Evening Star Newspaper, September 29, 1938, Page 1

WEA' THER. (U. 8. Weathar Burean Pprecast.) Rain and cooler tonight and tomorrow; northwest day—Highest, at 6:15 am, . " northeast winds tomorrow. ~Temperal 68, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 63, backing to tures o~ Pull report on page A-2, Closing New York Markets, Page 22 86th YEAR. No. % DE, Y0 HURT ASQUIEKTORNADD HITS CHARLESTON Sudden Storm, Lasting Only a Minute, Wreaks Wide* Property Damage. HOSPITAL SENDS OUT CALL FOR ALL DOCTORS Many of City's History-Steeped Structures Are Left in Ruins. By the Associated Press, CHARLESTON, 8. C., Sept. 20.—A fornado hit historic Charleston witn sudden and vicious fury at about 8 am. today, killed at least 35 persons and injured at least 340 more in a Welter of wreckage that was spotted throughout the city. Thirty city blocks were damaged and 100 hquses blown down. The sudden storm, of not more than & minute's duration in any one place, Was preceded by a torrential down- pour, . Of the 22 reported killed, 15 were colored. The dead were not immedi- ately identified except these four white persons: Mrs. Ruth Mehrtens, 26; Irvin H. Mehrtens, 3; Miriam Zeigler, 14, and Floyd Singletary, 9, all of 25 Market street. They were kiled when their house collapsed in the twinkling of an eye. An emergency call was sent out from Roper Hospital, Charleston's largest, for ‘all physicians to report there immediately, as the injured were being brought there by every available conveyance, Fine Old Buildings Ruined. Many of the city’s history-steeped buildings were in ruins. St. Michael's Episcopal Church, erected long before the Revolutionary War, was consid- erably damaged as well as the old market place. A colored Baptist church in the heart of the city was demolished, but i was unoccupied at the time. The roof of the city hall was blown away, and the Timrod Inn, a small hotel, in the same vicinity, was badly damaged. Charleston’s beautiful Battery, a mecca for tourists, was stripped of many fine old trees and debris littered ts park. In every direction, as far as the eye could see, there was & vision of un- roofed buildings and’ other wreckage. Came With Suddenness. Manning J, Rubin, city editor of the Charleston Evening Post, in the vicin- ity of which on Meeting street the tornado did much damage, said he was “duzed by the sudden fury with which the storm struck. “I was on my way to work and had Just parked my car in a torrential downpour,” he said “when I heard an almost deafening roar. I did not see any buildings collapse. It did not last more than 30 seconds or a minute at the most in the neighborhood I was in. “As soon as I got to the office, a stone's throw away, I saw that all the electric power was off. Looking from the window, I noticed the roof of the Timrod Inn had disappeared. As far ss we could see from the windows of the office, Charleston presented a pic- ture of wrecked buildings and uprooted trees. “The storm apparently dipped into all parts of the city, with a toll of wreckage everywhere it touched.” J. E. Lockwood, United States me- teorologist, said he believed two tor- nadoes struck the city a few minutes apart. ‘The first apparently roared in from the west across the Ashley River Bridge; he said. It did not approach the Weather Bureau near enough for the instruments to record it. The second came in from the south- west & few minutes later and struck the Battery, southern tipof Charleston, A wind velocity of 72°miles an hour, Just 3 miles less than hurricane force, ‘was recorded for this blow, Mr. Lock- wood said. On South Battery street fine old Co- lonial homes, many of them bought by wealthy Northerners in recent years, were badly battered. President Orders Help. President Roosevelt ordered the Army, Navy and the Works Progress Administration today to render aid in Charleston. He acted in response to a telephone request from Lt. Gov. J. E. Harley of South Carolina, who advised the Chief Executive there was “con- siderable property damage and loss of life.” The South Carolina Governor, Mr. Harley said, is in Oklahoma and can- not be reached, and the Legislature is not in session to take any action. Officers of South Carolina National Guard units reported the situation had gone beyond their control, Mr. Early asserted. The Birth of a Nation Tonight at 8:00 o'clock over Station WMAL The Star will present the second of a series of radio lectures on The Story of the Czechs, by Dean Elmer L. Kayser, professor of European His- tory at George Washington University. Dean Kayser will discuss the birth of the new Czechoslovakian state and will base his talk on the map to be found on Page A-4 of The Star. It is suggested that you lUsten to Dean Kayser over WMAL at 8 PM. A A 34,484, matter Entered as second class , Washinston, D. C. post _office, THOMAS E. DEWEY. NEW YORK 6. 