempt to keep
control as premier with a puppet
king on the throne.
Premier Philov also was seen as
retaining his grip if a regency with
the Queen, under German protec
tion, were established.
On the other hand, while liberal
and democratic parties are ’ sup
pressed in Bulgaria, it is known
that the three main ones continue
their existence underground, pos
sibly ready to lead an uprising.
The royal family was at Boris'
bedside when he died at his palace,
and the King’s standard was low
ered as Philov announced the news
to Bulgarians by radio.
Boris ascended the throne Oct. 1.
1918, but it was not until 1933 w-hen
Hitler came into power that Boris
became politically active in direct
ing Bulgarian foreign policy.
Paid Visit to Hitler.
In 1934, he visited Hitler in Ber
lin. and within two months estab
lished a virtual dictatorship in Bul
garia.
His coup d’etat suspended the
constitution, dissolved the national
assembly and abolished political
parties.
Boris signed a nonaggression pact
with the Balkan entente July 31.
1938, giving Bulgaria the right to
rearm. The same year, he toured
Britain, Italy, France and Germany,
meeting Mussolini, King Victor
Emanuel and Hitler.
The eldest son of King Ferdinand.
Boris was born in Sofia, educated
in Bulgaria and spoke English. He
served as a captain in the Balkan
wars and in the World War against
the Allies wfas on the general head
quarters staff. When Bulgaria sur
rendered. he succeeded His father
who abdicated.
Boris Widow. Queen Ioanna, is the
(See BORIS. Page A-3.)
Mine Explosion Kills
Thirteen in Alabama
Dozen More Burned,
110 Thought Rescued
Bt the Associated Press.
BIRMINGHAM. Ala., Aug. 28 —
At least 13 miners were killed and
12 others were burned tonight in a
gas explosion deep within the Sa.v
reton No. 2 coal mine of Republic
Steel Corp., near here.
Norman E. Thompson, Republic
general mine superintendent, said
he believed the other 110 men on
the night shift at the slope had been
brought out, unhurt. Search of the
mine was continuing, however. *
Mr. Thompson said the 13 dead
and most of those burned were at a
single working face, and that the
other portions of the mine were not
affected.
Ten of those burned were taken
to a Birmingham hospital and two
were still at the mine opening.
Itescue crews fought their way
through the debris left by the blast
and reached the trapped men.
Most of the men were working at
the ninth level, nearly two miles
from the slope opening, when they
were trapped. Three, however, were
on a car near the mine opening and
reached the surface within a few
minutes. Two of these were burned.
4 A
.■ ■ «
RAF Bombers Hit
Nuernberg, Nazi
Pageant Center
Planes Travel 1,100
Miles to Pound City
With Block-Busters
By She Associated Pre*s
LONDON, Aug. 28.—The RAF
Bomber Command, reaching
deep into Germany, hailed block
busters last night on Nurenberg,
Nazi pageant city and manufac
turing center, and overwhelmed
German defenses with a shat
I tering weight of explosing steel.
The bomb tonnage in this second
saturation blow of the week—fol
lowing up the Monday night as
sault on Berlin—was not disclosed
but it was the greatest bomber
fleet ever to go out in such close
formation and so low. In total
strength,.however, indications were
that it ranked under the heaviest
armadas ever blasting at Germany.
Thirty-three bombers were lost
in this attack and other wide
ranging raids, including Mosquito I
assaults on the battered Ruhr, and
(See RAIDS, Page A-17.)
Red Army Threatens
To Cut Railroad Line
Linking Nazi Fronts
Russians Within 15 Miles
Of Bryansk-Kiev Road
In the Central Sector
Bj th; Associated Press.
LONDON, Sunday, Aug. 29.—
Soviet troops, rapidly developing
their newest break through the
German lines from fallen Sevsk,
plunged on over the bodies of
2,000 Nazi dead yesterday for
gains of 3 to 5 miles and recap
tured more th^n 50 villages to
draw nearer to the vital Bry
ansk-Kiev railway, Moscow an
nounced today.
