Evening Star Newspaper, April 13, 1940, Page 1

- Fastening H - Weather Forecast Generally fair, becoming eloudy tonight and tomorrow; not much change in tem- perature; minimum tonight about 28. Temperatures today—Highest, 39, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 28, at § Prom the United States Wi Full details on Page A-2. Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales, Page 11. m. tner sureau report 88th YEAR. No. 35,046. Artillery Reaches Trondheim to Bolster Defense By the Associated Press. BERLIN, April 13.—German positions in Norway are being! strengthened by the hour with reinforcements reaching Oslo “in large numbers” and with German heavy artillery reaching Trondheim to strengthen the coast defenses, German sources reported today. German occupation troops east of Narvik, Far Northern Norwegian ore port, have taken possession of the rail line to the Swedish border, DNB, official German news agency, said. Germans stated positions through- out Norway were being consolidated, with special attention to air defense. Germany reported that Britain was hammering away at German positions on the Norwegian coast, but doing so ineffectively, losing 12 planes yesterday, while the Ger- mans were losing only two. * Deny Landing Tried by British. ‘The Germans said the British had | not attempted to land anywhere in | Norway. The most effective British raid, | German sources indicated, was at Stavanger, where the bombers came in waves, but were met promptly by a strong German anti-aircraft fire. Reports from German quarters | said that only one English plane penetrated the air barrage far enough to drop effective bombs. One bomb burst near a barracks occupied by Germans. skightly in- Juring three soldiers eating lunch, according to reports in Berlin. The British lost eight planes in an ineffectual assault on the Ger- man-held Norwegian port of Bergen, the high command asserted, and later DNB said that two additional planes were destroyed in this action. Troops Reach Hogeland. The army also reported shooting down a plane at Oslo and another at Narvik. Dispatches reaching Berlin at the | same time said German troops marching northward from Kristian- sand, on the south coast of Norway, had reached Hageland, which is about 20 miles airline north of Kris- tiansand, They reported there were no en- counters with Norwegian troops. Germany, meanwhile, took over Norwegian ships in Norwegian har- bors occupied by German forces and German crews were placed aboard the vessels, DNB announced. Downed Planes Identified. DBN said the downed British planes included Vickers-Wellington, Hampden-Hereford and Lockheed- Hudson types. The Bergen battle presumably ‘was the same as that in which DBN last night reported the destruction of eight of Britain’s most modern bombers. DBN also reported that British planes raided the Arctic Norwegian port of Narvik yesterday. DBN said effective anti-aircraft defense by the German forces prevented air bombs 1fbm doing any damage and made another attack impossible. Text of Communique. ‘The high command communique follows: “Conditions in Norway further im- proved during the course of April 12 after the arrival on schedule of ad- ditional reinforcements. German troops in the region of Narvik kept busy expanding the occupied terri- tories and protecting militarily im- portant points in the neighborhood. “The British made no attempt to land anywhere. An air raid the (8ee BERLIN, Page A-10.) Japanese Planes Atfack Chinese 'Lifeline’ By the Associated Press. HONG KONG, April 13.—War- planes of the Japanese Army and Navy combined today in intensified attacks on the southwestern “life- line” supply route of free China. ‘The Japanese said that key points along the highway, which runs from the border of French Indo-China to Kweiyang in Kweichow Province, ‘were bombed heavily and that mili- tary establishments along it were destroyed. The Japanese consider this high- way the principal route for war materials for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s forces since recent at- tacks have lessened traffic on the Yunnan Railway, an alternate “lifeline.” Claim Japanese Ship Damaged. CHUNGKING, April 13 (#).