Evening Star Newspaper, February 26, 1932, Page 1

WEAT (U. 8. Weather B Fair tonight and tomorrow: not much change in temperature; minimum tem- perature tonight about 38 degrees. Temperatures—Highest, 57, at noon today; lowest, 35, at 7 am. toda Full report on page 9. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 HER. ureau Forecast.) Y. ah ¢ Foen WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ing Star. The Star's tion is delivered to “From Press to Home Within an Hour” carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 125,071 Entered as seco! -No. 32,077. Wa nd class matt er shington. C. WASHINGTON, D. C FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1932—FIFTY PAGES. ##» (#) Means Associated Press. TWO CENT office. post GARNER DENOUNCES HOOVER AS LEADING NATION INTO PANIC' Speaker Makes Attack in Conference With News- paper Men. HURLEY SAYS RASKOB SLANDERS PRESIDENT War Secretary Replies to Demo- cratic Chairman's Address in* Political War of Words. Charges and counter charges followed each other in quick succession today in the political arena here Speaker Garner asserted President Hoover had led us “into the greatest panic the country or world has ever| known.” Almost_simultaneosuly a charge that John J. Raskob, chairman of the Demo- cratic National Committee, “and his as- sociates” were slandering and misrep- Tesentin- President Hoover was made | by Secretary of War Hurley in reply- ing to an addaress last night by the| Democratic chairman. Garner, who is being pressed to be- come an avowed candidate for the Dem- )ouluc presidential nomination, made | the remark concerning Mr. Hoover at | & conference with newspaper men this | | morning. Asked for Comment on Address. He had been asked to comment on the speech of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jahncke, made last night at ‘Wooster, Ohio, in which the “little cab- inet” member said President Hoover's leadership had made the Democrats *“just a little bit dizzy." Referring to Mr. Hoover's request for authority to create several assistant | secretaryships of departments, by way of reorganizing the Government in the | interest of economy and efficiency, Garner said “the President had better keep the assistant secretaries he now has at home. “They had better stay here and do what they are supposed to do under the law and not run around the country making political speeches.” | Hurley Flays Raskob. Secretary Hurley said Raskob “and his associates” were not in a position to give the President's prohibition views. The Hurley statement was made in reply to a speech by Raskob last night in New York, in which the Demo- cratic chiarman said he had “good in- formation that President Hcover will run on a prohibition referendum plat- form if his party should adopt such a platform.” Newspaper men had asked for comment. | “Mr. Raskob is in & pozition to speak | much more accurately of the amount | oh(‘mnn:y thll:nk";: and hlg umcx-mi ve spent sl " - States than he is as to the President’s views on the eighteenth amendment,” the Secretary replied. “It appears a little far-fetched fof the chairman of the Democratic Na- tional Committee {o attempt to in- terpret the views of the President on the subject.” i Asked if he was speaking for the (Continued on Page 2, Ct PRESIDENT VETOES D. C. MAN’S PENSION! | Hoover Holds Washingtonian ‘Wants Honorable Discharge, Not Monthly Allowance. ! President Hoover today vetoed his first bill of the present session, sending back to the Senate a minor relief measure under which Alexander M. Proctor would be given a pension of $50 a month. The President said the bill failed to accomplish its purpose, namely, to ar- range an honorable discharge from the Army for Proctor in order that he might receive a pension under the In- dian War pension act. “I am assured also” the President said, “that Mr. Proctor neither desires nor needs a pension. Therefore 1 am returning the bill without my approval.” Proctor, now 76 years old and a resi- dent of this city, enlisted in the Army in 1875, when he was 20 years old, but gave his age as 21. He was discharged “without honor” in 1878 after his release had been sought by his father, who disclosed that he had enlisted under age. “This record against my military service has always been a source of humiliation and chagrin to me,” Proc- tor said in an affidavit filed with the Senate committee which considered the bill. He added that his four sons had all gerved as vclunteers in the military forces