The ! mashing Red Army column
was believed to be within 15 miles of
that transport and communications
link whose capture W'ould sever the
German southern and central fronts.
More than 1,400 other Germans
fell before the Russian armies driv
ing westward into the rich Ukraine
from fallen Kharkov, far south of
Sevsk. Moscow said this column
had captured more villages and
reached the Psel River 100 miles
W’est of Kharkov, and then veered
southw’ard in an enveloping move
ment on Poltava.
Poltava Heavily Raided.
Poltava. historic battleground
where Peter the Great defeated
Charles XII of Sweden, is a rail
junction 90 miles southwest of Khar
kov, and its fall would sever one of
the major links between Kiev and
the southern front. The town was I
heavily raided again by Soviet !
bombers Friday night, as was Ros
lavl, midway between Smolensk and
Bryansk.
German forces, fighting desper
ately to §tave off this enveloping i
drive, counterattacked ferociously |
near Zenkov, 85 miles northwest of
Kharkov, but Russian forces “de
veloping their offensive gained fav
orable positions,” the Russian an
nouncement said.
Vast booty, including tanks, am
munition and supply dumps and
big guns, was taken in the tw-o main
drives.
In all the day's activity 72 Ger
man tanks were either destroyed or
knocked out and 45 enemy planes
were shot down, said the com
munique recorded by the Soviet
monitor.
Freight Trains Hit.
In the aerial raids behind the Ger
man lines at Poltava and Roslavl,
the Russians said that several
freight trains loaded with ammuni
tion and equipment were set afire
by direct hits. Enemy airdromes
also were targets for the night raid
ers, where hits resulted in many
fires.
Russian losses during the night's
far-flung raids were two planes, a
separate Moscow broadcast said.
Nineteen German tanks were
(See RUSSIA, Page A-18.)
Communications Cut
In Crisis; Cabinet
Declared Out
By th* Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM. Sunday, Aug.
29.—King Christian III of Den
mark was reported today to have
threatened to abdicate if the
Danish government accepts a
German ultimatum placing the
kingdom under full Nazi military
control.
The ultimatum, brought back
from Berlin by German Minister
Werner Best, was said to have in
cluded provisions for a state of
siege, military tribunals empowered
to inflict the death penalty on sab
oteurs, a ban on strikes, a general
curfew, complete Nazi control of
the Danish press, and imposition of
a heavy fine on the city of Odense,
where the wave of rebellion origi
nated.
Swedish-Danish telephone com
munications were severed suddenly
last night—the usual Nazi tactic
when events of extraordinary im
portance are taking place. Travel
ers from Denmark said the govern
ment of Prime Minister Erik de
Sbavenius already had resigned.
Unions Order General Strike.
Indications that the Danish peo
ple were preparing to protest the
change in German policy were seen
in an order of the Danish trade
unions ordering a general strike to
begin today—an order which would
openly defy the reported ban on all
strikes contained in the new ulti
matum.
• Three and a half hours after
telephone service between Den
mark and Sweden was cut off
telegraphic communication be
tween the two countries also was
suspended, the Swedish Motala
radio reported in a broadcast re
corded by the Federal Com
munications Commission.)
Reports to the Swedish newspaper
Dagens Nyheter from Malmoe. a
city on the southern tip of Sweden
which is only a 90-minute boat ride
from Denmark, said the travelers
also reported new rumors that the
Germans planned tp intern King
Christian in Sorgenfri Castle near
Copenhagen.
Toll of Wounded Passes 200.
The Danish radio announced can
cellation of Sunday's athletic events.
The toll of wounded in recent riots
passed 200 today when it w-as dis
closed that 30 persons W'ere injured
in the Copenhagen riots three days
ago. Scores of both Danes and Ger
mans also have been killed.
