Evening Star Newspaper, December 13, 1934, Page 18

1L DUCE DECLARED T00 BIG FOR JOKES Eddie Cantor Interviews Him Seriously After Fun Attack Flops. (Editor’s note: Eddie Cantor, American comedian, has written for the Associated Press the following account of his interview with Pre- mjer Mussolini yesterday in Rome.) BY EDDIE CANTOR. Copyright. 1934. by the Associated Press. MILAN, Italy, December 13.—When 1 first went in to see Premier Mus- salini I thought to make him laugh. But the man’s intense seriousness pretty soon changed my tactics. Tl Duce was greatly interested in my proposals for producing Italian pictures in Ttaly with Italian scen- ery as a back- ground, but with American actors and American capital. I told him America can’t produce enough good pictures to fill the theater and satisfy the insatiate demand for good films. We have hundreds of millions of dollars’ Eddie Cantor. SLith of B properties to feed films. I believe stars who are even under eontracts with studios would come to Italy on theiy vacations and while here make pictures. They would be good good-will visitors from America and American film industries, Mussolini Popular, Premier Mussolini, I believe, after my sudience, to be the second greatest personality in the world. President Roosevelt is first, of course. But there are g lot of Republicans in the United States who say Mussolini is still first. I told him many people in Italy eriticize American films anly because they are American. But when we see the liner Rex coming into New York— why shouldn't Italians be happy at seeing the best films in the world, just as we are happy at seeing the finest boat in the world. A mistaken idea is that it takes great capital to make swell films. I know lots of million-dollar failures and many more hundred thousand dollar successes. It is not the money put into the film that counts. It is the story, thought, inspiration and honesty be- hind the film that counts. Likes Italian Locale. Years ago Italy made some of the best films in the world. “Quo Vadis” and “Cabiria” are among them. But the advent of talkies changed the situation. If you take American actors and put them into gorgeous Ttalian situations in Italy you have undoubtedly 3 wonderful success for & picture. T thought to go into Premier Mus- solini’s office to have some fun, be- sides giving him a message. But I saw he was interested far more in doing something that was good for Italy than just cracking jokes. I found him a very human sort of man. I first realized then why Italy has worshiped him all these years. I wonder if they appreciate him in ‘Europe. He not anly is a great man in Italy. He is the paliceman of Europe. You have but to show Mussolini on a news reel in the United States and the theater will be swept with applause. ‘The only other man who can equal him in this is President Roosevelt, Sincerity Easily Noted. It is not difficult to recognize the sincerity of Mussolini, which has won the admiration of all people. Mussolini asked me if I had been in Italy before. I told him in 1926. He asked if I noticed many changes. I told him I noticed wonderful changes, such as roads, reclaimed swamps, houses being built wholesale | § All| B and people being re-employed. these must be underlined, because here one sees happy people. I certainly have seen none happier | than the Italians. Maybe this is so because they know that if there is any getting out of the throes of this depression they have a better chance with Mussolini as leader than any other country in the world. I had expected Mussolini to be a most bombastic booster. He is noth- ing af the kind. I found him to pos- sess great charm and to be just the sort of fellow you want to sit by the fireplace with and discuss topics | {§ all day. Mussolini's memory is wonderful. FHE EVENING BTAR, Galapagos “Empress” Goaded Men to Death in Love Battle The captain of the tuna clipper ship Santa Amaro, just back from the Galapagas Islands, writes here of his discoveries in the “Garden of Eden” mystery, which resulted in the deaths of two men and the disappearance of the “Mad Empress of the Galapagos” and a supposed admirer. The captain also discloses, in part, contents of letters which throw some light on grim condie tions in the strange colony. BY CAPT. WILLIAM BORTHEN. Special Dispatch to The Star. SAN DIEGO, Calif, December 13 (N.AANA)—Now that I have re- turned from the Gglapagos Islands, where on Marchena Island I found two dead men, I can tell the facts surrounding the discovery, and the true situation on Charles Island, the modern Garden of Eden or Empire of Love. It was 4 pm., November 17, as I swung the Santa Amaro around to anchor off Marchena Island, that I glanced ashore and spotted a mast with remnants of cloth at its top. With four erew members I went ashore and found the bodies about 175 feet from the waterline and 20 feet apart. Identifies Body. On one body I found a passport, which I identified as that of Rudalph Lorenz, who in 1932 went to Charles Island with the Baroness Eloise Bos- quet de Wagner Wehrborn of Paris. The body, partly hidden by an over- turned skiff, was found by accident. One arm extended from under the skiff. . I believe the second body was that of Arthur Wittmer of Charles Island, whom I saw in the Galapagos last yeéar, thaugh since I left the islands this time I understand the body has been declared that of Trygve Nug- grud, a Norwegian. But I am sure the man was Wittmer. Wittmer, who was postmaster of Charles Island, had a peculiar growth of nair. There was a “ribbon” of hajr, about an inch wide, that grew on the back of his head from ear to ear. Above and beneath this “rib- bon” he was bald. He also had a moustache. So I was sure it was Wittmer when I saw the body. Near the bodies I found about 30 letters, scattered helter skelter. Also I found hundreds of burnt matches and a small pile of wood with charred paper beneath it, evidence the men had failed in an effort to start a fire. Nearby was the