of this country. Bandit Threatens To Blow Up Bank; ’ Seizes $100 Bill Note Presented to Teller Says He Has Explosive to Wreck Institution. Threatening to blow up the Franklin National Bank if a teller did not turn over all the money in his cash drawer to him, a colored man seized a $100 bill, when his demand was not complied with, and escaped about noon today. Police say the man entered the bank, at Tenth and Pennsylvania avenue, shortly before noon. He stood in the lobby for about 20 minutes, and then | walked up to a paying teller and pre- sented a note. The note, in substance, | directed that all the money be turned over to him or the bank would be blown u P.1 have enough nitroglycerin to blow | up the whole bank.” the note read in (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) REICHSTAG REJECTS DEBT REPUDIATION Defeats Communist Motion. Bruening Wins Votes of Confidence. By the Associated Press. BERLIN, February 26—By a vote of 368 to 75, the German Reichstag today defeated a Communist motion to “stop all payment of tribute based on the Versailles treaty and annul all private debts to capitalistic countries.” Adolf Hitler's National Socialists, the Natjonalists and the Populists, all num- bered among the opposition to Chancel- lor Bruening, voted against the mo- tion, but they said afterward they ‘Would have accepted the first part of had it been offered the proposal separately. In other words, they said, the defeat | of this motion does not mean that there is in the Reichstag a majofity favoring continuation of reparations payments. Bruening Wins Four Times. This vote came after the government had won by substantial majorities in & series of votes. Thereafter the House defeated a Na- tional Socialist motion to rescind Chan- cellor Bruening’s emergencies decrees for the duration of the presidential campaign. Thereupon the “Nazis” walked out— 107 of them, their leaders shouting “this is a monkey show.” Four times today the government turned back the opposition in the Reichstag, winning against a succes- sion of no-confidence motions. The chancellor had a majority of 25 on a Communist motion declaring non- confidence in the whole cabinet. There were larger margins to defeat no-con- fidence moticns against two members of the cabinet, and a Nationalist mo- tion to discolve the Reichstag lost by T1 votes. With these assaults disposed of, the Reichstag set the date for the presi- dential election at March 13 and provided for a second ballct on April 10 in case none of the candidates should receive a clear majority on the first. Marx Pleads for Peace. Before the votes were taken there was an impressive moment when Wil- helm Marx, who opposed President von Hindenburg in the 1925 campaign, pleaded with the oppcsition to forget their personal differences and emulate |the “chivalrous, honorable” tactics of | the campaign of seven years ago. | The confidence vote came as a climax of four days of debate on the presidential election situation and gave-the govern- | ment 10 more votes than it had expec ed in predicting a victory for Bruening That prediction was based on a 15-vot margin. The attempt to unseat the Bruening government was on a combined motion by the Nazis of Adolf Hitler, the Na- tionalists, the Populists and the Com- ‘munists. Dr. Curtius Absent. Dr. Julius Curtius, who is a Popu- list, declined to support his own party in its attempt to unseat the cabinet | and risked being read out of the party by absenting himself. The Vice Presi- | dent of the Reichstag, Siegfried von Kardorfl also a Populist, also declined to vote against the cabinet. HITLER MADE A CITIZEN. Becomes Councilor of Legation in Berlin. BERLIN, February 26 (#).—Adolf Hitler, Jeader of the National Socialists, was admitted to German citizenship today by his acceptance of an appoint- ment as councilor to the Brunswick legation in Berlin. HOUSE ASSURES RIGHT OF WAY TO §132,500,000 RELIEF BILL Garner to Sidetrack All Other Legislation Tomorrow to Permit Quick Action on Measure. B the Associated Press The $132,500,000 Democratic-spon- gored employment emergency road con- struction bill today was given legisla- tive right of way in the House by the Rules Committee AJl legislation will be sidetracked to- morrow by Speaker Garner to permit quick action. The bill will make immediately avail- able for allotment to the States a total of $120,000,000; to national forests highways, _$5,000.000; roads, trails, bridges and fire lanes in national for- ests, $1,500,000; Indian