Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1929, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair tonight and rising temperature, ‘Temperatures: today. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 12 and 13 Highest, 80, at 4:30 p.m. yesterday: lowest, 58, at 6 a.m. Full report on page 5. tomorrow; slowly Tntered as secol post office, Wa: 31,154, ). nd class matter shington, D. C. @b WITH SUNDAY MORN ING EDITION ¢ Foening Star. Associated service. Ti:e only evening paper in Washington with the Press news Yesterday’s Circulation, 101,324 WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1929—THIRTY PAGES. * () Means Associated Pres: TWO CENTS. FAVORABLE WINDS SPEEDING ZEPPELIN Graf Well Over First Moun- tain Ranges in Western Sibe- | ria, Going Toward Yakutsk. TOKIO REPORTS LINER _MAY ENCOUNTER TYPHOON Making Unusually Fast Time of 70 to 75 Miles an Hour—Eckener Ex- pects to Land in Japan Monday. HAMBURG, Germany, August 16 (#)—The Hamburg-American Line received a wireless message from the Graf Zeppelin this afternoon, stating that Dr. Hugo Eckener expected to arrive in Tokio Monday night, mid- European time, or presumably some time Monday afternoon, Eastern standard time. By the Associated Press TOKIO, August 17.—Japanese gov- ernment wireless stations tonight be- gan picking up the air liner Graf Zep- pelin as she steadily drew nearer Japan on her round-the-world flight. Di. Eckener informed the station he was using only three of his five motors * because of the favorable winds blowing over Sibe: The government wircless station at Ochifshi Hokkaido picked up the Graf Zeppelin at 7:40 a.m. Eastern standard time and received her position as 63.30 latitude North and 107.30 longitude East. This position placed the Graf Zep- pelin well over the first mountain ranges in Western Siberia on a course that) would carry her toward Yakutsk, which was about 750 miles directly to the east. This course would carry her over the Lena Valley, in the region of the fa- mous_Lena gold fields. It appeared | that Dr. Eckener would follow his origi- nal course carrying him over the west- ern end of the Sea of Okhotsk, then down over Sakhalien to Japan. By this route he would avoid the troublesome region of Manchuria. The Zeppelin was making unusually | ing whole armies of Federal agents lend a hand.) North Carolina, said in his Durant the surface.” But Mr. Merrick is wrong in State courts. j cratic control. But democracies work that way. public. U. S. Should Aid State. work of the State. authorities are inactive, or, worse structive, the work of the Federal was sought by interested citizens quently disappearing from sight. PROHIBITION MUST RECEIVE STATE HELP FOR SUCCESS, MRS. WILLEBRANDT HOLDS Cites Wetness of New York and Dryness of Kansas to Show Need for Effective Co-Gperation. (In_this_article Mrs. Willebrandt states frankly how a State ean nullify the eflorts of the Federal Government by failing to co-operate in enforcement, pointing out that the creation of “superbureaus” and mobiliz- are useless unless the local officials BY MABEL WALKER WILLEBRANDT. A former prohibition administrator of New York City, R. Q. Mer- rick, now prohibition administrator of Virginia, South Carolina and contest essay that he could put an end to the liquor traffic in his district if he had five times his present force of 80 men. His district embraces 246 counties in three States, and Mr. Merrick said that his force of 80 men could only “scratch thinking that 400 men or 4,000 men sent to his dis- trict from Washington could stop the liquor traffic 1f co-operation were withheld or ob- structive tactics used by State officers and The people of America—I agree with the anti-prohibitionists on this—do not want and will not permit an army of offi- cers of the Federal Government to enforce law and order in local communities. ing is more contrary or repugnant to the basic principles of our form of government. Monarchies enforce their kings’ will by the {use of an army under centralized, auto- Noth- -do not Local self-government and {law_enforcement are the basis of our Re- The job of the Federal Government in enforcing prohibition is to supplement the But where the State Still, ob- Mrs. Willebrandt. Government is nullified. For in- stance, a few years ago the attention of the Department of Justice because information had come tc them that the New Jersey State police had seized 55 men and a half