Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1930, Page 2

A—-2 * REVISION OF NAVAL FATIOS SEEN TASK French Insistence on Keep- ing Submarines Held Diffi- cult Parley Problem. The following article is the second of @ series of three on the Naval Conference ot London, written by Raymond Buell, expert in foreign relations. BY RAYMOND LESLIE BUELL. Until a few months ago most people | believed that the main thing necessary | for an international naval agreement was to get the United States and Great Britain to settle their difficulty over cruisers. As pointed out in yesterday's article, this question has now been virtually solved. Nevertheless, new and perhaps more difficult questions loom on the horizon, for which no solution is as yet in sight. As far as battleships are concerned the Washington Conference established the famous ratio of 5—5—3-—1.67—1.67. ‘This ratio meant that the British and American battleships were to be not only equal to each other, but supreme over the navies of Japan, France and Italy. Under this ratio Japan can maintain battleships having 60 per cent of the tonnage of the United - States or Great Britain, while France and Italy may maintain only one-third of such tonnage. Must Fix Ratios. The forthcoming London conference must decide whether or not these Washington ratios shall be applied to cruisers and submarines, or whether these ratios shall be revised. Both Japan and France have al- ready served notice that these ratios shall be revised. Japan declares that it will not accept 60 per cent of the tonnage of the United States in cruisers and subma- rines. Apparently Japan is afraid of the new 10,000-ton cruisers, a large number of which have been constructed by the United States. To repulse any possible attack Japan demands the right to maintain 7 large cruisers for each 10 such cruisers maintained by the United States; it also asks parity in submarines. Despite the recent visit of the Japanese delegation to Washing- in London January 21 to make cal lrpllc“lon of that condition of equalif tached the name of “parity.” The Parley The following is the third of a series of articles on_ine problems back of the Naval Limitations Conference to open in London January 21. written by Byron Price, superintendent of the Washing- ton office of the Associated Press, who is attending the conference. BY BYRON PRICE, Associated Press Staff Writer. Among all of the history-making events which usher in the London con- ference, one central element continues to hold the unfalling attention of werld ‘diplomacy. It is the specta- cle of the two greatest sea pow- ers, agreed equality as be- tween themselves, and standing to- gether as joint sponsors of & new crusade to reduce armaments on the sea, For a_ century and a half the United _States and Great Britain have eyed each other in- quiringly across the Atlantic. Their quarrels over the laws of the seaways have filled a bulging chapter of diplomatic protest and retort and once—in 1812—brought them into armed conflict. Years ago they became the leaders in the race for world naval supremacy. Agree on Battleships. In 1921, at the Washington confer- ence, they agreed upon equality between themselves as to battleships—the larg- est type of war craft—and airplane carriers. In 1927, at Geneva, they disagreed Byron Price. pointedly over an equality in smaller vessels. In 1929, President Hoover and Prime Minister Macdonald definitely commit- ted thelr respective countries to the principle that the two greatest navies should be made as nearly equal as may be_possible. It is for the conference which meets racti- . to which diplomacy has at- In theory, parity means the exact pairing off of the two navies, ship for ship, gun for gun. In practice that can- not be done. | which must enter into the answer to on | THE EVENING Background Anglo - American Parity Continues to Hold Attention of World Diplomacy ‘The American Navy, for instance, with its bases scattered far apart, wants to build large cruisers. The British Navy wants smaller ones. How shall large and small cruisers, with differing guns, of different age and design and speed, be balanced off one against the other? 1t is useless for the layman to fill his mind with the technical elements and the formulae of higher mathematics | this question. Even the naval experts are having trouble providing the solution, as they will be asked to do at London. There is precisely the same difference between them over the relative fighting power of ships as there is between automobile manufacturers over which type of car best for the average driver. To compare two fleets scientifically is like determining which is better pro- vided for, the man who owns an old six- cylinder coupe and & new four-cylinder touring car, or his neighbor, with an old ght-cylinder sedan and a new motor cycle. Experts Seek “Yardstick.” Nor have the naval experts any trade manual, like that of the automobile dealer, to guide them. They still are seeking a “yardstick” which will enable them to lump together and measure ac- | curately such elements as size, speed, qun capacity and a dozen besides. In the main, the difficulty arises only 15 to cruisers. The other types of ships are not of great concern as between the two countries. But the British have been unable to see why the United States needs so many of the biggest type, 10,000-ton cruisers, with their 8- inch guns, So far as the practical ap- plication of parity goes, this is the major unsettled question. Of course, in the end, the whole prob- lem must be solved by diplomatic com oromise, rather than by mathematics, for parity in practical application can be no