0.P. CHOOSES DEWEY Prosecutor Is Nominated by Actlamation as Choice for Governorship. By the Associated Press. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y., Sept. 29.—Thomas E. Dewey, Mamhattan’s 36-year-old racket-busting prosecutor, was nominated by acclamation by the Republican State Convention today es the party's candidate for Governor. The convention previously had adopted a platform built around Dis- trict Attorney Dewey's record as prose- cutor. The declaration of State policy con- tained a pledge for “complete elim- ination” of “the alliance between the underworld and certain forms of poli- tics,” a system condemned as a “men- ace.” The platform also includes a pro- test against the use of Federal re- lief funds for “political purposes” and urges Republican Congressmen to “do 8ll in their power to keep this coun- try at peace.” War Scare an Issue. Earlier the party was turning the European war scare into a talking point to urge election of a strong and militant Republican minority in the next Congress. The subject was broached b pre- sentative Bruce Barton of New York yesterday in his keynote speech to the conventjon. Other Republican leaders charged with the Nation-wide drive for the election of their partisans to the next Congress are talking about it in the same way. __ ‘What Mr. Barton said was: “The menace of armed dictatorship in Europe is greater than it ever was, with the same grave danger that we may again be involved. “At such s time of crisis it is tre- mendously important to have s well balanced Congress—that is, a Congress with & strong minority party. “The function of the minority is to make sure that the administration gives the people all the facts, that no vital move is made unless there has been free and full debate, that no wave of hysteria is allowed to sweep the country off its feet. “Every additional Republican Sen- ator or Congressman elected this fall is one more vote against any hasty action that might lead America toward war.” Not long: afterward Representative Martin of Massachusetts, chairman of the Republican Congressional Cam- paign Committee, came to town with the prediction that the Republicans would gain 80 seats in the fall elec- tions. In a burst of optimism he told the State convention they might re- gain control of the House of Repre- sentatives. There aren’t enough Sen- ate seats at stake for them to take that over, Mr. Martin said the Barton argu- ment was being adapted to national campaign strategy. > Gains in Midwest Seen. ‘He mentioned two other top issues which, he said, a tour of the Middle West convinced him were influencing votes. One was the farm problem; the other rellef. But the chief of these was relief and its twin, unem- ployment. “The people are beginning io think that the administration has had long enough to do something about these problems,” Mr. Martin said. “It has had six years, has spent billions of dollars and there still are Jjust as many persons out of jobs as there were in 1932.” He said the principal gains he ex- pected the Republicans to make would be in Jowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York, but declined to mention specific dis- tricts or to match States and numbers. Forts Transferred. CORK, Ireland, Sept. 29 (#).