million dollars’ worth of liquor in that State, the men released by city magistrates on inconsequential bonds of $500 or less, subse- The Federal Government simply | cannot be the policeman for 48 States, and prohibition will not and | never can be enforced that way. i = (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) CHINESE REPORT fast time on her passage of Siberia, her speed being between 70 and 75 miles an hour. So favorable were the winds that | Dr. Eckener was using only threz of his | five motors, keeping the other two in | reserve, i MAY ENCOUNTER TYPHOON. | | | Uncertain Weather Conditions Are Re- | ported to Germany in Tokio Advices. | FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, Au-| gust 17 (P).—Uncertain weather condi- tions and possibility of the Graf Zeppe- 1in’s encountering & typhoon as it nears Japan were reported here today in ad- vices from Tokio. The Zeppelin works’ radio station has listened constantly to messages from the Graf, the most plain being to Irkutsk and Turuchansk. The Zeppelin, far over isolated Si- beria, today was speeding eastward just south of the Arctic Circle and at 1 am. Eastern standard time gave her posi- tion as 65 north, 95 east. The position given by Dr. Hugo Eckener to his home port at Friedrich- shafen placed the Graf Zeppelin defi- nitely beyond the half-way mark of her 7,000-mile journey to Tokio on the sec- ond lap of her round-the-world flight. Past Half-Way Point. She was about 200 miles due east of the Henissei River, which approximately marked the half-way point. The region is a sparsely inhabited one, the nearest large town being Ussudjakt, about 150 miles to the morth. The Graf was at the headwaters of the Vlokhina River, which is a tributary | of the lower Tungusk. She had crossed | the Central Siberian steppes and was | approaching™the extended mountainous | region before reaching the next great river valley, that of the Lena. Her course was carrying her toward the Tyrkmokit Mountains, north of the Irkutsk region. The Zeppelin was far north of the Transsiberian Railway line, being about 500 miles due north of Krasnoyarsk. Conflict on Position. The time and position given by Dr. | FEckener conflicted with previous advices from Moscow, which had placed the Graf Zeppelin at 85 degrees east and 60 north at 2 am.,, Eastern standard time teday. 1f the figures as relayed from the Graf | Zeppelin were correct. it would indicate ~ (Continued on Page 2, Column 7) ATTORNEY ACCUSED OF PLOTTING DEATH Lawyer Jailed for Alleged Attempt to Kidnap and Poison 0il Operator. | By the Associated Press. PONCA CITY, Okla., August 17—F.C. Hyde, young Ponca City lawyer, was in | jail at Newkirk today awaiting arraign- ment on a charge of “attempt and con- spiracy to kidnap, rob and kill by poi- soning” Samuel C. Collins, former vice president of the Marland Oil Co,, and brother-in-law of E. W. Marland, weal- thy oil operator. Authorities belleve Hyde attempted to poison Collins to cover up alleged short- ages in accounts he handled for the ofl man. The lawyer was arrested in front of his home after he had blindfolded Col- lins and at the point of a gun had Iorcedm 1{1‘0‘: a motm;o car, police siaml’: He hac possession some poi and also a pint of whisky, which also contained poison, the officer said. Police were informed of the alleged kidnap plot by a man who said Hyde had sought to engage him in carrying it ut. The man, whose name was with- h\elfl. accompanied Hyde to Collins’ ome. Officers said investigation had revealed that Hyde made atte) to poison Col- Jins about 10 days ago by placing a drug in a soft drink, which he ordered sent t2 Collins’ office. siclan phy: said, was near deat| takinz the drink. a h for some time after ' ATTACK REPULSED Official Dispatches Say 700 Soviet Cavalrymen Driven | Back at Jailainor. By the Associated Press. { PEIPING, China, August 17.