more than a relative term. Even if the two navies themselves were exactly equal, there still would re- main the question of the relative mili- tary value of naval bases, and the po- tentialities of arming merchantmen in time of war. ! Despite its complexities there is, op- timism in both Washington and London over the question of parity. At this writing it is, perhaps, the one major project of the conference which appea: nearest solution. (Tomorrow: 1936 the Next Probable Milestone.) ton, it is not known whether either the United States or Great Britain is prepared to accept the Japanese de- mand. It will be more difficult for the British Empire to do so than for the United States. In the draft agreement reached . by the United States and Great Britain last September, it was agreed that the British navy should contain only about 70 per cent as many large cruisers as the American Navy. The Japanese de- mand for 70 per cent of the American strength, therefore, means a demand for equality with the British Empire in 1a) cruisers. The British dominions, Wwhich have experienced difficulties over Japanese immigration, will probably ob- ject to any such proposal. Some com- promise on this issue must be worked out if the forthcoming London Naval Conference is to be a success. France Falls Behind. ‘While Prance has been less explicit in stating her demands than Japan, it Is & foregone conclusion that she will not accept the Washington ratios. Be- fore the World War, Prance had a navy which was stronger than the navy of Japan and of Italy. But because of the exigencies of the World War, naval replacements in Prance feil behind, and when conference Wwas . France had fallen far w, Japan al strength. . The Washington conference attempt- ed to make French inferiority perma- nent, and it was only after the United States had stated that France was pre- venting the success of the conference that M. Briand agreed to s position of equality with Italy at a ratio of 1.67 in comparison to 5 for Great Britain and the United States. Ever since the Washington confer- ence Prance has been attempting to offset this inferiority in battleships vis- a-vis the Anglo-Saxon powers and Japan by the construction of other types of vessels. Frenchmen feel that for reasons of prestige their nation is entitled to a strong navy. They point to the fact that Prancé has the second largest colonial empire in the world and that France relies upon this empire to offset the numerical inferiority of FPrance in comparison to Germany. Generally speaking, there has been & resurgence of “big navy” feeling in Prance since 1922, a factor with which the forthcoming Lordon conference must reckon. It is a. feeling based partly on pride, which was injured at the Washington conference, and partly on a conception of “naval needs.” Must Protect Colonies. In view of this feeling it is prac- tically sure that France will refuse to accept Italy’s demand for parity in auxiliary craft. France argues that Italy has interests only in the Mediter- | France not only has interests dition t as frica and Frenchmen therefore believe that mathematical equality between the French and Itallan navies would mean actual supremacy of Italy in the Med- iterranean. Few Frenchmen are willing to acknowledge such supremacy, because Italy could then threaten French com- munication with North Africa on the one hand and with Indo-China on the other. It has been proposed that in return for & theoretical recognition of equality Italy should promise not to maintain a fleet in the Mediterranean larger than the French fleet there. Moreover, in its memorandum of December 26 the French government formally suggested, in imitation of the four-power pacific pact signed at the Washington confe! ence of 1921, a Mediterranean guaran- tee and non-aggression agreement. The gll’li!! to this agreement should be rance, Great Britain, Italy and Spain, and perhaps also Turkey and the Balkan countries. It is not known whether Italy will accept any such proposal. A Megiter- ranean Locarno would mean that Italy would have to abandon any hopes of altering the territorial settlement in North Africa and the Near East. Con- sequently the Pranco-Italian problem awaits the solution of the statesmen at London. Other French Aims. France not only demands a ratio higher than that of Italy, she demands a ratio which will give her the right to maintain a fleet much larger than that fixed by the Washington ratio of 1.671 to 5 for battleships. In 1925 the French Parliament adopted a building program, called the naval statute, which calls for the construction of 21 large 10,000-ton cruisers, or six more than the British Fmpire proposes to maintain in the draft agreement made with the United States last September. This statute likewise calls for the construction of 180,000 tons of destroyers and 96,000 tons of large submarines. Including battleships, the total proposed tonnage for the French navy is about 750,000 tons. This is about half of the total tonnage proposed for the American and British navies. ‘When the French building program is completed France will have more submarines than any other country in the World. In view of the strong naval feeling in France, it seems certain that France will not accept the 167 ratio in auxiliary craft at the forthcoming conference. It may even grov! true eedom to ranean. in the Mediterranean, but in at she must protect her Atlantic well_as colonies in Central A the Pacific. means of defense ships. &ly a few weeks ago government T- is an inhumane weapon of war, both the British and American Governments have expressed submarine al ernment has position apparently