—Brit- ish soldiers manning forts on Bere Island were replaced today by Irish troops, who now guard the entire southern coast. he Foening Star WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1938—SIXTY-EIGHT PAGES. %% The only evening paper in \Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. \ Ansaitpes. THREE CENTS. ROOSEVELT HOLDS HITLER ACCEPTS ‘PARADE OCCUPATION’ HOPE FOR PEACE OF EGER AND ASCH OCT. 1 AND 2 INSTEAD N MUNCH TAKOF TRIUMPHAL ENTRY, GERMANS ASSERT ¢ Huil Also Is Declared to Have Confidence in 4-Power: Conference. LESSENING OF TENSION NOTED HERE IN CAPITAL U., S. Officials See International Commission Likely as Sudeten Solution. . B3 the Associated Press. President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hull were represented by in- formed officials today as feeling rea- sonably confident that some orderly settlement of the Sudeten problem would come from the four-power con- ference in Munich. There was a noticeable lessening of the tension evidenced in official circles earlier in the week when to many there seemed scant hope of averting war. Officials said this Government would not have a diplomatic observer at the conference, but that the embassies in London, Berlin, Paris and Rome would keep informed as to its progress. They indicated the United States would refuse—if it were asked—to ac- cept any responsibilities arising from the meeting, such as arranging for the transfer of the Sudetenland, or a portion of it, to Germany and for the transfer of populations. International Commissien Likely. Some officials- speculated that an international commission, possibly backed by an international police force, might be set up to keep order in the Sudetenland while the shift in sovereignty was being made. This was done in the case of the Saar re- gion, lying between France and Ger- many. In the talk of possible American assistance in any transfer of territory, it was recalled that the help of Ameri- can experts and money were given freely in the historic transfer of Greek and Turkish populations in 1923 when 1,400,000 Greeks were brought to Turks were transported from Greece to Turkey. Henry Morgenthau, sr., father of the Secretary of the Treasury, became chairman of the Greek Refugee Settle- ment Commission, and a loan of $11,- 000,000 was floated here to care for the refugees. Even in that case, however, all assis- tance was of a private nature and the Unitad States Government took no hand in it. Likely ts. While hopeful that the Munich conference might settle the European issues amicably, government leaders did not let their optimism blind them to the possibility of failure. They are considering such possible develop- ments as these: A deadlock with Britain and Prance rigid on one side, Germany and Italy adamant on the other. That Czechoslovakia might not be willing to accept any new conditions. (She already is demanding representa- tion at the conference.) That Premier Mussolini might place too much insistence on settling the minority claims of his friends, the Hungarians, who assert that seven to eight hundred thousand of their nat- tionality live in Czechoslovakia. On the other hand, some optimistic students of foreign affairs suggested the possibility that from the Munich meeting might come eventually a world conference to adjust economic relations and remove some of the causes of unrest created by the re- mapping of Europe at the end of the World War. Roosevelt Influence Question. Mingled with the talk of officials and observers was speculation, too, as to how great an influence in effecting the Munich conference were President Roosevelt's urgent appeals for peace and his plea for Premier Mussolini to act. Presidential aldes said they had no idea. In any case, however, continued negotiations were what the President had so strongly urged. The Capital displayed great interest in Mr. Roosevelt’s letter to Mnssolini, & curiosity made the more intense by the fact that because it was a “per- sonal” message, the White House with« held its contents. From Rome, however, came & sum- mary which said: “In_this the President of the United States, after having re- called efforts exerted by him to assure & peaceful solution of the German- Czechoslovak conflict and after having emphasized the tragic consequences that & European war would have for (See ROOSEVELTH, Page A-3.) Blast Blows Pilot Out of Cabin And Starts Fire on Boat Here An explosion blew the pilot out of the motor cruiser Panchax as it ended & trial Tun on the Potomac today and started a fire that damaged the in- terior of the boat. Ernest White, employe of the Na- tional Motor Boat Sales Co., who was piloting the cruiser on a trial run after its motor had been overhauled, escaped injury when he was hurled through & window from the cabin onto the fore- deck by the force of the explosion., He said he had no idea what caused the