reservations, $1,000,000, and public lands, $2,000,000. The measure has the indorsement of the Democratic leadership. It was esti- mated before the Rules Committee that 1,000,000 men would be put to work and that 90 per cent of the money Would go for labor. The bill gives pref- erence to local labor on the projects. Under its terms, States unable to match the 50-50 per cent requirement of the Federal aid highway act may use the emergency funds for that purpose. This will make available $240,000.000 to the States, Representative Warren, Pemocrat, of North Carolins, explained to the committee. The bill provides that the emergency fund be repaid over |a period of 10 years beginning in 1938 | from regular Federal-aid allotments. Chairman Almon of the Roads Com- mittee, which previously reported the measure, explained many States were unable to draw Federal aid allotments | at present because of the 50-50 re- | quirement. | Warren told the Rules Committee many of the States which had been unable to take advantage of their regu- lar Federal aid allotments would lose them at the end of a two-year period not only aid employment, but the States. Representative Colton of Utah, rank- \m( Republican on the Roads Commit- | tee, said that while approximately 300,- | 000 men would be employed on the roads, it would require twice that many to transport and prepare mate- | rials for the road construction, bringing the total to approximately $1,000,000. Representative Warren made public today the Federal bureau’s proposed al- lotments to each State under the $120,- ) 3 % and that the emergency measure would ! ool 000,000 road d. inciudea FL015308 ter Mproiand, | BALLQUITS POST S ARINETONFUND SHORTACE CROWS Resigns at Request of Bond- ing Company—<C. T. Jesse | Is Appointed. TOTAL HELD LIKELY TO REACH $275.000| New Treasurer's Bond Is Set at $400,000—Plans Immediate Reorganization. By R Staff Correspondent of The Star. ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT- HOUSE, Va., February 26—E. Wade Ball, veteran treasurer of Arlington County, resigned today, 24 hours after auditors from the Virginia State Au- ditor of Public Accounts office began an examination of his accounts which now are repcrted to show a shortage of approximately $275,000. The resignation was submitted to Circuit Court Judge Walter T. Me- Carthy and was immediately accepted. Judge McCarthy then appointed Charles T. Jesse to fill Ball's unexpired | term. Jesse has long been prominent in public and political affairs in Ar- lington County -and also has served as & member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Bondsmen Urge Resignation. Ball's resignation came with dra- matic suddenness and was prompted by the request of his bonding company, the Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Baltimore. The letter of resignation read as follows: “I hereby tender my resignation as county treasurer of Arlington County. ‘This resignation is tendered at the re- quest of my bondsman, The Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Baltimore, Md., in the | interest and stabilization of the credit of the county. It is my desire and wish that my personal mterests should | always be subservient to the public | good.” ! Jesse's bond was fixed at $400,000, or $100,000 more than the amount of Ball's | d. Jesse, however, has not yet qualified for his bond, but expects to o so later. The resignation of Ball and the ac- ceptance of his resignation by Judge McCarthy, it was said at the court hous®, leaves Arlington County officially without a treasurer., Mr. Jesse, it was explained, cannot take the oath of office until he has qualified on the bond fixed by the court, and he indicated that several i-may be e mality is completed. It was pointed out that several peo- ple came to the court house today and made an effort to tax bills, but the money was refu as the clerks in the office say that they do not know now whose name can be officially signed to _the receipts. Ball's last official act for the county he served for 24 years as treasurer was to turn over to Willlam H. Duncan, clerk of the County Court, all of the current tax receipts, and records that had not been taken by the corps of State auditors examining the books. By direction of Judge McCarthy, Duncan will have charge of the county treas- urer's office until Jesse qualifies for his bond. Duncan, however, does not plan to transact any business in the treas- urer’s office. I Jesse Plans Reorganization. In accepting the office