—Official | Chinese reports today said 700 Soviet | cavalrymen were repulsed yesterday afternoon in a vigorous attack on Jail- ainor, a station bn the Chinese Eastern Railway 22 miles south of Manchull. | Both sides suffered casualties in deld; and wounded. | The Soviet troops were supported by heavy artillery fire, the Chinese garri- son resisting with rifle fire and marchine guns. Twelve Russian dead were left on the field, 4 Chinese were killed nndl 2 officers, 6 soldiers and 10 civilians | wounded. The Russians remained on | Chinese soil about three hours. | Another official message from Mukden sald that after a heavy bombardment by artillery Soviet cavalry yesterday attacked the Chinese defense line at Meiyaotze, near Manchuli and 12 miles from the border. The fighting was said to be continuing. The latter report, notwithstanding its official character, was treated with reserve pending inde- pendent confirmation. REPORT OTHER CLASHES. Chinese Repulse Attacks at Pogranich- naya and Hsilinko, TOKIO, August 17- () —Dispatches to Asahi Shimbun from Pogranichnaya today said Chinese and- Russian out- posts had clashed south of Pogranich- naya on the morning of August 14, when Red cavalry allegedly invaded Chinese territory. Since the clash the Chinese garrison (Continued on Page 2, Column 6.) JUDGE ORDERS LASHING FOR RECKLESS DRIVING Motorist Accused of Running Into ‘Woman Also Given Four- Month Term. By the Assoclated Press. PORT ELIZABETH, Cape of Good Hope, August 17.—Ten lashes and four months’ imprisonment were meted today by a local magistrate to a mo- torist found guilty of reckless driving. It was believed to be the heaviest sen- tence of its kind ever passed on the cape. The motorist, whose name is John- son, was said to have knocked a young woman down with his automobile. She clung to the radiator, but was finally dragged underneath and had to spend 12 days in a hospital to recover. The man previously had been con- victed of 12 similar offenses. SPOKANE SUN 0D | | | | | REACHES CHEYENNE Preparations Made to Take, on Gasoline for Flight | to Cleveland. ‘ i | | By the Agsociated Press. : CHEYENNE, Wyo., August 17.—The | Spokane Sun God, transcontinental re- fueling plane, piloted by Mick Mamer | and Art Walker, soared over Airport Cheyenne at 9:11 o'clock this morning and preparations were started for an- other refueling contact to enable the ship to proceed East to Cleveland, where the next contact is scheduled. In messages addressed to the Asso- clated Press and dropped over the air- port, Mamer and Walker sald every-| thing is going well and indicated that the fiyers were not worried in the least | by the delay occasioned in soaring all ! night over Rock Springs, Wwe. ! Mamer's message read: “Good morning, Cheyenne. Sorry I am late. Rock Springs put me up for the night, rather kept me up, which | was O. K. with me. Sorry I can’t; stop.” Got Only Two Hours’ Sleep. That the flyers are enjoying their trip is seen in Walker's message, which Tead: “Everything is O. K. The only in- convenience is the loss of sleep. We have not slept but two hours so far. Whirlwind 9 sure knocking ’em off — just as smooth and even as the day we | left Spokane. Made every contact s0 | far without trouble, including three night contacts. Hose broke last night during one contact and gave me a bath. I guess I.needed it.” The Sun God took on 50 gallons of | gasoline in 20 minutes, beginning at 9:15 o'clock, and the Ryan refueling ship landed at 9:35 o'clock to take UD | fort to make the contest one of actual another 50 gallons. Three contacts probably will be necessary here, as the refueling ship is unable to carry a heavier load and maintain an even course over the Sun God. Instructs Refuel Pilot. After the first contact here Mamer dropped a note addressed to Vernon | Bookwalter, pilot of the refueling ship, instructing him to follow the Sun God to North Platte, Nebr., after the third contact is made here. Mamer said he (Continued on Page 2, coltmn 8) DR. WU IS APPOINTED. Named One of Chinese Delegates to League of Nations. NANKING, China, August 17 (A).— The Nationalist government today - ap: pointed Dr, C. C. Wu, Minister at Washington, one of the Chinese dele- gates to the Leagus of Nations. SLIP OF HIS FALSE MUSTACHE BARES BANDIT LEADING CITIZEN Five-Mile Ride Made After Hold-Up in Vain Effort to| Thwart Detection. By the Associated Press. SLATERSVILLE, R. I, August 17. —Unbounded confidence in his abil- ity to use theatrical make-up led Carl G. Hockett, a leading citizen of Ux- bridge, Mass., and self-confessed bandit, who held up the First National Bank of Smithfield, at Slatersville, Thursday, to return to the bank after driving five miles for Collidon to replace his false mustache, which nearly fell off on his initial visit to the institition. But it was a loss of this faith, which dwindled rapidly as evidence piled up against him, that resulted in his break- that “all was discovered” ed the insurance agent, church correct at- sertion prompt