blast. The gasoline tank remained in- tact after the fire. The boat was owned by George N. Ray, real estate broker of 1321 Con- necticut avenue. The boat was said to have cost $21,500. It was fully in- sured, Mr. Ray sald. It remained afloat, but mechanics said the interior appeared to be a total loss. The boat had just come in to doek near Ninth street and Maine avenue S.W. when the explosion occurred. Roy Rose, mechanic who had over- hauled the motor, and & colored helper ¢ were with Mr. White on the vessel. Neither was hurt. The three men scrambled off the boat and let it drift out into the Greece from Asia Minor and 400,000 | THE WIREPHOTO BRINGS FIRST PICTURE FROM MUNICH CONFERENCE—This is the first picture to reach America showing Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini at Mu- nich today, just before they began their histeric conference with Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier. The world’s two leading exponents of authoritarian govern- ment, whose yes or no will determine Europe’s fate, are shown in car just after their arrival from Brenner Pass. Picture sent by telephoto from Munich to London, by ra- dio to New York and by Wirephoto to Washington. —A. P. Wirephoto. POPE ASKS WORLD Germany Pours Army Units Into Czech Frontier Region 10 JOIN IN PRAYER Pastoral Letter Pleads for Recourse to Avert Danger of War. By the Associated Press. CASTEL GANDOLFO, Sept. 29.— Pope Plus XI asked the world ‘oday | to-have “recourse to the unarmed but invincible power of prayer” to lven‘ “the imminent danger of war.” The Pope broadcast his message over a vast radio hook-up. It was in the form of a pastoral letter addressed to the bishops, clergy | and faithful, and read to them by tae | holy father. ‘The Pope spoke under the shadow of the meeting at Munich, where the heads of Western Europe’s four most powerful governments werg meeting to find & peaceful solution of Germany's demands-on Crechoslovakia. The Pope said: “While millions of men live in dread because of the imminent danger .of war and because of the threat of un- exampled slaughter and ruin, we father into our paternal heart the trepidation of our children and we in- vite the bishops, clergy, the religious and the faithful to unite themselves with us in the most undaunted and insistent prayer for the preservation in justice and in charity of the peace. Desties of World. “To this unarmed but invincible power of prayer let pedble have re- course once yet again so that God, in whose hands rest the destinies of the world, may sustain in those who gov- ern confidence in the pacific ways of faithful negotiations and of lasting agreement, and that he may inspire in all seftiments and action correspond- ing to the reiterated words of peace which will be suited to foster peace and to establish it on the secure basis of law and of the gospel teaching. “Grateful beyond words for the prayers which have been and are be- ing poured gut for us py the faithful of the whole Catholic world, with all our heart we offer for the salvation and for the peace of the world this life which in virtue of those prayers the Lord has spared and even re- newed. *“Let the Lord of life and death, if He wills, take from us the inestimable gift of an already long life, or, if He 20 wills, let Him prolong still further the Heavy Nazi Reinforcements Sent to Border Area Opposite Eger, Czechoslovakia. Py the Associated Press. MUNICH, Sept. 20.—Europe put its hope today in the four-power con- ference to prevent war, but it took no chances lest soldiers still might speak the last word. Throughout last night and this morning, Germany moved thousands of motorized troops and much equip- ment to the border of Czechoslovakia. Even while the Fuehrer was delib- erating a peaceful solution of his de- mands on Czechoslovakia with British Prime Minister Chamberlain, French Premier Daladier and Italian Premier Mussolini, German troops were on the march, Britain, France, Poland, Hungary and other nations fearful of being involved in a European war put their hope in peace and their faith in strong defenses. Even tiny, neutral Switzer- land guarded her borders. Last night heavy Nazi reinforce- ments began to pour along the Ba- varian botder opposite and below the Sudetenland city of Eger, in Czecho- slovakia, Could Start Pilsen March. From there