—Chi- nese dispatches today said Chinese bombing planes had damaged a Jap- anese warship, causing more than 100 casualties, in a raid yesterday at Yochow, on the Upper Yangtze River, in Hunan Province. ‘The Chinese also declared their planes had sunk 20 other Japanese craft—presumably launches or pmn- naces—dr a Christ of the Andes The Star will present the Crossrodds Theater Players in 8 play of peace, “Christ of the Andes” to be broadcast over WMAL at 7:30 p.m. The radio production hails Pan-American week. “Th'i- it another in the series 'ms designed for student &_z::;. sponsored by The Star 1€ CO- i Bumrd operation of the af Educati . B Proesioonis o e Seen Spreading Into down on their control of Oslo. register with the Nazi-controlled that the Germans could hold Oslo— with its powerful fortresses on the fjords—Ilonger than any other place in Norway and thgt restrictions on news communications would become increasingly severe. We had to choose between the probability of being isolated in Oslo for many months and an immediate dash for the frontier. But the Oslo-Stock- holm railroad service had already been disrupted and now we learned | that trains to Gothenburg would run no longer. The defending Nor- | wegians were reported to have blown } up bridges on both lines. By great good luck and the win- | @ Tens of Thousands More Nazis Reinforce Control of Oslo New Units Arrive by Sea Transport; Columns By LELAND STOWE, Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent, GOTHENBURG, April 13.—With the arrival of tens of thou- sands of German reinforcements by sea transport on Thursday night, the Nazis, operating at desperate speed, began to clamp Oslo had been flooded with German staff officers, with Nazi civil- ian organizers and with an unmistakable group of Gestapo agents. Yesterday morning it was announced that all foreigners must jects must register immediately and all Americans on Monday. By yesterday, too, it was evident&- —— WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1940—THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. British Bomb Nazis at Stavanger; New Positions Taken in Norway, Countryside In two days’ time our hotel in police, British and French sub- ning warmth of a bright-eyed woman’s smile, Warren Irvin (N. B. C. correspondent) and I reached the Swedish frontier at 8:30 o'clock last night after riding through and around German advancing troops for 41 hours. We. had been told that it was im- | possible to get through, but this particular Jeremiah underestimated the calm nerves and the smile of the lady who volunteered to drive our car. He also underestimated two other factors—the knowledge of Norwegian roads possessed by the lady’s male escorts and the unfailing (See STOWE, Page A-3.) Sweden Preparing To Make Fight For Neutrality Airfields Are Packed With Automobiles to Bar Plane Landings By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, April 13.—Sweden made urgent preparations today to fight, if necessary, in defense of her neutrality while German troops and warplanes strengthened the Nazi hold on Norway. Along the southern Swedish coast, airfields were packed with parked taxicabs “and other automobiles to prevent airplanes from landing. Throughout the country, bomb shelters hastily are being con- structed and vehicles are being con- verted for burning charcoal in order to save precious gasoline, Premier Gives Warning. The “man in the street,” having heard Premier Pehr Albin Hans- son’s broadcast warning last night of Sweden’s precarious position, ap- parently is resolved to back up his| declaration that the country will| maintain its neutraiity, no matter| at what sacrifice. Premier Hansson declared there had been no demand on Sweden for use of her territory “by any bel- ligerent nation,” but that “if such a demand should ever be made, Sweden would have to refuse to com- ply with it.” “Since war now has been brought to Sweden’s door, she must even in- tensify her military preparations,” he declared. “This explains why the Swedish government during the past days has taken certain additional measures.” Germans Break Through. In Norway, meanwhile, a German force broke through Norwegian de- fenses between Moss, 35 miles south of Oslo, and Holen, 10 miles closer to the capital. Since the Germans were advancing toward Oslo, they were presumed to be newly-landed troops pushing up the shore of Oslo Fjord to join the invaders’ expedi- tionary army. Advices reaching here said the German advance caught the Nor- wegians by surprise and they had no time to meet it. Defense troops, holding positions along the narrow fjord, had estab- lished a semi-circular line from Moss to Holen, east to Mysen, north- ward east of the River Glommen and Lake Oieren to . Romerike, thence southward to Tyri Fjord and Vikesund, which is about 30 miles west of Oslo, * Fortifications were being thrown up in the valleys to the northwest to bolster the ring. Bridge Dynamited. The German advance from Moss was said to have been accomplished in commandeered buses and auto- mobiles and to have been impeded, (See SWEDEN, Page A-10.) Indian on Way to Capital Dies in Auto Collision By the Associated Press. BEDFORD, Pa, April 13—An automobile collision yesterday killed one of four South Dakota Indians en route to Washington to testify before the House Indian Affairs Committee. John Whitewolf, 72, of Pine Ridge, S. Dak,, died of a skull fracture six} hours after the car in which he was riding crashed into another operated by Cal Leonard, 50, Bedford. The mishap occurred 12 miles west of here when State Motor Policeman E. R. Rowan said the South Dakota machine tried