on the theory that in the event of a future war French submarines would threaten the Italian food supply. desire to abolish the fogether. The Itallan gov- also come to accept this Both Japan and France, on the other hand, are opposed to the abolition of the submarine. necessary means of defense against the battleships of other powers. They believe it is & French Want Submarines. France does not believe that the sub- marine is any more inhumane than is the bombing plane or_polson gas, and Frenchmen fear that England and the United States wish to abolish this in- strument not for humanitarian reasons, but to weaken the naval strength of France. France cannot afford to build the huge battleships found navies. But Prance which are now and British loes. h‘lnsill ‘upon ight to build submarines as & e against such battle- he French enormous in_ the American t launched an A peed of 19 knots. It is capable of diving 70 feet deeper than any other submarine in_existence. with four 5.5-inch guns and 14 tor- pedo tubes. It will carry 150 men. ‘The Surcouf is armed Unless the United States and the British Empire are prepared to make equivalent concessions it seems uniikely that the French government will agree to wipe out one of the most powerful arms of its fleet. Nevertheless, submarine construction per ton is more expensive than the con= struction of any other kind of naval craft, and some of the leading French authorities, such as Admiral Castex, are now publicly stating that the value of the submarine may be exaggeral ggerated. "The only concession which the United States and the British Empire may make to France in return for abolition of the submarine lies in a renunciation of their battleship supremacy. of & joint agreement upon battleships and submarines will be discussed in the final article. ‘The possibility (Copyright, 1930, by North American News- paper Alliance.) STIMSON PREPARE! TO SEE FRENCH AND ITALIAN DELEGATES| (Continued From First Page) as the American program might thus have been greatly upset. Oorreaponxdrentn going _aboard the George Washington at Plymouth set the American delegation straight tc some_extent, ‘what doubt remained was believs ave been dispelled in the' long sation between Col. Stimson an mier Macdonald later in the day. The American Secretary of State himself would say nothing about what they had talked of, merely remarkin that he had a pleasant chat and ha “enjoyed & nice cup of the prime minis- ter's tea.” He was smiling and iovial, in some contrast to the rather tired, worried expression he had when rush- ing almost precipitately from Padding- ton station to Downing street. Early Talks Suffice. Unless at the initiative of the Jap- anese themselves, there will be no further conferences between the Ameri- can delegation and that from Tokio, Col. Stimson_considering that the pre- liminary conferences held at Washing- ton with Reijiro Wakatsuki and his colleagues as they passed through en route to London had sufficed. A busy week end was ahead of the Americans and other delegations, with probability that only a few of either the national representatives, their as- sistants, or the naval experts would get to play any at all. Most of the Americans had their golf clubs, but the delegates at least appeared to have every minute of their time scheduled for days to come. 3 ‘The British papers, which have been considering the approaching confer- ence with unusual apathy, seemed to- day to have awakened to the fact that the world's most important show will be held in London for the next few weeks, The stories of arrival of the Americens crowded even murder stories—for which many of the British papers have an unusual predilection— into secortd place. ‘The Evening Star in an editorial per- haps struck the keynote of the Amer- fcan welcome saying, “We offer on be- half of the Englishman as a taxpayer and a good citizen of the world our his shington. ‘They come to return some of the spiritual cargo of the Mayflower and in the phrase of another ‘to bring in the New World to redress the balance of the Old.’ They have behind them the great tradition of non-militarism and that France will demand complete her present bulldlnf program. “In order to secure actual naval re- dctinn in ene tyne of vessel and be- =8usc of the belief that the submarine they have come to break into the close eircle of European thought with fresher ideas developgd in the great democracy of the West, warmest welcome to Mr. Stimson and | ing. fellow delegates on the George) the subject “Just What is the Gospel of CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN GIVEN PRAISE Landscape Architects Name Group to Advise With Plan- ning Commission. Lauding the regional plan for the de- velopment of the Capital which was presented to the public by the National Capital Park and Planning Commis- sion at a meeting last night, the Amer- ican Soclety of Landscape Architects today appointed a committee of na- tional scope whose members will advise with the planning commission and keep informed of all phases of the program. H. Olmstead of Boston and Cali- fornia, & lay member of the planning commisison, was famed chairman of the committee at the closing meeting of the soclety’s thirty-first annual con- vention in the Willard Hotel. Members of the committee were an- nounced as follows: A. F. Brinckerhoff of New York, A, D. Taylor, Cleveland; Arthur A. Shurtleff of Boston, presi- dent of the soclety: Clarence Fowler, New York, and B. W. Pond, Boston. A subcommittee was appointed as fol- lows: M. Stevenson, Philadelphia; T. G. Philips, Detroit; O. Schaffer, Chicag A. R. Nichols, Minneapolis; 8. H. Hare, Kansas