s ‘booster to irustee and. civic wrn' eys who had entered not guilty pleas for him. “The is_guilty,” he sald when arral oy on charges of robbery assal De:fi:nmm for ready manz{ to meet his bills, unpaid premiums to insur- ance companies and notes due, said to the idea, he confessed nerve finally ‘was broken under these debts he down and complete confession. The as- 4 J0WOMAN FLYERS TORACE TOMORROW Managers of the Santa Monica-to- SNOWDEN REJECTS DEBT COMPROMISE OFFERED BY ALLIES Chancellor Sticks to Original Demands That Britain Be Given Larger Share. |BRITISH EADER’S STAND BELIEVED PARLEY DOOM Dr. Stresemann Calls on Head of English Delegates, but Hides His Purpose. By the Associated Press. THE HAGUE, August 17.—Philip Snowder, Brit'sh chancellor of the ex- chequer, today refused the compromise offer of France, Italy, Belgtim and Japan to allow Great Britain an in- creased share of German reparations. The British chancellor claimed it was insufficient to satisfy his government. The chief delegates of the four cred- | itor governments aligned against Great ceived Mr. | proposals to meet at noon and decide | | what further actlon to take. Sees Parley's Doom. Feeling around the Hotel des Indies, headquarters of the creditor powers, Britain decided as soon as they re-| Snowden’s reply to _their | OH.YES N TROOPS WILL HELP was that Snowden’s reply meant the inevitable breaking up of the confer- | ence. All delegations immediately | communicated with their governments. | Even Mr. Snowden has kept in constant | touch with Premier MacDonald during | the past two days. H The offer refused was that made | yesterday by the four governments seek- ing to satisfy British demands for re- turn to the Spa percentages for di- vision of German reparations and other minor concessions. The four govern- ments acted in an attempt to avert British withdrawal from the confer- ence here on application of the Young | reparations plan. Mr. Snowden in his refusal to con- sider the compromise further said that instead of the 60 per cent of British claims it purported to offer, he upon | examination had discovered it made iavailable only 20 per cent, which, he said, was utterly inacceptable to his government. Calls on Snowden. Dr. Gustav Stresemann, German foreign minister, ealled on Chancellor Snowden just before moon today. He refused to say whether.his visit was for the purpose of fhediation, but ; there was less pessimism among the Germans than elsewhere, and this was | taken to mean that the chief of the reich delegation was endeavoring to prevent a complete break. There is some resentment in British | circles at the tendency of other delega- | tions to interpret their stand as an | obstacle to peace. Chancellor Snowden has made known his feelings in the matter by saying that all the British delegation wants {- (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) Will Take Off From Santa| Monica for Cleveland in Air Derby. By the Associated Press. SANTA MONICA, Calif., August 17.— Cleveland women's air derby, a feature of the national air races, today an- nounced that 20 entrants would be on the line for the take-off here tomorrow. Sixteen of the woman pilots had their planes on the field and four more were scheduled to arrive today. ‘The competing planes vary greatly as to power, speed and size. They have been classified according to piston dis- placement and size, however, in an ef- fiying and navigating ability rather than a race between differing types of planes. The entrants are Opal Logan Kunz, New York; Mary E. von Mack, Detroit; Phoebe Omlie, Memphis, Tenn.; Neva Paris, Great Neck, N. Y.;: Ruth Nichols, New York: Edith Foltz, Portland, Oreg.; Mary Hazleys, Tulsa, Okla.; Mrs. Edith Miller, New York; Ruth Elder, Beverly |Hills, Calif; Amelia Earhart, Boston; Claire Fahy, Los Angeles; Marvel Cros- son, San Diego; Florence Lowe Barnes, San Marino, Calif; Louise McPhetridge Thaden, Pittsburgh: Bobby Trout, ios Angeles; Thea , Germany; Blanche Noyes, Cleveland; Margaret Perry, Los Angeles; Gladys O'Donnell, Los Angeles, and Mabel Waters, To- peka, Kans. NAVY ARMADA IS READY FOR CLEVELAND RACES! Sea Branch’s Greatest Aerial Unit Ever to Cross Country, Will Leave Coast Monday. SAN DIEGO, Calif., August 17.