of county treasurer. Jesse announced he would devote his entire time to that office and indicated that one of his first acts would be to effect a thorough reorganization. Jesse also declared that the Arling- ton County and State funds are amply protected by corporate bonds. As a result, he said, “there can be no foundation to the rumors of serious financial distress being circulated.” Jesse is one of Arlington County’s most successful business men and law- yers. He is a lifelong Democrat and | has been actively engaged in politics |in Arlington County for 23 years. He served several terms in the General As- sembly, representing Arlington County, and has practiced law for a number of | years. | Has Many Interests. He is senior member of the firm of Jesse, Phillips & Klinge and is presi- | dent of the Real Title Corporation, one of the largest title companies in North- ern Virginia. He also is secretary-treasurer of the Arlington-Fairfax Railway Co., direc- tor of the Clarendon Trust Co. and a charter member of the Arlington Ro- tary Club. . Jesse is 52 years old, and is a native of Cavoline County, Va, He is a grad- uate of the University of Virginia, where he obtained his law degree. By a strange coincidence, Judge Mc- Carthy, who appointed Jesse to the county treasurer's office, was formerly attached to Jesse’s law office. The ceremonies held in Judge Mc- Carthy's office adjoining the Circuit Court room in the Arlington County Court House, were marked by brevity tand were witnessed by members of the Arlington County Board, and a dozen of Jesse's friends. Ball was not present at the exercises, but remained in a cor- ridor on the first floor of the court house. Board to Consider Loans. Immediately after Jesse had accepted the appointment, Harry A. Fellows, chairman of the Arlington County Board, announced that the board would hold a special meeting tomorrow night to consider offers made by two Alexan- dria banks, the Citizens National Bank and the Alexandria National Bank, to lend. the county sufficient funds to finance its activities pending the pres- ent emergency. Each bank, Fellows said, has volun- teered-to lend the county $100,000. It | has been estimated that $100,000 will be needed to carry on county activities until March 15, at which time State au- ditors are expected to complete the ex- amination of the county treasurer's ks. Fellows also announced that Mayor L. P. Daniels of Falls Church, Va., had offered to advance to the county be- tween $10,000 and $12,000 in payment of a bill for the installation of water mains in the Arlington County portion of Falls Church. The payment of this bili Fellows said, is now in contro- versy, but Mayor Daniels volunteered to advance the funds until the affair is finally settled in order to ald the county. g‘euyoy declared the ‘l::imlnme spirit Mayor Daniels Ppleased him “very much.” A i hh\ THE PROGRT LEADER. BEARRAIDERS FACE "o e of o visi CALL BY SENATORS Banking Committee Expected to Question New Yorkers on Short Selling. By the Associated Press. President Hoover was informed to- | day the Senate Banking Committee in- tends to “call in several New York bear | raiders” for its hearings, beginning to- | morrow, on short selling. Senator Walcott, Republican, of Con- necticut said after a conference with the President that they had discussed short selling. He declined, however, to name those who would be called to| testify. i ‘Walcott said he had gone over the list with the President. President Watches Trgnd. The President has kept close track of the effect of bear raiding upon gen- eral market prices and has kept up to date in his office a large chart of short~ selling ramifications. It was stated in a usually authorita- | tive quarter recently that the President has obtained the names of a group of bear raiders, but was refraining from | publication because he had received them in confidence. Sees Danger to Market. Meanwhile, Peter Carey, president of the Chicago Board of Trade, told the | House Agriculture Committee it might just as well close the country's grain markets as give the Secretary of Agri- culture power to stop short selling. He said there had been no abuses. Millers and other grain traders also appeared before the House committee opposin, restrictions on commodity future lrld«l ing. The committee is considering legis- lation to give the Agriculture Secretary this restrictive authority. Asked about President Hoover’s state- ment last June that a few traders were dr‘l;mg the wheat