City; P. H. Elwood, Des Moines, Iowa; George B. Hall, Los Angeles, and ‘W. C. Simonson, New York. Final Session Due Today. ‘The question, “What do we do about 1t?” became a toK‘l.c for discussion by members at the closing meeting of the soclety today, which followed a lunch- eon at the Willard. Among those on the program were Miss Harlean James, executive secretary, American Civic Assoclation; Horace W. Peaslee, chair- man of the committee on the National Capital, American Institute of Archi- tects, and Arthur A. Shurtleff, president of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Yesterday afternoon Maj. Brehon Somervell, United States district engi- neer, gave an illustrated presentation of plans for developing the Potomac and Anacostia River flats. Dr. Freder- ick V. Coville, acting director of the National Arboretum, and Raymond E. Toms, principal engineer of the United States Bureau of Public Roads, also addressed the membership. Stereoptican slides shown by Maj. Somervell depicted the semi-improved condition of Potomac Park and what he said is “the entire unimproved sit- uation along the docks. The confused situation along the water front grew out of a lack of planning” he said, “and not only presents an_eyesore, but also inadequate facilitis for handling the commerce of the harbor.” Advantages of Airport Cited. Maj. Somervell pointed out that the advantages claimed for the develop- ment of a national airport in the Anacostia flats are facilities for both lamd and sea planes, that the area is close to the city and will be forever clear of any obstruction. Commenting on the development of Potomac Park, he said that vital sta- tistics prepared for the decade follow- ing 1882, when the development was initiated, “show & material and con- stant decrease in mortality in the face of a very rapidly increasing population, especially in such diseases as typhoid, malaria and diarrheal disorders.” Since completion of the reclamation work and subsequent improvement and beautification of the 800 acres compris- ing the section from Observatory Hill to the Arsenal, known at one time as “Kidwell flats,” there has been no ques- , Maj. Somervell said, “as to the health and sanitary conditions of the portion of Washington bordering this area.” Road Planning Outlined. ‘The various considerations that enter into road planning were discussed by Mr. Toms, with special reference to further development of the Washington area. Dr. Coville discussed the arboretum. ‘The soclety held the closing business meeting this morning and this after- noon visited Meridian Hill Park, Rock Creek Park and several private estates. PECK MEMORIAL CHAPEL. “Why Worry?"” is the subject of the sermon of Rev. Irving W. Ketchum at Peck Memorial Chapel tomorrow morn- He will preach at 7:45 p.m. on Christ?” Rev. Howard Blake will speak to the men’s class at 10 o'clock. The young | explains the optimism that still pre- STAR. WASHINGTON, FRENCH DEMANDS | PARLEY PROBLEM ! Other Powers Seen in Posi-, | tion to Await Settlement of E Republic’s Terms. ‘ BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. H By Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily | News. Copyright, 1930. 1 LONDON, England, January 18— Careful inquiry among the delegates and diplomats present here for the naval conference leads to the presump- | tion that the great naval debates, after | the general opening, will quickly settle | into a prolonged discussion between France and Great Britain, with the | Japanese and Italians falling tempo- | rarily somewhat into the background, and the United States having the choice of either supporting Great Brit- ain or reserving itself for the purpose of acting as an intermediary between Great Britain and France. i Virtually all those conversant with the inside situation now agree that from the American and British points of view it is the French position which forms the chief obstacle to a speedy agreement. Contrary to what seems to have been widely believed, it is not French criticisms as to the methods and basic principles of thé negotiations which threaten trouble, but the French claims in tonnage, which have not yet been presented, but which, it is known, will tend to make France a second class instead of a third class naval power, with its navy slightly stronger than that of Japan in everything except capital ships. | ‘The size of the French navy is not a matter of direct interest to either Japan or the United States, but it is tre- mendously important to both Great Britain and Italy. Italy, however, by claiming parity with France, stimulates the French to push their claims to a point to which Italy is not rich enough to follow. Britain Awaits France. Qreat Britain’s whole aim, on the other hand, is to get the French figures down. If Great Britain and the Unted States even now are not completely greed on cruisers, it is because the British, until they know definitely what France intends to do, cannot fix their final figures. Even the maximum cruiser figures discussed by the United States and Great Britain will not hold if the French claims are so high that Great Britain feels she is unable to accept them. ‘Thus, from the American point of view as well as from the British, the main problem of the conference prom- ises to b~ ! o get the French to reduce '} claims. Already there appec: ¢ _.cral ways of donig this, which vails in certain delegations. The suggestion of & three-power agreement in case France proves recalci- trant has been virtually abandoned for the following reasons: Such an agreement presumably im- plies giving Japan an increase over its Washington ratio. But if Japan were