to pass & truck and skidded into Mr. Leonard’s car, which (To Allow Return of 3 was traveling in the opposite direc- tion. Two other Indians were injured in the collision. The Indians were to appear in Washington as representatives of various tribes in the Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakots. l Belligerents Asked U. S. Ships in Norway British, German and Norse Governments Get Notifications: By GARNETT D. HORNER. The United States today asked Greut Britain, Germany and Nor- way to co-operate in efforts of three American freighters to return safely to this country from Norwegian ports where they were caught in the new war zone “The Government of the United States expects that every assistance will be given each of these vessels to proceed safely through mine fields and that they will not be molested in any way by any belligerent naval unit,” Berlin, London and Oslo offi- cials were intormed. Secretary of State Hull announced this action at his press conference and also indicated disapproval of tentative proposals for transfer of numerous Danish and Norwegian ships to American registry. No Registry Question Yet. Mr. Hull said the question of reg- istry transfer had not come before him officially as yet, and explained that decision probably would depend on different factors in each particu- lar case. He added that he did not have in mind any proposed transfer of foreign vessels to the United States flag that this Government would look on with any special favor, The American vessels trapped in the center of heavy naval fighting following the surprise German in- vasion of Norway are the Flying Fish and the Charles R. McCormick, last reported unloading at Bergen, and the Mormascea, reported at Trond- heim. . American Ambassadors in Berlin and London and the Legation at Oslo were instructed by the State Departmen: to notify the German, British and ilorwegian governments that the vessels were expected to start their return voyages to the United States at any time. “En route they will fly ihe United States flag,” the belligerent govern- ments were informed, “and have the flag conspicuously painted on their sides and at night they will proceed fully lighted.” ‘The time of departure has been left entirely to the discretion of each old, Germans Claim + Damage Believed Done to Plane And Hangar BULLETIN. BRUSSELS, April 13 (#).—The Belgian Army today placed mili- tary guards on all government . offices, radio stations and air fields in or near Brussels. An official spokesman said this was done ‘“because of the general tension.” By the Associated Press. LONDON, April 13.—British warplanes bombed the German- held Southwestern Norwegian port of Stavanger today, a Brit- ish announcement said. The announcement said it was be- lieved that extensive damage was done to a hangar and one aircraft. It added that the rear gunner of one British plane, although wounded, shot down an enemy fighter plane in flames. A communique said: “During this morning aircraft of the coastal eommand reconnoitered the aerodrome at Stavanger. Salvoes of heavy bombs were dropped and it is believed that extensive damage was done to a hangar and an air- craft on which mechanics were seen working. “One of our aircraft was repeated- ly attacked by a twin-engined en- emy fighter, which fired several bursts at very close range. The rear gunner of the British aircraft, al- though wounded, continued to fire until the enemy fighter went down in flames.” Loss of 11 Planes Admitted. Britain earlier acknowledged the loss of 11 bombing planes in at- tempts to dislodge German troops from Norwegian ports and destroy torn northern waters. British fyers succeeded, the Brit. ish said. in blowing up a munitions warehouse at the German-held port of Bergen, machine-gunning a de- stroyer and a motor torpedo boat, bombing German transport and sup- ply ships, and shooting down four German Messerschmitt fighters. Two more of these Nazi planes were believed to have been destroyed and others damaged, the Air Ministry added. Flying Boat Damaged. Simultaneously British sources said today a Royal Air Force plane had damaged a German Dornier flying boat and raked a German destroyer with hundreds of rounds of machine-gun fire in a battle in the North Sea. Diving through a snowstorm, this report said, the pilot of a coast com- mand bomber opened fire at 1,500 feet and swept the decks of the de- stroyer until he was only 500 feet above her. The plane was said to have at- tacked the flying boat immediately afterward and to have reported it lost height with both engines afire and with only a bare chance of reaching land. One shot pierced the British plane’s gasoline tank. “Fuel was escaping rapidly, and with half the North Sea to cross they turned westward to begin a race against the leaking tank,” the authorized account said. “With accurate navigation and careful nursing of the petrol con- sumption, the aircraft