market down, Carey said: talking to him he sald nothing in his message to Congress about short selling. He said he had charts and graphs and we asked him for them, but have never seen them yet." Questioned About President. “Did you get any information on why the President issued this state- ment?” Chairman Jones asked. “No,” Carey replied, “and have had none since.” Jones asked if Carey thought thé President’s statement had been politi- cal, but Representative Clark, Republic an, New York. objected and the ques- tion was not pressed, “Personally,” Carey said, “I think giving the Farm Board $500,000.000 and (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) SANDINO PREPARING TO STORM U. S. TROOPS Agent for Nicaraguan Rebel De- clares Several Towns Have Been Captured in New Uprising. By the Assoclated Press MEXICO CITY, February 26—Dr. Pedro Jose Zepeda, foreign representa- tive of Gen. Augustino Sandino, Nicaraguan insurgent leader, said today a force of Sandinistas, under Gen. Francisco Estrada, took possession of Bella Vista, 15 miles from Chinandega, Nicaragua, and were prepared to storm the Chinandega garrison, which 1las been reinforced by troops in command of Capt. T. R. Hamblen, an American. He said other Sandinista troops cap- tured Sauce and Villanueva. Zepeda said President Moncada of Nicaragua declared a state of siege existing in the states of Chinandega and Leon, and that complete censorship over telegraph and telephone in these provinces has been declared. He re- ported the populace of Leon was highly excited by the reported decision of Moncada to attempt to retain the presidency two more years. Zepeda declared that at a time when the whole world was sympathizing with China for attempting tc defend herself against Japan, it was time for the United States to “clean her record” on the American continent by ceasing “im- perfalistic activities” in Nicaragua, where a withdrawal of American Marines would be in keeping with the ideals expressed by the State Depart- ment in the Chinese situagion. el 53 Radio Programs on Page D4 b 2 “I came to see the President and after | From Mrs. Hoover Wife of Capitalist Expires on Sea Island After Heart Attack. By the Associated Press BUNSWICK, Ga., February 26.—Mrs. died at the home of her nephew, Arthur ‘W. Jones, on Sea Island, today following a heart attack yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Coffin were personal friends of President and Mrs. Hoover and they had expected Mrs. Hosver for a visit at their Sapelo Island estate tomorrow. " (Continued on Page 4, Column 4.) “BABY BOND" ISSUE |U. S. Anti-Hoarding Securi- ties Will Bear 2 Per Cent Interest Rate. The Goernment’s “baby bond” issue, to break up hoarding, will be offered about March 7. The bonds will be issued in denomi- | nations of $50, $100 and $500, with a | maturity period of one year, and re- deemable on 60 days' notice by the | holders. The rate will be 2 per cent. The issue, designed to bring into cir- | culation a billion and a half dollars, will | be unlimited. | Final details for this program were | announced late yesterday by the Treas- | ury. Issue to Be Unlimited. | Secretary Mills made the definite in- terest rate known after forecasting pre- viously that it would be above 113 per cent. Earlier, he said the issue would be “without a roof,” with the printing con- tinuing as long as there was demand. While the Treasury Secretary Was | transmitting these details by wire to | Col. Prank Knox, chairman of the Citi- zens' Reconstruction Organization, Pres- ident Hoover also dispatched a telegram to the Chicagoan, The Chief Executive informed him that the anti-hoarding campaign, initi- ated on February 4, had been instru- mental in returning to circulation ap- | proximately $60,000,000 previously hid- den. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the Glass- Seagall bill to liberalize the Federal Re- serve rediscounting rules and expand credit suffered a one-day delay. Lying over for this period, in accordance with the rules, after béing reported out of & Senate and House conference, the meas- ure is being considered today. Full Details Oatlined. Secretary Mills, who conferred with Eugene Meyer, Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, and President Hoover early yesterday in the latter's office, out- lined the full scope of the proposed ‘baby. bond” issue. It will be handled through bankers throughout the country, with distribu- tion left to Col. Knox's organization. The interest rate was