given an increase, it would be difficult to refuse an increase to France. As- suming, however, that Japan, Great Britain and the United States reach an understanding, they must obviously put a clause into the treaty to the effect that if a non-signatory power builds beyond a certain figure in any cate- gory, then the treaty ceases in certain respects to be binding. Would Continue to Build. It is known that if such an agree- ment were made the French would con- tinue with their large building program, for they have at present complete back- ing from their own public opinion against “Anglo-Saxon dictation.” Then either they would, by the simple proc- ess of building, realize their claims, or Great Britain, to keep its ratio, would also build. in which case, in order to keep parity with Gre: Britain, the United States would have to build, too. and the three-power agreement would have been futile. ‘The present tendency, therefore, is to try to find conciliatory ways of per- suading the French to meet the Brit- ish and American views. The means thus far suggested in inside circles is as follows: 1. Prolongation of the replacement schedule and ultimately reduction in size of capital ships. The French say that their large fleet of auxiliaries is intended chiefly as a counterpoise to the big fleets of capital ships retained by Great Britain, the United States and Japan. If these big fleets are reduced, the Prench, it is said, ought to reduce their auxiliaries. ‘The complication here is the new German “vest pocket” battleship. Un- less Germany enters the present agree- ment on suitable terms with the French, who now have no post-war capital ships, France will certainly begin building to meet the German competition and the possibility of a compremise with the Prench by this means is dismissed. Could Transfer Tonnage. 2. The so-called French compromise, or the proposal which permits in certain cases the transfer of tonnage allotment from one category to another. Thus, it the French fail to employ their cap- ital ship tonn-ge in capital ships, they could shift all or part of it to cruisers and submarines, thereby meeting their claims in these respects, while theoret- ically preserving satisfactory ratios. All concerned have now agreed to ac- cept this proposal as the basis for ne- gotiations, and it is confidenity believed that something. if not everything, can be accomplished along this line. How- ever, if the other powers agree to reduce their fleets of capital ships, the value of these ships as a means of bargaining with France apparently diminishes. 3. Free Prance from the competi- tive push from below by trying to give Italy satisfaction elsewhere. The Ital- jans admit that their demand for parity with France is mainly theoretical. What they seem chiefly to want are colonlal compensations from France or anybody else, and recognition of their preponderant influence in the Balkans. Great Britain and the United States might use their good offices to get something for Italy along these lines if Italy would then be willing to aban- don its idea of parity and sign & Medi- terranean pact. 4. A Mediterranean pact. France intimates that it may be willing to re- duce its tonnage claims if Great Brit- ain. Spain, Italy and France can con-' clude & mnon-aggression pact covering the Mediterranean. Spain seems to be willing. Great Britain and Italy are both ready to discuss the matter, but they want to bargain over it. Great Britain wants to know how much France is willing to reduce its fleet before it makes any promises, and Italy says frankly that it will sign such a pact only if it first gets colonial com- pensations and Balkan recognition from France. There is room here for much dickering. Substitute Suggested. 5. An Atlantic pact, including all five big powers, providing for a conference in case peace is threatened, This is suggested in some quarters as a substi- tute for the Mediterranean pact. It is thought that France would value it highly, and reduce its claims in conse- quence. 6. An agreement open to all Kellogg zm. signatories to confer in case peace threatened. France is known to be peorl intermediate classes begin at 9:4 . Wednesday, at 8 p.m., a gospel service will be held in the church e. The 1 for brary is open te the commVnity. interested in such an agreement, which is also being discussed in the United 8 as & means of making the Kel- ‘°§;‘ pact more effective. jobody thinks that all these pact proposals will be adopted, but it is felt D. C, SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1930. FIGHTING THE WINTER’S SLUSHIEST SNOWSTORM VETERAN DRUGGIST OF GEORGETOWN DIES Dr. William Scherer, 30 Years in Business Here, Succumbs to Heart Disease. Dr. Willilam Scherer, 61 years old, for more than 30 years in the drug busi- ness at the corner of Thirty-fifth and O streets and widely known in George- town, died at his home in Kensington, Md., today. Death was due to heart disease. Dr. Scherer had been ill three weeks. He conducted the business with his brother, Dr. Charles Scherer, by whom he is survived. Starting in business long before the days of the chain stores, Dr. Scherer has maintained in the windows of his store through the years the blue and red bottles reminiscent of the drug stores of years ago, making the store %le of the picturesque places of George- wn. Dr. Scherer was graduated from the Maryland College of Pharmacy, in Bal- timore, and later was graduated with an M. D. degree from the College of Phy- siclans and Surgeons, Baltimore. He was a member of the Kensington Lodge of Masons. Funeral services will be conducted at the residence in Kensington