—The greatest fighting aerial unit ever sent across the country by the Navy will take off -here at daybreak Monday when 18 fast combat planes will leave for the Cleveland air races. Three huge Sikorsky amphibians, with mechanics for, the single-seater fighters, will soar eastward tomorrow. The aerial armada will be headed by Lieut. Comdr. H.'C. Wick and made up of fighting gmns squadron No. 1, the crack combat organization of the naval ,” headed by Lieut. L. E- Gel will go with the squadron. These “aerobats” are known as “the nine high hats.” ‘work FIGHT GOAST FIRES Appeals Made to Washington | as Widespread Forest Blazes Spread. By the Associated Press. SEATTLE, August 17.—Federal troops | today were under orders to go to the aid | of an army of 2,000 fire-fighters who had been waging a losing battle against | the widespread flames devastating the for several wacks. As the result of appeals to the War commanding officer of the 9th Army | Corps Area, instructed the commanding | officer at Fort Lewis, Wash., to give such aid as posible to Federal Forest Super- | visor C. M. Granger at Portland, Oreg. | If el available Federal troops in| Washington State were called out the|end, Ray and his “ma and pa” walked | Ray to the lodge, as he figures his big fire-fighting army would be augmented | by about 4,000 men. Two Deaths Feared. | Granger announced that he would visit the ravaged district in the Chelan Forest of Washington and call for Fed- | eral assistance there if the situation | warranted. Meanwhile, fear was expressed here that two men had been trapped in the | Chelan fire and burned to death. Douglas C. Inghram, Federal grazing inspector from Portland, and Ermannie | St. Luise of Chelan apparently were | caught between two lines of fire in the | Chelan Naticnal Forest. A change of wind caused the two lines of fire to| meet. Surrounding fires made it difficult for searching parties. If the two men have perished it will | bring the number of fatalities among | the fire-fighters to six in 10 days. An unnamed man was reported burned to| death on the Canadian side of the Col- ville Forest yesterday. Three men were injured in Idaho and Montana. More than 50,000 acres had been burned over in Chelan, Okanogan and Ferry Counties of Washington. The blaze in the Chelan Forest alone had covered 18,000 acres. Fires Advance in Idaho. Forestry officials at Nelson, British Columbia, announced that 1,800 men were fighting conflagrations in the southern interior of British Columbia. A total of 160 fires were burning in that province, 83 of them being new ones. Two fires which resisted the efforts of fighters advanced in the Selway For- est of Idaho, the Bald Mountain fire covering about 9,000 acres and the Old Man Creek blaze 1,800 acres. Two hun- dred more men, bringing the total sent out since July 20 to 1,600, were dis- patched from Spokane to the fire front. Crossing the Idaho line into the Sal- mon River country, the Bitter Root blaze leaped from Montana into rich stands of timber in the neighboring State. The Sand Point and Bonners Ferry fires were quiet. WHALE RUNS AGROUND. 70-Footer Believed to Have Pursued Fish to Shore. VICTORIA, Tex., August 17 (#).—A 70-foot whale, the first ever reported in these waters, rested on the beach five miles west of Pass Cavallo on Matagorda Island yesterday the victim of its own greed. 1t is thought that the whale was pur- suing an immeifise school of redfish, es- timated to have been a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, which was noted Thursday. The whale is supposed to have been so intent on the fish that it ran aground. The crew of the Pass Cavallo lighthouse made the animal fast and willattempt to tow it to Port O’Connor. Tribe Boils Afghan Captives in 0il. ! | By the Associated Press. CALCUTTA, India, August 17 (#).— Rebellious Hazara tribesmen in Afghan- istan were said here today to have captured an_Afghan general and to have boiled him and his staff in oil. The tribesmen inflicted two severe de- feats on the troops of Habibullah Khan at Sarchasma, 30 miles north of Kadul, where they captured a large amount of ammunition. Bank S!gtemenu ‘Washington clearing house, $4,522,~ 130.51. rday when they in formation. They off of three, the planes of each sect being attached to each other with 40-foot ropes. I State News, Page 6 I New York clearing house exchange, | day in a seaplane hangar at the Coast | 'MOUNTAIN YOUTH CATCHES TWO! 'MORE POSSUMS TO GIVE HOOVER | :Ray Reckons as How the President Was| Much Taken at Camp Last Sunday and Offered Him $5 Apiece. BY REX COLLIER, Staft Correspondent of The Star. CRIGLERSVILLE, Va., August 16.