they could start a march toward Pilsen, major objective in any attempt to strangle Czechoslovakia. There 250,000 men are at work forging arms in Czechoslovakia's great Skoda works and another 75,000 are (See ARMS, Page A-3.) BUICK STRIKE VOTE U. A. W. Local Claims Refusal of Collective Bargaining. FLINT, Mich., Sept. 29 (#)—Jack Little, president of United Automobile Workers’ Local No. 156 (C. I. O.), an- nounced today that employes of the General Motors Corp. Buick division would take a strike vote Saturday, pro- testing “the refusal of the management to bargain collectively” with a U. A. W. committee on seniority problems. He said men with from 5 to 10 years of seniority had not been recalled, while others who had been employed only two ,years were working. The “speed-up,” he declared, had resulted in “one out of every five men employed in the plant being out 6f work.” SUGGESTS TRADING COTTON FOR SILVER Senator Pittman Says Certificates Aould Then Be Issued to Pay Owners 12.9 Cents a Pound. By the Associated Press. Chairman Pittman of the Senate Foreign Reletions Committee proposed today that the Nation's cotton carry- over be traded for huge shipments of silver from China and India. His proposal would mean exportation of 13,400,000 bales of cotton to the Orient in return for 670,000,000 ounces of silver. Against this metal the Gov- ernment would issue silver certificates to pay owners of the exported cotton. - Summary of Lost & Found D-6 Obituary -..A-14 FOREIGN. Foreign Minister Gen. Ugaki resigns post in Japan. Page A-2 German liners may soon resume trip to America. Page A-3 Munich parley aid to Hitler, Soviet believes, Pagé A-4 | NATIONAL. f 1 E3E ¥ President and Hull confident of Su- deten settlement. Page A-1 ‘Truck operators ascept La Guardia's strike settlement. Page A-2 National Guard officers ask force of 435,000 men. Page A-19 Clark favors specific reorganisation recommendations. Page B-5 ‘Two, kind to old woman, bequeathed fortunes. Page B-12 2,000,000 foreign-born in U. 8. subject to war call ¥ Page B-18 Drew urges high-speed highways as " defense astet, Page C-8 WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. Ooroner’s jury to hear Nichols’ slay! evidence. Page A-2 Probe ordered in supposed cident. Page A-2 Lt. Floyd Truscott is given precinct duty. B-1 ; Page QGravelly Point Airport site work ad- vanced by dredging. Page B-1 ) Today's Star . | Suburban group sees Ickes on P. W. A. sewage plant. Page B-1 District reaches loan-grant quota minus several projects. Page B-1 Jackson faction in Montgomery County to support O'Conor. Page B-12 Maryland Democrats press plans for harmony campaigns, Page B-14 SPORTS. Bucs must stop leading Cubs today in “make or break” game. Page C-9 Yankee infleld is rated above that of Pirates or Bruins, Page C-9 Star’s Federal golf play-off semis to be Monday, Sudeten Areas Would Be Taken - Over Now, Balance of Transfer Gradual. Full text of Chamberlain’s dramatic account of how he tried to avert war on Pages & and A-20. The Czechoslovak Crisis EARLY PEACE ACCORD in prospect at Munich. Germany expects token occupation of Sudetenland October 1. (Page A-1.) GERMANY POURING ARMY into frontier districts opposite Eger, Czechoslovakia. (Page A-1.) CZECHS APPROVE NEW British plan, with reservations for gradual application of cession proposal. (Page A-1.) DALADIER CARRIES CLUB to Munich parley; empowered to mobilize France by giving word. (Page A-3.) SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN NATIONS’ cabinets confer during night as result of Munich parley call. (Page A-4.) ‘| CHAMBERLAIN ATTENDING MUNICH parley strengthens Hitler’s - hand, Soviet declares. (Page A-43 . BRITISH CONTINUE PREPARATIONS for war as Chamberlal parleys with dictators at Munich. (Page A-8.) . LEAGUE SUPPORTS ROOSEVELT peace appeal sent to heads of European governments. (Page A-8.) FOUR-POWER PARLEY in Munich relaxes tension; U. 8. envoy among Viscount Halifax’s callers. (Page A-8.) BULLETIN. MUNICH, Sept. 29 (#).—A German government spokesman said tonight that the government heads of Germany, Britain, Italy and France had practically reached an agreement in their conference on the fu- ture of Czechoslovakia and means of assuring Europe’s Ppeace. ~/%ONDON, Sept. 29 (#).