Strategically, Denmark is an im
portant cog in Germany’s military
defenses. An internal revolt could
aid any Allied invasion of the coun
try or Northern Germany, which is
the shortest land route to Berlin.
Denmark also is a major German
base for the transshipment of sup
plies to Norway.
It is estimated the Germans now
have 70,000 troops in Denmark.
Many signs pointed to lull mili
tary control, for the German army
already has taken over at least 10
cities and large contingents of Nazi
troops recently were rushed into
Copenhagen and Esbjerg.
Radio Gives No Hint of Events.
A political upheaval could mean
Best taking over on the German
pattern of rule in Czechoslovakia.
The Danish radio continued to
operate, but nothing in the eve
ning's news broadcast gave a hint
as to the new turn in German ef
forts to curb the nation-wide surge
of sabotage and clashes between
Danes and occupation troops.
If the situation meant that Ger
man Gen. Hermann von Hannecken
and his occupation army are about
to take over full military control,
it threatens to explode even more
violence by the Danes against the
Germans.
The Danes know full well that
Gen. Hannecken will take ruthless
measures in suppressing the revolt.
Rather than submit to that, they
may develop their sporadic out
breaks into an organized revolution.
Danes here in close touch with
their mother country said that feel
ing is even more bitter against
the Germans now than when they
took over Denmark in the sneak
attack of April 4, 1940.
A German ultimatum two weeks
ago demanding that saboteurs be
< See DENMARK7 PageT^T)
All Episcopalians in Diocese
To Help Select New BishoDs
By JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
Every member of the Protestant j
Episcopal Church attending service
in the 80 or more places of public
worship in the Diocese of Washing
ton today will be invited to partici
pate in the choice of a successor to
the late Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Bishop of Washington from
1923 until his death on June 6.
I The appeal of the diocesan Nomi
nating Committee for the assistance
of the whole membership, first pub
lished in The Star a week ago. is to
be read from every pulpit in the
form of a letter to the clergy in
charge from the Rev. Peyton Wil
liams, rector of Christ Church,
Georgetown, secretary of tile com
mittee.
It is understood that all Individ
■
uals who consider themselves Epis
copalians are asked to express their
preferences. The word "member ',
it has been specified, will be in
terpreted liberally. One need not
be a contributor to the church to
submit the name of a candidate.
Letters containing nominations
should be sent to; The Nominating
Committee, 1702 Rhode Island ave
nue, N. W., not later than mid
night, September 4. "Supporting
data” should be submitted.
Meanwhile, some nominations—
how many is unknown—have been
received; and the Nominating Com
mittee, acting with the authority
of the Diocesan Convention, has
added five members to its roster,
including David E. Finley, director
(See BISHOP, Page A-16.)
s
£
39% Boost in Funds
For Health Facilities
Is Asked by Ruhland
Request for $5,025,389
In 1945 Wouid Include
Two New Services
By DON S. WARREN.
An optimistic program for ex
pansion of District health and
hospital services is proposed by
Health Officer George C. Ruh
land in his estimates for the
1945 fiscal year, beginning next
July 1, which were made public
last night by the Commissioners.
The outlay proposed is $5,025,389
compared with $3,804,247 for the
current year, but an additional
$300,000 will be asked for care of
District patients at Freedman's Hos
pital. This would bring the re
quested increase over this year's
budget to about 39 per cent.
Extra help and facilities are
sought by Dr. Ruhland for food in
spection, for the rat control pro
gram, and clinics and hospitals, but
the high lights of his expansion
program are requests for establish
ment of cancer control and mental
hygiene services.
Previous Pleas Ignored.
Heretofore, following recommen
dations made by the United States
Puolic Health Service and other
groups. Dr. Ruhland has suggested,
at 'east once, creation of cancer
control and mental hygiene pro
grams, without success.
A three-year program for exten
sion of the nursing bureau is an
other feature. Dr. Ruhland asked
for the addition of 47 nurses in
1945, an equal number in the next
year and 41 more for 1947, making
a total increase of 135 above the
present authorized strength of 155.