Tugsday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. Dr, Fred A. Kullmar, pastor of the Warner Me- morial Presbyterian Church, Kensihg- ton, will officiate. Interment will be in Union Cemete: Rockville, Md. EIGHT PERSONS HURT IN TRAFFIC MISHAPS James Craig, 18-Year-Old Youth, Seriously Injured When Auto Skids Into Ditch. Eight persons were injured in traffic accidents last night. James Craig, 18 years old, of 1103 C street southeast, was the only one reported to police as seriously hurt. Craig, accompanied by two compan- fons, was driving into a road leading to the home of friends mear Forty- ninth street and Central avenue about 9 o'clock, when his car skidded and overturned, landing in a ditch. A passing motorist stopped and took Cralg to Casualty Hospital, where he treated for a severe scalp wound and a possible fracture of the skull. Four persons were Injured shortly after 8 o'clock in a collision at Rhode Island avenue and Fourteenth street between automobiles driven by Guy B. Butts, 20 years old, of Rockville, Md., and Sarah Kanner, colored, 37 years old, of 769 Girard street. Butts and Ruth Myers, the latter re- siding at Plaza Apartments. who ac- companied him, were treated at Emer- gency Hospital. Sarah Kanner and Lilllan Cooper, the latter also colored, residing at 925 Elghteenth street, also were treated for bruises. Pvt. R. W., Hopkins of the eighth precinct, on duty at Florida avenue and Seventh street, about 12:30, was struck by an automobile driven, police reported, by Ernest Green, colored, 1745 K street. The officer's right knee was injured. Green was charged with reck- less driving. Mrs. Bernard E. Reichardt, 49 years ~ of 6924 Ninth street: John F. mpson, 53 years old, 1901 Nine- tcenth street, and Joseph Braxton, col- ored, 59 years old, 1475 Florida avenue, were the others hurt, all being struck by cars. that some political ufreemem along these or other lines will prove essential to the success of the conference. This, in any case, is the direction the minds of diplomats are now taking. As for the Japanese claims, nobody views them otherwise than serously, but it Is felt that the French claims are so much larger that the Japanese at first will be satisfied mainly to wait and see what happens to the French before pressing their own case. The United States, too, it is argued, might better wait and see a while before it throws its whole support to Great Biilain egainstfrance, MERCURY T0 DROP NEARZERD TONIGHT | Coldest Weather of Winter Forecast for Capital After Heavy Snow. ___(Continued From First Page.) and at points in other sections of the city where traffic was heavy. The Dis- trict employes were distributed in a manner which prevented duplication of work. As the street cleaning division has no special funds at its disposal to finance snow removal, no casual labor was employed to aid in the task. How- ever, officials said their regular force was able to cope with the situation satisfactorily. Both the Washington Railway & Elec~ tric Co. and the Capital Traction Co. maintained their schedules with one or two minor exceptions. Twenty-four sweepers, 14 scrapers and 250 men were pressed into service by the former com- pany, while the latter used 11 sweepers and 4 scrapers, COLD ADDS TO DANGERS. Families Marooned by Break in Levee South of Decker, Ind. VINCENNES, Ind., January 18 (#).— Zero weather carried on the wings of a sharp north wind brought added misery to marooned families in the flooded dis- trict of the Wabash and White Rivers today. ‘The Wabash had dropped 4 inches here this morning, the gauge reading 249. The threat of flood danger here appeared over, but blocks of ice were appearing in ‘the channel, and may cause damage to bridge abutments. The crumbling of 100 feet of levee on White River 5 miles south of Decker, Ind,, yesterday afternoon poured a tor- rent of flood water over 20,000 acres of farm land in Southwestern Knox County. The levee had held back water to a depth of 15 feet, and the levee was 20 feet high at the point of the break. The break was unexpected, and came from below the water line. 100 Families Marooned. ‘The roar of water passing through the broken dike could be heard for 5 miles, but the water immediately spread out like an immense fan, and the inun- dated area is only a few feet deep. Ap- proximately 100 families were marooned. Citizens of Decker, assisted by the Red Cross here, made immediate efforts to organize relief. Motor boats were sent down here on trucks and all avail- able boats in Decker were pressed into service. Little was accomplished dur- ing the night, because the wind made the waters Tough and the motors were frozen. Efforts to reach the flood victims were to be resumed this morning. An aviator also prepared to continue flights over the inundated area chart- ing water-bound homes. 