returned safely.” B The aqtivities of Britain’s power- ful navy;, whose actions are neces- sarily bigger and slower, were clothed, for the moment, in secrecy. Official announcements dealt only with actions of the air force yes- terday. The British announced that eight warplanes were lost in bomber at- tacks on fleeing German ships, mostly in Kristiansand Fjord on the Skagerrak, hgainst “strong opposi- tion.” Two more planes were lost at sea on the way home, the Admir- alty said. Still another plane was lost in a forced landing in the attack on Bergen. (Berlin asserted that the Brit- ish lost 10 planes in the attack on Bergen, and that the Germans captain, the department said, but as lost twe there. The Germans said ) (See HULL, Page A-3.) (See LONDON, Page A-10.) Summary of Page. Amusements, B-16 Church News, A-13-15 Comics ._B-14-15 Editorials Finance Garden Page. Lost, Found..B-9 Obituary ___A-10 Radio Real Estate B-1-9 Serial Story..B-7 Society . Foreign 10 British planes shot down, Ger- mans declare. Page A-1 Sweden prepares to fight for neu- trality. Page A-1 British bomb Nazi-held Norwegian port of Stavanger, Page A-1 British hold Danish ships of “enemy character.” Page A-10 Allied and Polish envoys leave Page A-2 Crisis looms in Rumanian-German trade relations. Page A-3 Italian fleet to begin maneuvers Monday. Page A-3 Nazi raid on Rhine isle repulsed, say French. Page A-3 National Dies says Russia and Germany plot Mexican revolution. Page A-1 Today’s Star Norway’s envoy scorns Nazi party in home country. Page A-1 Police investigating explosion at Harvard street home. Page A-1 Engineer had rejected plans for burned building. Page A-16 Editorial and Comment This and That. Answers to Questions. Letters to The Star. David Lawrence. Alsop and Kintner, G. Gould Lincoln. Constantine Brown, Jay Franklin, Sports Poll rates Red Sox close on heels of Yankees, Page A-16 Cubs to “put up” with Diz Dean so long as he wins. Page A-16 Winter racing theory faces test in Kentucky Derby. Page A-16 Astor Clarke's sudden blowup stirs pin devotees here. Page A-17 A-8 A-8 A-8 A-9 A-9 A-9 A-9 A-9 Page Miscellany Dorothy Dix. Barbara Bell Pattern. Needlework. Page A-7 Page A-7 Page ‘A-7 $93,000,000 increase in defense budgets indicated. Page A-3 Roosevelt silence untikafter G. O. P. conyention seen. Page A-5 Washington and Vicinity Weather fails to halt blossom fes- tival tonight. A~ * Vital Statistics. Nature's Children. Bedtime Story. Letter-Out. Winning Contract. Uncle. Ray’s Corner. Cross-Word Puszle, Bervice Orders. Page B-7 Page B-8 Page B-14 | THeY Say | DONT BUT DID ANYTHING SCANDINAVIA ? FORERGN AFFAIRS, ER WELLES KNOW. 8OUT Y g ‘\\ ; T 5 \“l\\{\d‘ (/\ r(l‘\ l,vl\ Bt 1 Envoy Here Derides Norwegian Nazis’ Efforts to Rule Minister Scornful of Quisling Group; Talks With Roosevelt By JOHN C. HENRY. Scornful denunciation of efforts of the Norwegian Nazi party to set up a new government under German domination was expressed by Wil- helm Munthe de Morgenstierne, Norwegian Minister to the United States, after a conference with Pres- German naval vessels in the war-|ident Roosevelt at the White House today. Giving no information on his visit vith the Chief Executive, Mr. Mor- genstierne told reporters he has not been in direct communication with his government since the German invasion. Thus far, he said, he has | received only fragmentary informa- tion by way of Stockhelm. Until such time as more normal conditions are established, he said he would act on his own judgment here. The Minister said he would like to emphasize very strongly, how- ever, that Norway still has only one legal constitutional government— namely, that headed by the King and functioning through a Parlia- ment elected by the Norwegian people. Nazis Never Elected a Member. For years, he said, the Norwegian Nazi party has tried to elect mem- bers to the Parliament, but has never succeeded. The pseudo government announced at Oslo under leadership of Maj. Quisling, Nazi leader, is en- tirely without power and without any public support, he added. Since the invasion, the Minister continued, the duly elected Nor- wegian Parliament of 150 members has recorded itself unanimously in approval of the government of Prime Minister Nygaartsvolt. Mr. Morgenstierne said he was consulting daily with the Danish Minjster here, Henrik de Kauffmann. To See Red Cross Head. Disclosing yesterday that he had requested the American Red Cross to prepare to send aid to Green- land, a Danish possession now cut off from its mother country, Mr. Roosevelt arranged a meeting today with Red Cross Chairman Norman H. Davis. Another appointment at the White House today was for Assistant Sec- retary of State Breckinridge Long. Mr. Long has jurisdiction over fiscal affairs and appropriation needs of the State Department. Planning to attend the semi-an- nual Gridiron Club dinner tonight, Mr. Roosevelt left this afternoon free to work .on a speech for the occasion. British Further Reduce Supplies of Paper By the Associated Press. LONDON, April 13.