The department's estimate for the
Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Glenn
Dale, Md., calls for no increase in
nurses, although the Federal Bud
get Bureau is said to have reported
that 18 more were needed than
now are authorized. Department
officials said it would be impossible
to secure them. Though "desper
ately short of nurses,” with 30 va
cahcies in the present authorized
i strength, Glenn Dale officials agreed
that there was an insufficient num
ber to meet the demands of the
armed forces and civilian needs.
To counteract tnis nursing short
age, Dr. Ruhland asked for addi
tional dietitians and housekeepers
as a means of reducing the burden
on the nursing staff.
__ Emphasizing that cancer is the
(See D. C. BUDGET, Page A-4.) ~
Eight African Guinea Pigs
Reach U. 5. on Clipper
By ihp Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Aug. 28—Eight
small guinea pigs from war-torn
Africa arrived in style at New York
today—via trans-Atlantic clipper—
on their way to the Harvard Medical
School.
Fed en route on a de luxe diet of
sweet potato vines and rolled oats,
the guinea pigs were met at La
Guardia Airport by a representative
of the school, who took them away
in a taxicab.
He said they had been inoculated
with African fever at the Firestone
plantation in Liberia.
Fifty-six passengers, including
several missionaries, w'ere aboard
the clipper.
Rome Air-Raid Alarm
Reported by Swiss
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Aug. 28.—The Swiss
radio said tonight that air-raid
alarms sounded in Rome between
1:20 and 1:30 p.m. (7:20 to 7:30 am.
Eastern War Time) today, but made
no mention of bombing.
The alarms may have sounded
because of Allied planes winging
close to the city to reach neigh
boring air fields and rail junctions,
which have been heavily pounded
during recent raids. The broadcast
was recorded by the Associated
Press.
Agencies Want Congress to Kill
Strike Vote Privilege in War
Officials Enforcing Smith-Connally Law
Believe Unions Are Abusing Their Rights
By tne Associated Press.
Officials administering the
two-month-old Antistrike Act
disclosed last night that they al
ready intend to ask Congress to
scrap the law's strike notice pro
vision.
The officials, none of whom would
permit Quotation, cited figures show
ing that there have been 180 such
notices filed so far and 13 strikes
voted.
While an actual strike has not
resulted, they contended that local
unions and independent groups have
been using the strike ballot provision
as a tool to serve half a dozen pur
poses, none of them intended by
the act, and confusing the entire
labor relations picture.
Arguments to persuade Congress
to change the law, It. was disclosed, I
will include the thesis that reliance
on labor's no-strike pledge and on
the War Labor Board's newly ac
quired sanctions power would pro
vide a more workable way to handle
the situation.
Dependence on the no-trike
pledge was unsuccessfully adovated
by the administration when Con
gress passed the law. But the WLB
sanctions were authorized by execu
tive order since then, thereby in
jecting a new element. The sanc
tions are primarily intended to
enforce decisions of the board where
unions or employers rebel. They
may be used in any strike, it was
pointed out by those desiring to
change the law, even where a board
"(See STRIKE VOTE, Page A-14.)
D. C. Board's Figures
May Force Draft of
Fathers in November
Leahy Calls Conference
Of Members Tomorrow
To Discuss Action
By MIRIAM OTTENBERG.
District draft board members
who have expressed reluctance
to call fathers will be confronted
with their own figures tomorrow
to show they can't supply enough
nonfathers to meet the Novem
ber calls of the armed forces, it
was learned last night.
William E. Leahy, director of Dis
trict Selective Service, said these fig
ures would be the principal point of
discussion at the meeting of draft
board members tomorrow night in
the Washington Gas JJght Co. Build
ing.
“All we can do,” he said, “is show
them their own figures and repeat
w'hat Gen. Hershey (national selec
tive service directori said in his
message to the boards.”
“One Alternative."