55 PARROT FEVER CASES IN 9 STATES Surgeon General Reports Eight Deaths Have Resulted From Malady. By the Associated Press. Surg. Gen. Cumming of the Public Health Service reported today a total of about 55 cases of parrot fever, or psitta- cosis, have occurred during the present outbreak in 9 States, and that 8 deaths have resulted from the rare disease seldom transmitted to man except by the birds, Dr. Charles Armstrong, public health officer in charge of the nation-wide survey of the fever, said his own check~ up showed a total of 40 “well estab- lished” human cases of parrot fever, ng;l others about which there is slight Above: Some of the workers, who waded through the slushy snow to reach their offices this morning. Below: A tractor snow plow working on the Capi- tol plaza. —Star Stafl Photos. | WORKS FORMILLN 11930 Community Chest Group | Seeks to Exceed Quota of $893,368. Given the job of collecting a mini- mum of $125,000 each week day, the special gifts committee of Washing- ton’s Community Chest, under the leadership of Chairman Newbold Noyes, started an intensive drive today to raise half the amount of the 1930 budget before the opening of the city- wide campaign on January 28. The quota allotted to the special gifts committee is actually $893,368, but Chairman Noyes, in giving final in- structions to his band of campaigners, set $1,000,000 as a possible objective. Daily reports will be made by the 10 vice chairmen and the executive com- mittee at meetings next week, except Sunday and Saturday. The actual work of the special gifts committee started as its mombers left the Willard last night afier an en- thusiastic meeting. “Can’t Set Washington Down.” “Whether tough or not this job has got to be done,” Mr. Noyes told his committee. “We can't let Washing- ton down. This is the crucial year of the Community Chest. Last year the Chest was & novelty and the campaign went over with superb success. “I don't know the meaning of the word ‘failure’ so far as the Community Chest is concerned. We have in our own minds a nominal goal of $1,000,- 000 for this unit, which means the rais- ing of approximately $150,000 a day. This is & job for each member to fly at the moment the gun goes off. The moment we leave this room we start on a special gifts campaign.” The amount assigned 8s a quota to each vice chairman’s team and the executive committee is as follows: Barry Mohun, $74,239.38; Mrs. C. C. Glover, Jjr., $53,780. Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith, $64,769; Willlam Knowles Cooper, $73,137.58; William J. Eynon, $129,012; Arthur Hellen, $95,396.86; W. W. Everett, $32,085.75; Mrs. Sidney F. ‘Taliaferro, $122,547.25; Thomas B. Sweeney, $59,355.65; Robert V. Fleming, ::g,ggfl executive committee, $132,- Budget Chairman Tells Needs. Corcoran Thom, chairman of the 1930 budget committee, in explaining “why the Chest needs $1,786,737.07," said the addition of 18 more agencies to the list of last year and increased work on the part of those already in the Chest necessitated a corresponding increase in the 1930 budget. “The sum is as nearly correct as hours of intensive study can make it,” he sald. “I do not feel that wheén ‘Washington realizes the actual need embodied in this sum there will be any difficulty in raising it.” ‘Whiting Willlams, former executive secretary of the Cleveland Federation for Charity and Philanthropy, the first community chest in the country, was introduced to the enthusiastic workers by Mr. Noyes as “the pioneer in the community chest movement” and the “greatest authority on the chest we have in America today.” Addressing himself to the problems of the Washington Community Chest, Mr. Williams declared that in time the task of financing the Chest would be only incidental to its operation. He stressed particularly the tremendous possiblities the Chest holds for future social service work in Washington, with a corps of trained workers and mentioned also the educational value of the Chest. John Poole, 1930 campaign chairman, and Elwood Street, director of the Chest, also spoke of the work that lies ahead and the methods that will assure the accomplishment of the new budget. While the special gifts committee is going after contributions of $500 or more, the group solicitation unit, of which Frank R. Jelleff is chairman, is Intrusted with the task of enlisting all firms in the city employing 25 or workers. While last year there only 200 such firms on the list of the Chest campaigners, he sald this year the number has increased to about 500. The personnel of the s) committee consists of Newbold Noyes. chairman; Clarence A. Aspinwall and Mrs, Frederick Brooke, vice chairmen; Mrs. James F. Curtis, advisory vice chairman, and Elwood Street, secretary. Active vice chairmen, with their teams of workers, are as follows: Barry Mohun, vice chairman; D. J. Callahan, Levi Cooke, Myer Cohen, Walter G. Dunlop, Willlam V. Freeman, Mrs. Frank B. Freyer, George E. Hamilton, Joseph H. Himes, Mrs. R. M. Kauff- mann, Miss Julia R. Mattis, Mrs. Barry Mohun, Arthur G. Nichols, jr.; Mrs. Mary Grant Rafter, Joseph P. Tumulty, Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, John Walsh and Capt. Chester Wells. \ Mrs. man; James R. Ellerson, Howland Chase, John W. Davidge, Franklin H. Ellis, Mrs. Willlam J. Flather, jr.; Fred- erick Faust, Mrs. Herbert Howard, Charles Stone, Mrs. Theodore Wilkinson, Richard H. Wilmer and Mrs. Clarence R. Wilson. Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith, vice chair- man; Leo Baum, R. B. Behrend, Mowris Cafritz, Joshua Evans, jr.; Mrs. Adolph Kahn, Joseph D. Kaufman, Harry King, Arthur_ C. Moses, Gerson Nordlinger, Allen Pope, Rabbl Willlam F. Rosen. blum and Harry Sherby. 