The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, May 16, 1941, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” VOL. LVIL, NO. 8726. JUNEAU, ALASKA, FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1941.- MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN C GERMANY IS WARNED BY E.D.R. .S.BREAK WITH FRENCH INDICATED CONTRACTSON GermanTanks | Now Rolling Across Syria| - lraq Situamn Is More Serious-Russians Join Against British (By Associated Press) German tanks and bombers, es- corted by French fighting planes, are reported moving across French man- dated Syria toward the ancient “Garden of Eden” in the Kingdom of Traq. The British Middle East head- quarters announced RAF warplanes | attacked German aerial invaders ! yesterday in a series of raids in Syria, including Damascus, Rayak and Palmyra, where principal air- ports are situated. Countering the Axis threat, Brit- ish reinforcements are reported to have arrived both at Iraq and Pal- | estine. Dispatches from Beirut and Lebanon told that new sparks may spread the conflict still further. A | stiff protest was made by the Iraq govermment by Emir Abdullah against the asserted hostile thrust of Transjordan forces along the Iraq | and the Transjordan borders. Iraq and Palestine are guarded by strong British forces under General Sir Henry Mailand Wilson. The Baghdad government declared “swift | measures” would be taken if the frontier incidents are not halted. Iraq newspapers flared headlines reporting that Russia has disclosed a plan to lend help to the Iraqui and that Russian volunteers are joining the Iraq air force to help in the fight against Britain. — e — C“h 3 - Drew Pearsos. - Robert $. Alles %60° WASHINGTON—TIt is believe, but the Government of the United States actually is paying war risk insurance to the Japanese for helping to insure the steam- ship America, pride of the U. S. merchant marine. This is just part of the revela- tions over re-insurance which are breaking this week at the Justice Department, These probes also show that when a vessel is in- sured, Axis insurance companies! get all the data regarding its car- | go, time of departure, destination, and the interior plan of the ship. Thus, despite all the censorship of Secretary of the Navy Knox, Germany has had .an easy means| of knowinz all about every ship that leaves the United States. This is accomplished when Am- erican insurance companies, be- cause of the heavy risk involved in insuring a cargo in wartime, 1e- insure with various foreign com- panies, In other words, they sell} part of the policy abroad, thus distribute the risk. That is how Japan makes a lush profit on in- suring American vessels, ¢ven ves- sels owned by the USA. Last year Congress passed a law providing war risk insurance for U. S. shipping, but the Maritime| Commission, for reasons best known to itself, has declined to take ad- vantage of the law. Oommlssion! members state quite frankly that they wanted to throw the business to PRIVATE insurance concerns— as long as private insurance was available. BEGGING FOR INSURANCE As a result, here is what hap- pens when the steamship America or some other vessel seeks insur- ance for a voyage. The operators, of the America will get a certain " (Contipued o Page Four) hard w! ‘Corporaiion‘ Acce ptsNa-| JUNEAU FIELD 60 T0 IDAHO ! Morrison ar?dinudsen Bid $442,00 for Juneau CAA Airport Bidding $58,000 lower than the ap-| | propriation, the Morris and Knudsen Construction Company of Boise, Ida- ho, received the contracts for the construction of the CAA airport at Juneau yesterday as bids were open- ed in Washingten, D. C. According to a radiogram receiv- ed by the R. J. Sommers Construc- tion Company irom the Seattle bonding company of McCallister and Campbell, Morrison and Knudsen received contracts for both the Ju- neau and Cordova airports, bidding a total of $885,000 for the two jobs. The company, one of the largest in the world, bid $442,000 for Juneau and $443,000 for Cordova. No Scmmers Bid Contracts, as desired by the CAA, were submitted in two schedules,! cne for half the desired projects and the other for the complete. work. Eidding only on ‘thé Cordova field, p- R. J. Sommers of Juneau bid $311.