—A new paper control order, effective at midnight tonight, was announced by the Min- istry of Economic Warfare today. The new order wili reduce the amount of paper supplied by mills to customers during March, April and May of this year by from 60 per cent to 30 per cent of the amounts supplied during thattperiod in 1939. The German invasion of Norway has already had an adverse effect on the shipments of newsprint to England. The News Chronicle, for example, announced that it and other papers would be reduced to 10 pages ginning Monday, with further reductions expected in the near future. Newsprint prices are nearly double the pre-war rate and may rise again Monday. Three German Vessels Taken to British Ports By the Associated Press. LONDON, April 13.—Three Ger- man ships, captured by the British Navy off the Norwegian coast, were taken into northern ports today, manned by British prize crews. The ships were all trawlers, the 393-ton Nordland, the 344-ton Blank- enburg and the 247-ton Friesland. U. S. Envoy Back in Moscow MOSCOW, April 13 (#)—+United States Ambassador Lasurence A, Steinhardt returned to Moscow to- day from a 16-day tour of southern Guns Menace Finnish Children Fleeing Oslo By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, April 13.—Seventy- odd Finnish children, among those | removed to Oslo when Soviet Russia invaded Finland, reached Sweden to- day with a story of harrowing flight from German-invaded Norway. Guards at a bridge at Sarpsborg, near where the Commern River empties into Oslo Fjord, fired through the windows of their buses and cars and wounded one child in an attempt to stop them. They sped to safety pust as the bridge was blown up. Identity of the guards was not disclosed. Cold Weather Fails 'To Halt Blossom Festival Tonight Trains, Buses and Autos Pour Visitors Into Capital for Week End Despite winter's sudden and un- invited return, the Executive Com- mittee of the Cherry Blossom Festi- val decided today to go ahead with the festival program tonight. An inspection this morning dis- closed that the cold weather and wind had damaged 25 per cent of the fully-opened blossoms on the trees lining the Tidal Basin, but the committee said there are enough blossoms “to put on a good show.” “So we decided to start tonight, come what may,” Festival Com- mittee Chairman Edgar Morris re- ported. “But next year,” he added, “we're going to have the Weather Bureau on our committee.” Excursion trains, buses and auto- mobiles continued to pour visitors into the Capital and the week-end total was expected to be between 100,000 and 200,000. Metropolitan and Park Police were girding themselves for the peak pe- riod of traffic in the Tidal Basin area, due to begin this afternoon and continue through tomorrow. Postponed yesterday because of in- clement weather, the festival is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., when the Metropolitan Police Boys’ Club Band assembles at the edge of the Basin for a concert under direction of Clifton Brown, jr. ‘The program calls for the 1940 cherry blossom queen, Miss Rose Collifiower, to make her first official appearance at 7:30 pm. tonight in her “royal barge” the well-known swan boat. The ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every craft will be towed by eight surf boats, manned by Red Cross swim- mers and escorted by eight bedecked paddle boats containing two pretty girls each and eight canoes, the oc- cupants of which will carry flares. The queen is to receive her dia- dem at 7:50 o'clock from Engineer Commissioner McCoach after taking (See FESTIVAL, Page A-3.) Cromwell Will Enfer Senafe Race Next Week By the Associated Press. KINGSVILLE, Ont., April 13— James H. R. Cromwell, United States Minister to Canada, said yesterday he expects to go to New Jersey on Tuesday or Wednesday to enter formally the primary race for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator. ‘The seat is held by Senator War- ren Barbour, & Republican and a candidate for re-election. Mr. Crom- well has not abandoned his pro- Jjected tour of Canada, starting in June, he added. News of to 21, inclusive— Mail—Postage Prepaid Canada Foreign =_____ iy .evenln( and Sunday morning. THREE CENTS. Police Investigate Mysterious Blast In House Vestibule Hole Blown in Concrete Floor, Door Torn Off; Owner Was Away (Pictures on Page A-2.) Police today were investigating a mysterious explosion at 1324 Harvard street N.W. shortly after midnight last night that blasted a hole in a 6- inch concrete vestibule floor, blew the front door from its hinges and shattered window panes in houses 100 yards away. Residents of the entire neighbor- hood were awakened by the shock and the noise was heard by several persons more than a mile away, police said. A crowd of several hun- dred gathered at the