set lower than the customary savings bank interest go as not to attract funds already in cir- cul}:;!on. " i 0X, first announcing issue, declared his only fear was that the issue would not be large enough to satisfy de- mand. Mills asserted yesterday, how- ever, there would be no limit placed upon it. “YELLOW DOG” LABOR BAN IS APPROV‘ Which Prohibit Member- ship in Unions. By the Associated Press. The Senate voted today to outlaw the so-called “yellow dog” labor contract. “Without a record vote, the retained the provision of the anti-injunction bill denying course to parties to such under which membership unions is denied. Mr. and Mrs. Coffin formerly lived in | READY BY MARCH T HOUSE WT Bt PITON GROWS 115 Out of 145 Needed to Force Vote on State Con- trol Now Signed. Howard E. Coffin, wife of the capitalist, | By the Associated Press. More signatures were added today to the petition filed by the House wet bloc to force a vote on a State liquor con- trol constitutional amendment. Yesterday there were affixed 108 of the 145 signatures necessary for the House to have a chance to decide whether it wants to override its Ju- diciary Committee and take up the bill. In the first 30 minutes today, seven | more had signed. They were: Repre- sentatives Beck (Republican), Penn- | sylvania; Gambrill (Democrat), Mary- land; Aldrich (Republican), Rhode Island; Lea (Democrat), California; Peavey (Republican), Wisconsin; Brumm (Republican), Pennsylvania, and Mon- tet (Democrat), Louisiana. When the House met Representative O'Connor, Democrat, of New York, an- nounced that 22 of the 23 New York Democrats in the House had signed. The twenty-third, he said, is Repre- sentative Griffin, who is 1ll at Naval Hospital. O’Connor asked unanimous consent | to send the petition to the haospital | for Griffin to sign, but Representative Blanton, a Texas Democrat and pro- hibitionist, objected on the ground it would “establish & precedent.” Representative Linthicum of land, chairman of the Democratic anti- prohibition unit, was confident that many more names would be secured. If the 145 sign, the petition will be acted upon after March 14. It will take a majority of the House to bring the resolution to the flcor. Such a majority is not expected, but the membership will have to put its names down in black and white on the question. This is the chief objective of the anti-prohi- bitionists, in an effort to demonstrate the strong increase n their ranks which they claim since the last prohi- bition vote was taken. Sixty to Fifty-seven. Of the signers so far, 60 are Demo- crats and 55 Republicans. They come from 23 States, New York, being far in the lead with 28 signers. Twelve of the Pennsylvania delegation have signed, and nine from Illinois. Wisconsin was next with eight, while Ohio, Massa- each, and New Jersey six. Connecti- cut, California and Maryland were represented by four each. Other States represented were Minnesota, Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode Island, Iowa, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia. Official List Incomplete. While Speaker Garner ruled signa- tures on the petition would not be made public until 145 members should sign, members of the House interested in its success said the following 108 Repre- sentatives were listed at the close of yesterday's session: Democrats (57) — Beam, Black, Bloom, Boland, Boyland, Brunner, Carley, Celler, Cochran of Missouri, Cole of Maryland, Condon, Connery. Corning, Crosser, Cullen, Delaney, Dick- stein, Dieterich, Douglas of Massachu- setts, Evans of Montana, Fernandez, Flesinger, Fi ick, Gavagan, Gran- fleld, l}nr);., 5 fll).h Igoe, Jacobsen, Karch, Kelly of Illinols, Kennedy, Lam: neck, Lichtenwdlner, Lindsay, Linthi- oum McCormack, Maloney, Martin, Mead, O'Connor, Oliver of New York, Palmisano, , Parsons, Pettengill Prall, Reilly, Rudd, Schultz, Somers, Sirovich, , Stewart, Sullivan of New York, Suthpin, Sweeney, Tierney. Senate Votes to Outlaw Contracts 08 1) —i ie, An fi:flflzfl) -Amlie, Andrew of Aren , ;* Bohn, Boileau, Bol- Burdick, Campbell of Pennsylvania, ivicchia, Clancy, Connolly, Darrow, . Priest, Dyer, Englebright, Estep, nata, Hancock of New York, , Hess, Hollister, Holmes, Horr, Kahn, Knutson, , h, McLeod, Maas, Millard, Per- Ruth Pratt, Ransley, ‘Tilson, Tink- WORDS CAPTURE MEN “You Are So Wonderful” Advised for Leap Year Use. NEW YORK, February 26 (#).—Fouf of leap year advice for girls came y from Dr. Boris Sokoloff, the scientist. firlcumurymymlnthe e said, “if she repeats very to him these four word: ‘You ar¢.s0. wonderful.' 