Gen. Hershey notified the boards I
last week that the “one alternative”
was to call prewar fathers after
other pools of men had been ex
hausted.
Although refusing to comment di
rectly on board members' charges '
that many physically fit single men
can still be observed on the streets
of Washington. District draft head
quarters officials pointed out that a
number of men now working and liv- i
ing here are registered with out-of
town draft boards and the District !
has no jurisdiction over them.
On the score of occupational de
ferments — another cause of com
plaint from board members—a head
quarters spokesman said that occu
pational deferments amounted to
only five per cent of the registration
of District men between the ages of
18 and 38. The national average is
slightly more than six per cent.
A District headquarters spokes
man said the draft boards had
(See D. C. DRAFT, Page A-4.)
Curtiss P-40 Air Victories
Over Foe Put at 131-1
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Aug. 28. — Curtiss
P-40 fighters have downed enemy
planes at a rate of 1312 to 1 in
50 recent aerial engagements on
every war front, B. S. Wright, vice
president of the Curtiss-Wright
Corp., announced today.
In compiling this score, Mr.
Wright stated, no consideration was
given to reports of enemy planes
“probably" destroyed. He said some
estimates show the P-40 with a
margin of 18 to 1 victories.
The 13*2 to 1 score was based on
air battles in which 457 P-40's met
1.257 Axis aircraft of all types, he
said.
Federal Labor Powers
Supersede Stale Acts
In War, WLB Rules
Decision Penned by Morse
Orders Union Maintenance
In Milwaukee Factory
By the Associated Press.
The War .Labor Board ruled
yesterday that during wartime
the powers of the President and
Congress supersede acts of State
Legislatures in labor relations
matters.
The opinion was written by
Wayne L. Morse, public member of
the WLB, in a oase involving the
J. Greenebaum Tanning Co., Mil
waukee, and the Wisconsin Em
ployment Peace Act.
The WLB directed the company
to grant a standard voluntary
maintenance of membership clause
and voluntary check-off to the In
ternational Fur and Leather Work
ers’ Union of America and Canada,
Local 260. CIO.
Company’s Stand.
The company contended the
board did not have authority to
grant maintenance of membership
under the Wisconsin act and under
the provisions of the Antistrike Act,
which reads in part that “the board
shall conform to the provisions of
the National Labor Relations Act.”
Mr. Morse said the board was
fully aware that its decisions must
not invade the province of State
sovereignty, but added:
"No law of a State which is aimed
at inserting conditions in a collec
tive bargaining contract between an
(See MORSE, Page A-ll.)
Aiken Says Vermonters
Don't Talk, Make Hay
By the Associated Press.
Senator Aiken, back in the Capital
from his Vermont home, was asked
yesterday what his constituents were
talking about. The Republican law
maker replied:
"They're not talking. They're
working, trying to get the hay in.”
Vatican Radio
Foreshadows
Vital Bulletin
By th« Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 28—Because of
"a possibly Important announce
ment,” the Vatican radio in a broad
cast to the British Isles today asked
its listeners to tune in tomorrow.
United States Government monitors
reported tonight.
“Will our listeners be on watch
for a possibly important announce
ment immediately, after mass
broadcast tomorrow?” the an
nouncer was quoted as saying. “We
broadcast as usual a mass from 8t.
Peter's at 9:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. EWTi.
Tomorrow the announcements and
homily will be in German. Imme
diately after the mass there may
possibly be an important announce
ment in English.”
Government May Free
Increased Supplies of
Butter for Civilian Use
War Food Administration
Also Weighs Proposals
To Raise Dairy Prices
Bj the Associated Prees.
A plan to make more butter
available for civilian use soon
through curtailment of Govern
ment allotments was disclosed
yesterday by officials of the War
Food Administration.
These sources also reported they
are considering a number of plans
to bolster dairy production by al
lowing price increases for milk and
other products.
An announcement respecting
butter may be made this week, they
said.