—Having disposed of his first catch to | the President of the United States for a crisp $5 note, Ray Burracker, tousle- headed “hill billy” lad of Big Stone Mountain, overlooking the Hoover camp, has' rounded up two more Blue Ridge opossums for presentation to the President | next Sunday. Ray, who has become the hero of impromi Ray allowed that was a fair propo- ; | sition and forthwith organized a one- j what kind of an_outfit he bought, but Department, Maj. Gen. John L. Hines, | man "possum hunt that has lasted all | rumors around MCAlester's store’ and this week with tolerable good results. Keeping one eye on business and the otner on likely looking trees in tne wooded fastnesses miles above the Rapidan, Ray today Was two ’'possums |to the good. Taking along with him the money given_him by the President last week eight miles down ’tother side of Big| Stone Mountain yesterday to buy some | clothes at “the sale.” ~Everybody in these parts knows what “the sale” is, | but for the benefit of the city folks who | may not, it should be explained that “the sale” is a sort of rummage affair held every now and then at a “mission school” near Luray. ptu guest last Sunday at Mr. Heover's birthday party at the Rapidan forests of the.Pacific Northwest States' lodge, says the President was right much taken with the first 'possump and | told him he would give him $5 apiece for any more Ray fetched him. the mountain country since being an Ray is keeping a dark secret just post office, gathering place of the moun- tain people of evenings, have it that the 11-year-old boy is going to put on something better than overalls when ge visits Camp Hoover next Sabbath ay. Furthermore, Ray’s 8-year-old brother, George, is making plans to accompany brother may need help with two fight- in’ 'possums on his hands. Eva May, Ray's 10-year-old sister, ‘hose nick- name, she insists, is “Did,” points out that Ray actually had two ’possums in | that soap box last Sunday when he | started down the mountainside, but that | (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) RUMRUNNERHANGS FOR DEATH OF TWO Seaplane Hangar at Fort Lauderdale Scene of Execu- | tion of J. A. Alderman. By the Associated Press. i FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, August| 17.—James Horace Alderman, 50-year- | old rum runner, was hanged early to- | Guard base here for the slaying of two | Coast Guardsmen in a gun battle on | the high seas two years ago. Alderman walked calmly to the scaf- fold with a prayer on his lips, showing | no sign of faltering. Wita only execu- ‘ tion officials, a spiritual adviser and | the necessary witnesses present, the | trap was sprung at 6:03 just as the first rays of sun rose out of the At- lantic, which borders the east side of the Coast Guard base. A few minutes later the body was | taken down, and at 6:25 a slowly {nov- | ing hearse started with it directly to Miami, where relatives have arranged the funeral and burial. Alderman was convicted in January, 1928, of slaying Sidney Sanderlin and Victor Lamby, the Guardsmen, as he attempted to run liquor into a Florida port. During the battle Robert K. ‘Webster, secret service agent, also was killed, but the rum runner never was tried for his death. Alderman carried his fight for life to the highest ccurts and to President Hoover without avail. The case was tried under Federal jurisdiction because the crime occurred at sea. Designa- tion of the airplane hangar for the execution came after the State had de- clined to permit the use of its property, citing special reasons in each location the Government requested. FOUR DEAD, TWO BADLY BURNED IN HOME FIRE Father Rescues mughte_r, 5, but Younger Brothers and Friend Perish. MONCORD, N. H., August 17.—Four | children, three of them under five years of/age, were burned to death here last night. A fifth, Esther, five years old, sister of three of the others and daugh- ter of Marshall French, truck driver, and the father were in a critical condition from burns. ‘The father succeeded in carying Es- ther from the mass of flames that had ey, bak colapaes and as found ity, but and was fous lying by the with his clothing burned from his A The victims we e, Marshall, jr, and Charles French, all under five, George Mercer, 14, son of Edward Mercer, who was at the French home $1,341,000,000. New York clearing house balance, $171,000,000. Treasury balance, $101,844,623.79. Radio Programs—Page 30 to care for the children. Mrs. French had been away and re- turned just after the tragedy. French has been unconscious since the fire and authorities have been unable to learn how it started and whether French was at home at the time. DEFECTIVE WIRING | DELAYS WL Short-Circuit Interrupts: Flight, Which Was Planned for This Afternoon. BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON, Staff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, August 17.