3 KIANGWAN ISOLATED I very ' unwise | chusetts and Michigan furnished seven | by - BY DRIVE AS SOVIET CHARGES TOKIO PLOT Chiang Kai-Shek’s Army Moves Forward to Reinforce Cantonese Troops. JAPANESE PLANES DESTROY CHINESE AIR BASES IN RAIDS Tokio Commander as Plan of Battle Sends Artillery Up Is Changed, With Woosung and Chapei Targets. By the Associated Press. Bitter fighting in the Kiangwan sector tonight brought the Japanese attack forward along the entire front, except at the town of Kiangwan, where stubborn resistance left the Chinese in control. The town was surrounded, but there was no indication that the attackers would be able to do much better than they have done in their unsuccessful efforts of the past several days. On the other fronts Japanese planes bombed a Chinese airport at Hangchow, reporting that they had wrecked a fleet of Chinese ships in their hangars and shot down one ocused on the Siberian Attention was lane in flames. order as a result of re- ports from Moscow that the Soviet government had demanded an explanation of Japan’'s request for transportation of troops on the Chinese Eastern Railway. Moscow charged that the troops were being moved to the Siberian frontier. Chinese Surprise Movement Drives \ \ Enemy Force Back! By the Associated Press. SHANGHATI (Saturday), February 27.—In a slashing counter-attack just after midnight the Chinese army drove the enemy out of the Miaochangchen sector this morning and held on against desultory machine gun fire. “We can't claim any great gain,” said Gen. Tsai Ting-Kai in an early morn- ing communique, “but we have suc- ceeded in ousting the Japanese from the Miaochangchen sector during a counter attack. The outcome of Fri- day’s fighting was more than grati- R en the fury of the sttack had spent itself the sector subsided into relative quiet and on the Chapei front there were only occasional outbursts of artillery and rifie fire as scouting E‘-r‘t’lu stalked each other in no man's nd. Chinese Hold Kiangwan. On the Kiangwan front, where the Japanese have threatened to “bomb them out or starve them out,” the be- leaguered Chinese were holding the town against the greater part of the attacking army. Yesterday's advance swung the Jap- anese line around the walled village, but volleys of rifie and machine gun fire spiked an effort to close the bottle neck west of the town through which the defenders were receiving food and ammuniticn. The Japanese themselves confessed that there was pot the slightest indica- tion that the defense had weakened | under the merciless pounding of the past week, but they said it was only a matter of time before the ancient walls would crumble under the persist- ent bombing from the air and shelling from artillery. Japanese troops, advancing against machine gun fire, surrounded Kiang- wan a few minutes before midnight. The spokesman said the Japanese losses in the past 24 hours of heavy fighting were 120 killed and wounded. Artillery Moved Up. Fresh Japanese troops began bring- ing up various additional light artillery equipment suitable for the low damp terrain networked by canals. This swampy ground has seriously handi- capped the Japanese in bringing up equipment, including_airplanes, which have been more effective than the artillery in blasting out Chinese ma- chine gun nests and the Chinese sup- port trenches. The Japanese, it was understood, will launch a big drive in the Kiangwan area. to push in a wedge. They hoped to separate the Chinese forces definitely flanking the Chinese in the the Kiangwan area and definitely cut the Woosung end of the front from the Chapei end Heretofore the Japanese strategy has been to cut the line and swing a dcuble | gate, one end hung on Woosung and the other on Chapei May Try Flank Drives. Now the strategy appears to be either to bottle up both Chapei and Woosung | by various flanking movements or finally by sheer force to compel a gen- (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) — . 70 FEARED DEAD IN RIVER 30 Rescued as Motor Launch Cap- sizes in India. CALCUTTA, India, February 26 (&) —Seventy persons were feared drowned today as a result of the capsizing in the River Hooghly of a motor launch carry- In% 100 fac workers. P to this afternoon only 30 had been rescued alive. Soviet Links Tokio With Invasion Plot; Demands Explanation By the Assoclated Press. MOSCOW, February 26.