Cut Federal Hold-Back.
Under the projected order, the
Government would set aside 20 per
cent, instead of 30 per cent of the
Nation's production for Govern
ment use in September. , In Octo
ber and possibly two or three addi
tional months, all production of
butter would go to civilians.
The WFA officials explained the
policy was in line with the plan
to store up butter for military and
lease-lend use during the sum
mer months of heavy production,
and allow most of the butter man
ufactured in fall and winter to go
to civilians.
Approximately 210,000.000 pounds
of butter, mostly Government
stocks, were in storage August 1.
The average at that- date is about
155,000,000.
Housewives Short.
While WFA officials feel that
Government stocks are not exces
sive, complaints from some areas
that housewives have been unable
to buy any butter led to the deci
sion to reduce the Government’s
share.
Under consideration to spur dairy
production, officials said, is an in
crease in prices to milk producers,
to be offset with either higher prices
to consumers or extension of sub
sidies.
Milk prices have been at ceiling
levels for months, and the season
al increases usually charged in the
fall and winter to stimulate pro
duction cannot be made without
elevating the ceilings or granting
subsidies.
One proposal under consideration
is to allow farmers increases of
from 40 to 60 cents a hundred
pounds for milk during November,
December, January and February,
with smaller increases for early fall
and early spring.
Some Federal milk markets are
now subsidized and returns to pro
ducers are Increased without boost
(See BUTTER, Page A-5.)
Virtual State of Siege
Reported in Berlin
By the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 28.—A vir
tual state of siege has been pro
claimed in Berlin in efforts to
mobilize everyone for work and de
fense after the bomb attack Mon
day night, the Berlin correpondent
of the newspaper Aftonbladet said
today.
He reported that Propaganda
Minister Goebbels told Berliners
that "everyone has the same re
sponsibility as the men at the
front,” and warned that those who
tried to shirk defense duties would
be punished.
CIO Group Backs 4th Term
PORT DODGE, Iowa, Aug. 28
f/P).—The Iowa-Nebraska CIO In
dustrial Union Council adopted a
resolution urging a fourth term for
President Roosevelt at its closing
convention session today.
Calling Hess 'Overgrown Scout'
Touches Off Flood of Protests
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Aug. 28.—The jocose
description of Rudolf Hess as "an
overgrown Boy Scout" by Brendan
Bracken, British minister of infor
mation, has deeply cut Wolf Cub
Masters and Scout Mistresses who
began phoning Boy Scouts Associa
tions and London newspapers to
day to lodge indignant complaints.
Mr. Bracken so described Hess,
former Nazi leader who parachuted
in Scotland after an airplane fight
from Germany two years ago, at a
press conference in New York yes
terday.
Sydney Dormer, 34-year-old Rover
Scout, put it this way:
"It is an insult to Lord Baden
Powell t founder of the Boy Scouts)
and to every boy Scout in the
United Kingdom.
“I was an assistant scoutmaster
and have been a Scout ever since
I was 10 years old. I am now
a Rover Scout,. I cannot under
stand this reference at all.”
Tire press secretary of the Boy I
Scouts Association, staggered by
the volume of telegrams and tele
phoned protests, pointed out that
the Scouts form an international
organization and sighed:
”1 hate to think what the Ameri
can Boy Scouts will have to say
about this.”
Questions are expected to be asked
concerning the propriety of the re
mark in the House of Commons and
(See HESS, Page A-3.)
'Work-or-Fighf
Case Quashed in
Rockville Court
Did Not Offer Youth
Specific Wages,
Farmer Testifies
By GEORGE KENNEDY.
Stanley Day, 19-year-old Mont
gomery County farm worker who
was convicted Thursday of vio
lating Maryland’s “work-or
flght” law, was freed fronts road
gang yesterday after a morning’s
work.