2 William Knowles Cooper, vice chair- man: Henry P. Blair, Charles T. Clagett, Wilson Compton, Mrs, Wilson Compton, Fernando Cuniberti, Mrs. Fernando Cuniberti, Harold H. Marsh, A. J. M: William mntgomery, Lawrence M. SPECIAL GIFT GROUP cial gifts | ‘harles C. Glover, jr., vice chair- | ACTION IS DROPPED * IN CRASH OF MAST No Violation of Building Code Seen in Dropping of Weight Through Roof. No further action will be taken by the District regarding the radio mast that fell on the roof of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. Building yesterday, Building Inspector John W. Ochmann announced today. The mast, which was one that sup- ported the aerial of the old station WCAP, fell through the roof as it was being lowered by the Samuel J. Pres- cott Construction Co. Plaster loosen- ed from the ceiling injured three tele- phone operators. No Permit Issued. Shortly after word of the accident i reached the District Building, Col. Oeh- mann sent J. J. Maguire, one of his inspectors, to the scene. Maguire re- ported that apparently no permit was issued for the work and that the meth- od of guying and the position of the slings along the length of the pole | was not clear. Col. Oehmann explained today that the building regulations require a per- mit for the removal of any steel radio mast or tower more than 20 feet in height. Such a permit had not been secured by the company, he said. He explained that the company had in- quired at the building inspectors of- fice if a permit would be necessary to take down a “radio mast” and some unidentified employe replied that no permit was necessary. Regulation Not Sweeping. Col. Oehmann sald that most radio masts, such as those on private resi- dences, do not come within the regu- lation. Some hours after the accident had been reported a permit was taken out. Col. Oehmann said that as far as could be determined there was no violation of any building regulation in the way. that the work was being done. RADIO CHAIN HEAD PLEDGES LAW AID Paley Promises Co-operation, but Pleads for “Sound Busi- ness Basis.” By the Associated Press. William 8. Paley, president of the Columbia Broadecasting Co., in testi- mony before the Senate interstate com- merce committee today, pledged co- operation in “broad, constructive legisla- tion"” to improve broadcasting, but urged. that nothing be done to prevent his company from continuing on a “sound business basis.” The committee is holding hearings on the Couzens bill, which ~ould group radio, telephone, telegraph and cables under the control of a new commission. Paley testified that his system de- pended “solely upon the sale of time for sponsored programs and value of sponsored programs” and consequent, public support. He said that the Colum- bia System had no entangling alliances and served no special interests. “The one thing I hope above all else is that no legislation will be enactegt which will lizrevem us from continuing on & sound business basis” he said. “In conducting Columbia on what we consider to be a sound business basis we must ne¢essarily kesp uppermost in our minds the need of trendering real public seryice. Questioned by members ‘of the eom- mittee, Paley said the system prior to 1928 lost $205400 and in 1928 $172,400. In 1929 he said he hoped a profit would be shown, although the figures were not yet complete. ‘The revenues in 1929, he added, were about $3,500,000. ‘The programs, he said, were divided as follows " Symphony, opera and chamber music, 26 per cent; civic, 2 per cent; religious, 4 per cent; instructive, 14 per cent; dra- matic, 3 per cent, and popular musie, 29 per cent. The balance of 22 per cent goes to advertisers, who furnish varied programs. The system, he continued, was con- trolled * by Paramount-Famous- Laskey Corporation, which owns half the stock, and 12 other stockholders. Its political reporter, Frederic 'William Wile, Paley added, receives $175 weekly for his services. LONG ILLNESS IS FATAL TO JARVIS B. MOULDEN Jarvis B. Moulden, 75, died at his tel 1 wife, Mrs. Nettie Angus Moulden; three daughters, Mrs. Louise Mayes and Mrs. Edna Gaither of Washington, and M Edith O'Donnell of East Riverdale, Md. & son, Robert Moulden of Orlando, Fl: and five grandchildren, Funeral services will be held at the residence Monday with the Rev. James Billingsley of Mount Rainler, Md., M. E. Church South, officiating. Masonic rites will be administered by Mount Herman Lodge, No. 179, of Hyattsville, Md. Interment will be in Glenwood Cemetery. THREE WOMEN TO SPEAK. ‘Three women of the Southern Pres- byterian Church will deliver addresses at a meeting for women Monday at 8 pm. at the Central Presbyterian | Church, Sixteenth and Irving streets. The speakers are Miss Janue Mc- Gaughey, secretary of the department of women's work; Mrs. John Bratton, chairman of the committee on wom- | en's work, and Mrs. J. F. Hooper, chair- man of the woman's advisory com- mittee. Mrs. Bratton will speak Wednesday at 8 pm. at the Church of the Pil- @rims, Twenty-second street and Park< (4 way. Proctor, Mrs. W. B. Ridgely, F. P. H. Siddons, Ben T. Webster, Myron Whit- ney and Edward G. Yonkers. William J. Eynon is also & vice chair- man. Arthur Hellen, vice chairman; Fred- erick M. Bradley, Dwight Clark, David E. Finlay, William J. Flather, jr.: J. Eugene Gallery, C. C. Morgan, William K. Quinter and Paul E. Shorb. W. W. Everett, vice chairman; David E. Buckingham, J. 8. J. Clark, C. Fenton Fadeley, Max Fischer, George W. Harris, J. Philip Herrmann, Walter 8. Pratt, jr. and Roland Whitehurst. Mrs, S. F. Taliaferro, vice chairman; Harold A. Brooks, Karl W. Corby, Charles D. Drayton, Mrs. Wilbur J. Carr, Mrs. Alvin E. Dodd, Maj. Henry P. Er: win, Mrs. Henry H. Flather, Julius Gar~ finckel, Mrs. Joseph H. Himes, Mrs. Reginald S, Huidekoper, Richard W. Hynson, Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, Mrs. Halbert E. Payne, Mrs. John Jay O'Con- nor, L. Corrin Strong and Mrs. Walter Tuckerman. ‘Thomas Bell Sweeney, vice chairman; Thomas W. Brahany, F. H. Brooks, Mrs, Frederick Brooks, Mrs. C. Mathews Dick, Mrs. Willlam E. Doeller, Mrs. Charles Brayton, Frank S. Hight, Fred- erick 8. Lee, Chester Lockwood, Mrs. William Beverly Mason and Spotwood ‘White. Robert V. Fleming, vice chairman: Y. E. Booker,,Victor Deyber, A. C. Flather, Charles C. Glover, jr.; Richard W. Hyn- son, Raymond Ma aj. Julius I. Pey: X, , ser. W. W, Spaid, Corcoran Thom ant Wilmer J. Waller.