—The Soviet government, it was learned today, made a formal demand last Wednesday on Koki Hirota, Japanese Ambassador, for an explanation of a proposal of the Japanese command in Manchuria to use the Chinese Eastern Railway, partly Russian owned, for troop transporta- tion, charging that “in reality the troops were expécted to be sent to the Soviet border.” The request for an explanation was made by L. M. Karakhan, Soviet acting commissar for foreign affairs. It was revealed today following the publica- tion in Moscow newspapers of reports from the correspondent of the Tass (Russian) News Agency at Peiping that & “white” Russian force was being re- cruited in Northern Manchuria under Japanese auspices to i and the Russian provin ‘The dispatch to the Peiping was dated February 2. g:zl behrenA.cll::l Commissar rak- ’s request, although it was published only yesterday. o Conversation Verbal. M. Karakhan's conversation with the Japanese Ambassador was verbal. He charged that the “white” Russian activities were being carried on in Manchuria “under the protection and with the direct support of the Jap- anese.” For this he also requested an explanation from the Japanese gov- ernment. Besides this, he said, Japanese mili- tary authorities of Harbin proposed s | contract with the Chinese Eastern Rail- way to transport regular troops at & reduction of 50 per cent of the ordinary cost and to carry gratis Japanese troops sent to guard the railway. In addition, he called for information ahout the character of the newly formed Man- churian government. The dispatch to the Tass agenc; from Peiping also said that the Jap- anese Manchurian forces planned to attack Trans-Baikal Province, the East- ern terminus of the Chinese Eastern Rallway, at the same time that the Russian group was to invade Primor Province. Karakhan questioned Ambassador Hirota on four points. Pirst he called attention to the request of the Japanese command at Harbin for 17 troop trains to move soldiers from Imienpo to Pogranichni. He said this request was made “under the pretext of defending the lives of Japanese residents in the latter city,” but that it was “not usual, beause the troops were expected to be sent to the Soviet border.” Explanation Demanded. “Such a matter,” he said, “is not within the authority of the board of the Chinese Eastern Railway, and the Soviet government would like to know if the request was made with knowledge of the Japanese government. If it was, the Soviet government wants an ex- planation.” Secondly, Ambassador Hirota was told the action of the Japanese mili- tary command at Harbin in proposing the contract for reduced rates and free transportation of troops was “of a political character and could not be decided by the rallway management | because the railway is a strictly com- mercial enterprise.” “The question is related,” M. Kara- khan said, “to the existing treaty be- tween the Soviet Union and Japgn on the one side and the Soviet Unioh and China on the other. The Soviet gov- ernment asks whether the Japaness government really knows about this and requests an explanation.” Thirdly, M. Karakhan, requesting an (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) HALF THE GIRLS AT BRYN MAWR FAVOR COMPANIONATE MARRIAGE Majority of Them Set Love Above Wealth and Prefer Marriage to a Career. By the Assoclated Press. PHILADELPHIA, February 26.—Com- panionate marriage is favored by more than half of the Bryn Mawr College girls comprising 62 per cent of the stu- dent body who answered a question- naire on marriage. Answers published yesterday in the College News, weekly student publica- tion, disclosed a majority of the girls edge of birth control and an acceptance of divorce by mutual consent where there are no children.” Love, the girls voted, is based on both physical attraction and companion- ship, defined in the questionnaire as “mental, social and esthetic compat- ibility.” Thirty-two per cent favored compatibility, while 8 per cent insisted on the i attraction as love's who filled in the blanks prefer marriage | basis. to a career, would marry against the wishes of their jamilies, and set love above wealth, but demand their hus- bands be socially eligible. Companionate marriage was defined as “legal marriage entered into with a yiew to permanence, but with & knowls When it comes to children, the vote showed the average 3.9 as the ideal number envisioned by the Bryn Mawr girls, although one individual answered she would like 20 children, 10 boys and 10 girls. Sons are favored, the vote iting 2.1 boys to 19 girls, g