—The first flight test of Licut. Alford J. Williams’ Mercury racing plane, which has been delayed for many days by adverse weather, was held up this morning by a short circuit in the wiring of the! 1,100-horsepower motor. With weather conditions ideal for the first time in 10 days, a half dozen me- chanics were set to work to replace the damaged wires and the flight is to be made early this afternoon. The mishap caused intense excite- ment at the Naval Academy, reports being circulated that the $175,000 plane had caught fire and was burning up. Aside~from burned insulations, it was | stated, no damage was done. The plane was lifted from its cradle at Santee wharf at the Naval Academy and was lowered to the Severn River ! shortly after 10 o'clock this morning. Exhaust Spits Flames. Powerful starting apparatus on a Navy | barge was backed up against the pro- peller of the plane and the motor was turned over. As the motor took hold a sheet of flame and smoke came from the four exhaust stacks. Through the smoke it could be seen a moment later that Lieut. Williams was in difficulties. He rose from his seat with a ex- tinguisher in his hand as the motor sputtered and stopped. Dense clouds of smoke were rising from the cockpit | around the pilot’s seat. Willlams, however, did not use the | extinguisher and the smoke clouds | rapidly cleared away. i Willlams ordered that the plane be lfted back to the wharf and told re- porters that there had been no damage ! which would delay the flight more than | an hour or two. Faulty Wiring Blamed. ‘The short circuit is supposed to have been caused by faulty wiring. The ignition system is exceedingly com- plicated, as there are 48 spark plugs operating from four magnetos. As soon as the damage is repaired Lieut. Willlams will make another ef- fort to take the racer on its maiden fiight. After a short trial hop over the Severn River, if weather conditions remain good, the plane will be taken to a speed course laid out by the Navy at Kent Island. The plane will be carried across Chesaj Bay to the island on the deck of the Navy air- craft tender U. S. S. Sandpiper, which will taw the barge carrying the start. ing apparatus. | HOOVER PRAISES VIRGINIA HOSTS IN MADISON ADDRESS President Formally Welcomed to Rapidan Camp in Dig- nified Celebration. RECEPTIO_N VOIDMOF ALL REFERENCE TO POLITICS | Chief Executive Speaks in Humor- ous Vein After Praising Hos- pitality of People. BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG, Staff Correspondent of The Star. MADISON COURT HOUSE, Va, August 17.—President Hoover today paid tribute to Virginia hospitality and pledged himself to be a “good neighbor.” The Chief Executive and Mrs. Hoover and their week-end party motored to | this little county seat early today, where several thousand persons, many of them traveling from distant parts of Vir- ginia, gathered to make them welcome. They came also to celebrate the fact that the President of the United States has sclected a camp in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia as his Summer weck-end home, a camp which ultimately is to become a part of Shenandoah National Park and to re- main a retreat for future Presidents, Reception Non-Political. Despite the fact that Virginia cast its electoral vote for Mr. Hoover last November, and even now a campaign for the election of a governor is under way in which the issues of last year are being fought out again, there was noth- ing political in the reception gi President and Mrs. Hoov * tod did the President make reference in any way to politics in his brief address. Rather, after expressing his deep ap- preciation for the kindness of the people of Virginta to himself and Mrs Hoover, the President spoke in a { humorous vein. He said that the hardy Virginians, among them George Wash- ington, who picked out Washington as the site for the Capital of the Nation, perhaps had_overlooked the fact that | the city of Washington might be hot in the