- e i Bt 000 for half the job and $521,000 for [ |the complete construction. Morrison NEW UNIFORM_This |2nd Knudsen submitted estimates smiling young lady models one |for the complete projects for both of the new Red Cross uniforms |airports, with the stipulation that| designed to replace World War style ones. There's a different wniform for each type of service in the Red Cross. |both bids be accepted or none. | Other bids on the Juneau field | were by Lyttle and Green, $245,000 |and $397,000; Stock, $222,000 and $522,000. On the Cordova landing field Stock bid $268,000 and $557,000. R. J. Sommers bid $311,000 and $521,000 on the Cordova project. Total bid of Morrison and Knudsen BIG STRIKE AGAINSTGMC IS AVERTED ) | |the combined totals of Lyttle and Green, lowest Juneau bidder, and R. J. Sommers, lowest single bidder {cn the Cordova job. Start July 1 ‘ Work oy the Juneau airport, | which will be a class 3 contact land- |ing field, must start by July 1, ac- | cording to specifications, and must On the Cordova project, Stock bid $268,000 and $557,000. No bid was; |on both jobs was $33,000 lower than| fib(‘ completed within 400 days. In- a ') H cluded in the contract for the Ju- il0n6| Med |a“0n | neau field is two intersecting run- ’ | ways, gravel-surfaced, each 5,000 Boafd S FOfmula {feet long and 500 feet wide; and a {taxi strip 2,000 feet long and 400 (By Associated Press) feet wide. Because of restricted ap- The threatened strike against the ‘ proach, no beam will be installed at| General Motors Corporation involv- | the field. ing 60 plants in 22 States holding The total job will require approxi- $750,000,000 of defense contracts, | mately two million yards of removal was averted when the corporation |and haulage. accepted the National Mediation | Board’s peace formula just a few | hours before the scheduled deadline | for the walkout. The Mediation Board has also | tentatively scratched off another labor dispute from the books on word of the acceptance of the union of | terms to settle the strike at the Excello Corporation in Detroit, the big die and tool plant. NEW YORK. May 16 — Closiag quotation of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 4%, American Can 79 3/4, Anaconda 25, Bethlehem Steel 69%, Commonwealth and Southern %, Curtiss Wright 8, General Motors 37%, International Harvester 45 3/4, Kennecott 34%,| New York Central 12, Northern Pacific 6%, United States Steel 52%, Pound $4.03%. DOW, JONES AVERAGES The following are today's Dow, Jones averages: industrials 115.86, iNazi Communique Also cubmitted for Cordova by Lyttle and | Green. AXIS FORCES LOSING OUT IN NORTH AFRICA Admits Serious Setback on Drive fo Suez. (By Associated Press) On the North African war front today the German command ac- knowledges that British tanks have stormed back against the key front- rails 27.94, utilities 17.35. e, HOLDENS RETURNING | ier post at Salum, just inside Egypt, the scene of fierce fighting for | weeks. e, The Nazi communique also noted Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Holden andtnat strong British forces have ad- | | | | | | ! there by limousi | | i | | | By JACK STINNETT WASHINGTON, May 16—Capi- tal parade (strictly military): The 900 girls, mostly government workers, who have registered here as dancers and are on call as part- ners for soldiers at hops in town and at the camps, are forming a military organization, It’s an odd army; it's all officers. The girls are colonels, captains ‘and s0 on down to sergeants and corporals. The reason for this is not quite clear. Sgt. Geraldine (last name and telephone number may be ob- tained through the District of Co- lumbia dance committee) thinks maybe it’s to help the soldiers’ mor- ale. For instance, she explains, it won't hurt a private's chest expan- sion a bit if when he’s asked what he did over the weekend, he can answer: “I took Captain Smithers to a dance—Capt. Mary Smithers —and, Soldier, if you ask me, the captain’s swell!” A “SUCCESS” Washington folk have put the “Big Business” sign on their first effort to relieve the weekend hous- ing situation for visiting service men. They threw up several rows of tent houses on the Mall, down by the Tidal basin, stocked them with nearly 300 army cots. They took over the gymnasium of George ‘Washington University and put an- other 90 cots there. Then they Joan