carcasy of a seal. The men apparently had cap- tured the seal. killed it with a rock, drunk its blood to allay thirst, and then torn the animal apart with their bare hands and eaten some of it for food. Several safety razors also were found. Died of Starvatiqp. Both men undoubtedly died af thirst and starvation. Wittmer per- haps died first. Indications were that the men had been dead several months. How did the men get qn the island? My theory is that Lorenz was with Wittmer, the postmaster, as Wittmer visited the islands of the Galapagos group to pick up mail. I learned definitely that they visited Santa Cruz Island July 12 for mail. Leav- ing Santa Cruz, they perhaps headed for San Cristoba] Island, 70 miles away. There are no hidden reefs in the area. Their boat may have sprung a leak, forcing them to abandon ship hur- riedly. That may explain why the skiff on Marchena Island had no oars or oar locks. If such was the case, I spoke to him of an individual in the United States. The moment I got the name out he told me the man’s address and where he was. I spoke to him of many stars. He knew them and where they lived. I mentioned the film “The Kid Prom Spain.” He told me something of the plot and I expected him, then and there, to start a bull fight before me but he had been fighting parlia- ment all afternoon and that was enough. Mussolini’s son-in-law, Count Ciano (Undersecretary of Propa- ganda), impresses me as a second Mussolini. He is ardent and alert. His laugh is infectious. He knows immediately how to pick the wheat from the chaff in your conversations. the skiff, because of peculisr cur- renty which prevail near Marchena, would have drifted to the very spot where I found them. Back of the finding of the bodies is a lurid story of an “empress”— the Baroness Bosquet de Wagner— who, with an iron hand, ruled Charles Island, the Pacific’s garden of Eden. Last year, when I in the Galapa- 808, I visited Charles Island. There I saw the baroness, clad only in bras- siere and bloomers, with & pistol tucked in her waist belt, defying any one to put foot on her island kingdom uné;;- n: so desired en the baroness, accompanied by Lorenz, arrived at Charles Island from Paris, she found Mr. and'Mrs. Wittmer and theiy two sons and Dr. Friedrich Ritter. German dentist, and Prau Dore Koerwein. The last two lived as nudists. between the other families. A third family made matters worse. It was the baroness’ chance. She took com- mand and declared herself “empress” aof the island. She made it stick. Refore many months passed, an old friend of the baroness, Robert Phil- lipson, whom she had known in Eu- rope, arrived at the island. That meant trouble between Phillipson and Lorenz. The men fought like sav- ages over the woman almost every day. Often the baroness watched these fights, yelling that the winner would possess her affections. Phil- dipson usually won, because he was larger and stronger than Lorenz. The baroness herself fought with the men, too, and with each such fight would transfer her Movement Guaranteed Assorted Styles NEW STYLE BAGUETTE 14-kt. White Guaranteed 25 Years 812 F St. N.W. One Flight Up A complete stock of Hami watches. diamonds, rins rings, 20 to 40 per cent of BUY FROM THE UPSTAIRS JEWELRY STORE AND SAVE IELENERNERERNE and_Elgin birthstone That You Throw Away used indoors several season. They can then be planted out- doors, making a lasting evergreen to beautify your home grounds. purchased these trees from us for Why Buy a Cut Tree After Christmas When You Can Buy for a Very Little More A BEAUTIFUL Living Christmas Tree NORWAY SPRUCE AND BALSAM FIRS PLANTED IN STRONG PAINTED GREEN TUBS These beautiful trees can be trimmed and all through the Christmas Many who ears have them growing man with whom she chanced to be at Peace. The “empress® and Phillipson left Charles Island sboard an American yacht last May. They have not been heard from since. Letter Addressed to Washington. ‘The letters I found beside the bodies were written in English, German and Norwegian. One letter, by Mrs. Witt- mer, was to Allan Hancock, Los Ange- les patron of science, who is now with an expedition in the Galapagos. It ‘wished him a merry Christmas. An- other letter by Mrs. Wittmer was to Dr. Waldo Schmitt of the National Museum at Washington. She wrote (apparently referring to the empress) that “conditions are 139E7 it to get to Germany.’ another letter to his brother wrote: “Please help me get island. Send me money care the German consul at Guayaquil. and get me. I still am BERRE Exezi® wrote the hushand of baroness, in Paris, He asked the ~HR “ALLOVER TOWN” of (i » X559 WATCHES 98¢ Dependable timekeepers. with ple- tures of Buck sad Wilma an the face, and s 25th Centyry man engraved on the back. HELMETS 98¢ Just lke the oge Buck wearsw ear phones. full vision eve pro- tector, o satemns, 434 evees- 1 SHIPS 69c . roaring, speeding model uck Rogers” famous inter-planetary _ rocket erulser. Sboots out sparks. HOLSTERS The 25% Century to ROGE ~—the better to serve you' WASHINGTON; " D. ©; THURSDXY,” DECEMBER 13, 193% consul at Guayaquil), Nuggrud and myself visited Charles Island recently. Blumberg wanted to interview the baroness for § magazine. I stayed on ship while Blumberg and Nuggrud went ashare. “Lorenz came aboard and we talked. fights for the baroness’ affections.” (Copyright. 1034, by Morth =American Railroad Executive Dies. MINNEAPOLIS, December 13 (#).— Sbipment Greece are rapidly increasing. “DR, FIELD Plate Expert STMAS + YS From PEOPLES MEAN MORE Your boy will en- joy one of thess for monthsl ou/ 9 LOCOMOTIVE The child sits on top and guides it by the Bandle. About long, 10% A bevy of beautiful babies. ..one for ) every good little girl in Washington. Baby dolls on pillows...dolls with eyes that close . . . dolls that say “Mamma” ...dolls as much as 22 inches high... dolls with tongue and teeth. All nicely dressed. 4 inches iny and 6 inches wide. 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