Summer time. “But Virginia herself now offers the antidote in the wonderful mountains which you have dedicated to a national park and the access to it that you have provided by your newly improved | roads,” he continued. Virginia, the home of Presidents in the early days of the Republic, Mr. Hoover said, now fittingly provides a Summer home for the Chjef Executives of the Nation. k “Equal Before Fishes.” “All men,” said the President, “are equal before fishes.” and for that rea- son it is well for the heads of the Na- tion to take up fishing and to be re- minded periodically of the fact that the forces of nature discriminate for no man._Further, he said, fishing offers to the President of the United States a chance for quiet and thought, per- haps the only opportunity, for “fish will not bite in the presence of the public.” The reception to the President sug- gests a big family picnic in the coun- try. In the great crowd assembled were many farmers, who laid aside their harvesting and brought their families to this celebration. It is rare for a town the size of Madison to be fortunate enough to entertain any one so important or cele- brated as a President, but this little community accepted the big responsi- bility with a courage and determina- tion that assured success. Participates as Neighbor. The President’s address follows: “Both Mrs. Hoover and I feel greatly honored by the generous reception you have extended us today. It is a welcome as one of your neighbors, and it is as a neighbor that I participate with you. “In the early years of our Republic, virginia was the home of Presidents, and it would seem appropriate that with the changing years the President should at least have a week end camp in Vir- ginia. There are other sound reasons why such a connection should be main- tained between the Presidents and Vir- ginia. The fact is that those strong Virginians who selected the site for our National Capital were apparently | impervious to heat and humidity, or at least they were unaware of how much pavemenis and modern buildings can contribute to raise the temperature. But Virginia herself now offers the an- tidote in the wonderful mountains which you have dedicated to a national park and the access to it that you have pro- vided by your newly improved roads. “It has become a habit and a neces- sity for our Government officials, who have ‘= major anxieties in National affairs, to seeh some other place from which to conduct their work for pro- longed periods in the Summer time. But the press of public business and its execution in the National Capital is so necessary that we must face the fact that these periods must gradually be shortened. Therefore I have thought it appropriate to accept the hospitality of your citizens and your mountains for one or two days each week and thereby combine both relief and work without cost to either. And I have discovered that even the work of Government can be improved by leisurely discussions of its problems out under the trees, where no bells ring or callers jar one’s thoughts from the channels of urbanity. Prove Good Hosts. “You have demonstrated yourselves good hosts and good neighbors with that fine courtesy for which Virginia is known to the whole Nation. I often think the test of good neighbors is whether one can always be sure when the family meets an emergency it can cheerfully borrow a half dozen eggs or a few extra dishes. In this emergency you have proved this sentiment of neighborliness by lending me a part of your park, by improving a road, by se- curing the fishing rights on a beautiful mountain_stream and even providing me with fishing tackle. I, on my side, am glad to lend my services as a good neighbor to you by acting as a sort of sign post to the country ‘of the fine reality of your proposed new national rk. “I fear that the Summer camp we have established on the Rapidan has ihe reputation of being devoted solely to fishing. That is not the case, for German Wins l;ml Classic. BELFAST, Northern Ireland, August 17 (#) —Rudolph Carraciola driving for Germany, won Great Britain’s greatest road race for the Royal Automobile Tourist Trophy here today. the fishing season lasts but a short time in the Spring. Tt is a place for week end rest—but fishing is an ex- cuse and a valid reason of the widest range of usefulness for temporary re- treat from our busy world. In this (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) 1