Holland, 20, Montreal socialite, is one of munition plants to help Britain win the war. aid of her personal maid. At bottom she is shown worl 900 Governmen Registered as Dancers, Form OwE Organization sent out word that any soldier, sailor or marine that wanted a bed for the night could have it for 50 cents. The boys flocked in The soldiers make ' their own beds from heaps of clean linen and blankets. “All the comforts| of home,” said one of the first comers. But it is something more than that. There's no taps to beat into bed at night and no reveille to bust up a man’s slumbers at the crack of dawn. This modern variation of the “flop-house” idea was started only on an experimental basis, but welfare and recreation associa- tion officials are so pleased that they are now seeking additional gymnasiums. One association of- ficial estimates that there will be as many as 30,000 visiting service men in Washington on some week- ends during the summer. This is a good deal more than original plans were made for. One reason for upward revision of the estimate, it was explained, is the new railroad coach rate for service men. NAVY GOES EXCLUSIVE There has been a little interne- cine war in our armed forces, and the Navy has poked the Army where it hurts most—in the stom- ach. The Navy has closed its cafe- terla to outsiders—and “outsiders,”| K R Al | (Continned on Page Seven) ! SAN DIEGO, Cal, May 16.—The daring flying of two Navy pilots effected the spectacular midair res- cue late yesterday of Lieutenant their son Sandy, will arrive in Ju-|yanced across the border of Libya neau tonight aboard the Princess This indicates a serious setback of Louise, after a trip of several weeks.|the Axis drive toward the Suez During most of ther absence they | Canal where only a few days ago the have been visiting relatives in Vic-| Axis forces had knifed in for a dis- toria, B. C: tance of 45 miles, | Walter Osfpoff after he had dangled head first for 30 minutes over the ocean from a parachute caught on a marine transport plane. | The rescue was made by Lt. W. | NAVY "CHUTE JUMPER RESCUED IN MID-AIR W. Lowrey and J. R. McCants, avia- tion chief machinist’s mate, in a; dive bomber at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Lowrey's precision flying involved | the eutting of the parachute shroud cords with the propeller of his own ship while operating with a leeway of about 20 feet, A Canadian Socialite Does 5 the hundreds of Canadian women working in factories and She is pictured (top) having 6:30 a.m, king on shells at the munition p! ine and checking in through the workmen’s entrance, BERLINIS | of British Air Force bombers attack- er Bit APPEAL SENT FRENCH GOVT. BY ROOSEVELT Little Counlr—y_Asked Not to Delivery lfself Info Nazi Hands CAUTION IS TAKEN BY U. §., HOWEVER French Merchant Vessels in American Waters Tak- en Under Protection BULLETIN —WASHINGTON, May 16.—Except for diplomatic formalities, informed quarters here said the United States has reached an open break with the French Government of Vichy. WASHINGTON, May 16—Presi- dent Roosevelt appealed to France last night not to deliver herself to | Germany which is bent on “utter | destruction of ‘Mberty” “ At the same time ‘the United | States Coast Guard took a dozen or more French merchant vessels in | American waters under protective ‘cuswdy. These vessels taken over lmc!ude the liner Normandie. | These steps were ‘Washington's swift reaction to dispatches indicat- | ing the Vichy government is throw- ing its lot with the Nazis as was indicated yesterday when Premier Marshal Petain told the French people that “it is up to you to follow me without mental reservations.” AlR RAIDED i President Roosevelt, in his state- s G I | ment implied that Prance was about | to enter into an alliance with Ger- | many involving the “peace and safe- ty of the western hemisphere.” Royal Air Force Also Makes Numerous Other Atfacks —Fires Are Reporfed LONDON, May 16.—Strong units . breakfast with the lant after traveling BRITISH ACCUSATION LONDON, May 16.—The British | Government virtually accuses -the | French Government of Vichy as act- | ing as a German ally in permitting | Nazi planes to cross Syria to Iraq. | The British Government has prac- tically warned France against furth- er collaboration with Germany, es- pecially in view of the developments in the Middle East. ARTILLERY OPENS FIRE ONBRITISH \Germans Claim Attack on | Occupied Coastal Points Is Beaten Off BERLIN, May 16.