—The Czechoslovak Lega- tion disclosed today that Czechoslovakia had sug- gested that the whole Sudeten German issue be sub- mitted to President Roosevelt if other efforts to solve it fail. MUNICH, Sept. 29 (#).—Informed German sources said tonight that Reichsfuehrer Hitler had agreed that the German Army would make only a “parade occupa- tion” of the Eger and Asch regions, extreme Western Czechoslovakia, on October 1 and 2. Other sections of the Sudetenland are to be occu- pied only gradually, these informants said, under the plan said to have been accepted by the Fuehrer in place of his original intention of having his armies march in Saturday with flags waving. This token occupation, however, would show sym- bolically that Germany had become the master of the regions of Czechoslovakia whose population is pre- dominantly German. By the Associated Press. MUNICH, Sept. 29.—Hopes for an early settlement assuring Europe of peace for the moment were expressed by British and German officials alike today as the Munich four- power conference ‘on the fate of Czechoslovakia entered jts second session of the day at 4:30 p.m. (10:30 am., E. S. T.). The conference was resumed in the glistening Fuehrerhaus after a suspension of nearly two hours, during which came expres- sions from both sides of confidence an agreement would be reached. It was indicated it would meet Reichsfuehrer Hitler's demand that his troops be permitted to march into Czechoslovakia’s Sude- tenland October 1 for at least a symbolic occupation. Evidence that Hitler himself was confident an accord would be achieved was seen in the fact that he had preparations made for a banquet tonight in the palatial Fuehrerhaus. To the conference’s opening session—from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. (6:45 to 8:45 am,, E. 8. T.)—a British plan countering Hitler's demand was submitted. It was understood to provide that the German Army would march in without fanfare and accampanied by detachments of the British, French and Italian Armies to make it look less like a German invasion. Meet at Palace Hitler Built. Europe’s men of the hour, Germany’s supreme leader, Prime Minister Chamberlain of Britain, Premier Mussolini of Italy and Premier Daladier of France, met beneath the gorgeous pagan panels of the palace Hitler built to glorify the birth of the Nazi movement which has carried him to the pinnacle of power. With the powers’ preparations for war still going forward, the question of life or death for millions hung on their decisions. The Bavarian street crowds roared acclaim for each group as automobiles bearing delegates back to the Fuehrerhaus whizzed through the streets, but loudest applause was that for Britain's Prime Minister, chief mover in the effort to avert war. Four times the crowds roared as, one by one, M. Daladier, Mr. Chamberlain, Hitler and finally Mussolini and their escorts sped back to the scene of the fateful conference. Cheers for Chamberlain Roll Along. The cheers for Mr. Chamberlain rolled along, block after block. Spectators knew well ahead that he was coming, for they could hear shouts of “Chamberlain! Chamberlain!” as his car ap- proached. The Prime Minister waved his black hat to the crowds of Southern Germans, who cheered louder when they saw his broad smile. “Things must be going better,” was the frequent comment. As Hitler passed he seemed too busy with his own thoughts to OPener | give more than a preoccugied smile and stiff salute to his people. traffic ac- | Vital Last came Mussolini, preceded and followed by two huge tour- ing cars loaded with black-shirted aides and guards. f Final Qutcome Likelihood Stated. As the German delegation saw it the following was likely to be the final outcome of the negotiations of Hitler, Mr. Chamberlain, M. Daladier and Mussolini. 1. The German army, with the approval of the other big powers, would enter only the Sudeten areas of Czechoslovakia as & demonstration of their cession on October 1. 2. In the so-caliea aoubtful areas, in which population is divided about equally between Sudeten Germans and Czechs, con=- tingents of the British, French and Italian armies would safe- guard a plebiscite, from which there would be no appeal. 3. Plebiscites also would be conducted in Czechoslovakia in which the population is preponderantly Polish oy Hungarian, The occupation of the Sudetenland would be gradual, (Bee MUNICH, Page A-3) 4