According to testimony at his
second hearing, he was rejected for
his “slow thinking'' by the Army in
which his four brothers, including
his twin, are serving. After the
youth’s employer, who made the
complaint against him, testified in
Rockville Police Court he had not
offered a specific wage rate, the
youth was acquitted.
State's Attorney Joseph B. Simp
son cut short the testimony of the
youth’s employer, Harry Bussard,
elderly Laytonsville farmer, after
this admission. Mr. Simpson "con
ferred in the hall with his assistant,
Alfred D. Noyes, and said after re
turning to the courtroom:
“In view of the evidence that
there was no offer at the prevailing
wage, I confess on behalf of the
State a plea of not guilty.”
Judge Accepts Motion.
Judge Donald A. De Lashmutt
immediately accepted the State’s
motion and the husky, curly-haired
youth, who a few minutes before
had been a pathetic figure in the
witness chair, was free. His older
sister, Mrs. Paul Crown of Derwood,
was the only member of the family
who came to court voluntarily in
his behalf. Her husband said he
would tje able to get the boy a job
"at real wages.”
Defense Counsel Louis Lebowitz of
Mount Rainier placed the boy’s par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B.'Day,
on the stand, but their testi
mony was of little help to the youth.
Although the State’s attorney had
suggested the second hearing, he
objected vigorously to the defense
attorney’s question as “leading.” The
prosecutor's final motion came as a
surprise to the few onlookers.
The youth’s conviction had aroused
much interest in the press. His halt
ing speech in interviews led to re
ports that his pay had been with
held to pay a debt of his father, a
tenant on the Bussard farm. The
Civil Liberties Division of the Jus
tice Department became interested
in the possibilities of "peonage"
within 20 miles of the Nation’s Capi
tol. After the hearing, department
officials said they still had the case
"under consideration,” but that nc
decision had been made on it.
Paid $2 a Day.
The youth testified he was paid
for his work at the rate of $2 a day
His hours were 8 a m. to 8 p.m., he
said. He added that he worked pari
time several days for which he was
paid $1.50.
There was nothing in the hearing
to substantiate the “peonage'’ pos
sibility. Day explained afterward
he was talking about his pay in thi
spring when it went to pay th«
family bill at a nearby store.
It became evident from his testi
mony that he did not want to work
for Mr. Bussard and his sons, be
cause his feelings were hurt. Hi
did not eat the noontime dinnei
that Mrs. Bussard prepared for thi
hands because “there had beer
talk—talk about the way I ate mj
food.”
Both the boy and his employei
agreed he had worked on the farm
the week before last. The youtfc
said he had worked all week; thi
farmer contended he had workec
"two pieces of a day.”
On Monday he refused to com!
and help cut corn when sent for
the farmer said. On that day Mr
Bussard went to Rockville an*
swore out a warrant. Day, him
self, testified that on Tuesday hi
again refused and when he refuse*
on Wednesday, Thaddeus Bussard
the farmer’s son. ordered him t<
“take your foot off the place anc
never come back.”
He started off, he said, to sei
his sister "and look for a job.” Or
the ■ way two sheriff's deputies ar
rested him.
He was the first farm laborei
• See WORK OR FIGHT, Page A-7.)
Los Angeles Records
Earthquake Shock
Disturbance Centers
In Imperial Valley
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES. Aug. 28—Ar
earthquake was felt In Los Angelei
and vicinity tonight. There weri
two shocks of about 30 seconds
duration beginning at 11:46 Easterr
War Time.
San Bernardino, about 60 milei
southeast of Los Angeles, also re
ported feeling a quake lasting about
30 seconds.
No damage was reported.
The quake also was felt at Sar
Diego, about 125 miles south of Loi
Angeles. Fred Robinson, San Diegt
seismologist, said the disturbanci
evidently was centered in the Im
perial Valley, approximately 90 milei
east of San Diego.
First reports from El Centro ir
the Imperial Valley indicated thi
quake had caused no damage there
Radio Programs, Pg. C-10
Complete Index, Page A-2