—British ships, attempting to approach German oc- I-ODESTAR IobAY’cupxed English Channel ports were | fired on today by the German naval {artillery and forced to “turn off.” |nallgura| nghi of One- | This is a statement issued late to- Day Service, Seattle fo |aay by authorized sources. Fairbanks, Delayed Ajreraff Harbor for it Agn o oeo panes on ne,(Gasfineau Channel Urged by Dimond | I { 3 ed Hanover last night, starting large fires in the industrial quarters and another big warplane attack was made on Berlin. Night attacks were also made on Hamburg, Cuxhaven, Calais, Bou- logne and Dieppe. { The British Air Ministry said the | British coastal command bombers | {raided the docks and shipping at | St. Nazaire, German submarine base | at Lorient, France, and also attacked’ the docks at Ijmuiden, in The Neth- | erlands. | ‘The Air Ministry acknowledged | the loss of four attacking bombers. oo GOV;GRUENING. MARY JOYCE ON new Seattle to Fairbanks, via Ju-| neau, one-day air mail and pas-| senger service of Pan American; Airways, is set for 3 o'clock this| afternoon after bad weather turned back the first plane. Among the passengers are Gov. Ernest Gruening and Mary Joyce. | Gov. Gruening said prospects are| bright for an early approval of the Alaska Highway. —— ., Hens lay as many eggs from March to June as in all the other months of the year, WASHINGTON, May 16 — The PRESIDENT GIVES OUT HIS THREAT Makes Vem Statement Regarding Red Sea as New Danger Zone HISTORY IS CITED TO PROVE SOMETHING UP Roosevelf mgles with Newsmen - Declares Situation Serious WASHINGTON, May 16.—Presi- dent Roosevelt has injected into the discussion regarding Germany's de- claration that the Red Sea is a danger zone for foreign ships a re- minder that twice before in history the United States has used warships to protect her commerce to obtain freedom of the sea. The President mentioned the ac- tion of the new American Republic agal pirates in the 'Mediterranean & century ago in naval action as well as against privateers in the Caribbean. President Roosevelt, citing the cases in history, said he was merely providing a lead for the newsmen to follow up. The freedom of the seas, the President said, is historic American policy. The President did not indicate just what he might be prepared to do about the Red | Sea. SITUATION SERIOUS WASHINGTON, May 16.—Presi- dent Roosevelt said the international conditions are too serious for him to interpret or comment further on implications of his appeal last night to the French people to turn down | collaboration with Germany. The President dismissed a barrage of questions at the conference with the newsmen today as he positively refused to be drawn into any dis- cussion. He was asked if Admiral Leahy, American Ambassador to the Vichy Government, will be asked to come back to Washington, also if here is likely to be a change in the status of Martinique, strategic French island in the eastern end of the Caribbean. To queries, the President replied these were too hypothetical. NALZIS 0CCUPY POSITION FOR NEXT BATTLE (German Organ Claims Country Ready fo Strike Next Blow in War BERLIN, May 16 — “Positions from which the next blow will be struck have been occupied,” the well informed Dienst Aus Deutsch- land declared today on speculation about Germany's next war move. This significant sentence was part of an inspired German utterance on French and German relations which said Petain has taken “a positive attitude” in recent discus- sions. Germans are vague in public comment, but reflected confidense | i House Gommittee on Rivers and| that satisfactory arrangements with Harbors has taken under advise-| France either have been or are ment certain projects in Alaska.'about to be concluded. Alaska Delegate Anthony J. Di-! R - oS mond has urged before the com-| MRS. PERELLE COMING mittee small boat harbors at Sitka, bocin: w04 Kodiak and Skagway and improve-| Mrs. Charles Perelle, former resi- ment of Gastineau Channel at Ju-|dent of Juneay, is a passenger neau, Alaska, for use as an air- Dorthbound to, this ity ahoard the craft harbor. Northland.