scene. No one was injured. The owner of the house, Mrs. Edna Holland, history teacher in Armstrong High School; was away at the time. Other occupants, including Mrs. Mary Miles, Mrs. Holland's mother, were in the rear of the three-story brick structure and escaped unharmed. Lt. John Fowler, one of the in- vestigating policemen, said that the blast could not have been from gas. Detectives declined to comment as to what caused the explosion, but several noted that the type of per- cussion was similar to that found in dynamite blasts. No Explanation. Mrs. Holland, who said that she was on the way home from a church recital when the explosion occurred, could offer no explanation. “I don’t know anything or any- body that might have caused it,” she declared this morning. “Of course, we are the only colored fam- iy in this-block, but I don’t think that had anything to do with it.” All of the window panes in the front of the Holland residence were blown out, a window casing near the first-floor entrance was demolished and plaster in front rooms was shak- en from the ceilings. Mrs. Holland said the residence had been re- modelled since her family moved in about two months ago. Several neighbors asserted that they were all but thrown out of bed by the percussion. Mrs. Herman Fleck, wife of an attache of the German Embassy, who lives at 1326 next door, said that she was in a front room, listen- ing to the radio and had dozed off to sleep when she was awakened by the shock. “I had been listening to so many war broadcasts,” she said, “that I thought at first it was part of & radio program or that the radio itself had exploded.” Blast Knocks Man Down. No one could be found who had witnessed the blast. But Wallace Bragg, a gasoline station operator, who was entering his residence at 1323 across Harvard street, when it occurred, said he was thrown from his feet and showered with glass from broken windows. Mr. Bragg said he ran across the street, noting that all lights seemed to be on at 1324, and tried to rouse the occupants. There was no re- sponse, he added, so he turned in a fire alarm. His wife, meanwhile, telephoned police. Front windows of nearly every house were shattered along Harvard street’s 1300 block and some on Thirteenth street. Residents, long after curious crowds had dwindled, were busy cov- ering glassless windows with blank- ets, boards and other means -of shutting out the subfreezing early morning wind. D. A R Full reports of the D. A. R. Convention, April 14 U. S., Mexico and hoaladic s sl 1) . Leave orders with Star representative at Constitu- tion Hall or The Evening Star office, 11th St. and Pa. Ave. N.W. R;is, Nazis Plot Mexico Revolt, Dies Charges Communists in U. S. Plan Recruiting Drive, He Says By the Associated Press. Chairman Dies of the House Com= mittee on Un-American Activities said today he had information that Russia and Germany were plotting to bring on a revolution in Mexico and set up a puppet government on the doorstep of the United States. Representative Dies told reporters that Communist Russia was keeping alive, for use in a Mexican upheaval, “the same organizations” which functioned in the Spanish Civil War, This information, the Texan de- clared, constituted one of the rea- sons why his committee was ques- tioning veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, an organization of Americans who fought for the Bar- celona government in Spain. Dies said 5,000 to 6,000 Americans were recruited by Communists for the brigade, and that a military force of similar strength “might turn the decision” in Mexico. He was informed, he added, that Com- munist organizations in the United States were prepared to begin a new recruiting drive for a Mexican coup. Senators Informants. The committee head said his in- formants included “elective officials” in Mexico and “one or two United States Senators,” all of whose names he withheld. Among the things they told ‘him, he declared, was that 10,- 000 Communists already had moved into Mexico from Spain and France, Pending hearings on this subject before his committee, which was in recess today, Mr. Dies called on the Justice Department to “be prepared to deter any-attempts to recruit for this Mexican campaign.” Anthony Demaio of Hartford, Conn., a former officer in the Lin- coln Brigade, refused at the com- mittee’s hearing yesterday to tell anything about the passport he used. Other witnesses told of executions and brutality against Americans in the brigade. William C. McCuistion of Frederick, Md. said he saw “Demaio kill two men” in a Barce- lona cafe. Amends Statement. Mr. McCuistion later amended this | statement, saying one of the two died on the spot and the other was moved to a hospital, where he pre- sumed he died. ‘The man who died instantly, Mr. McCuistion said, was an American named Mathews and the other was a Canadian named Moran. Both were “stragglers” from the army, he added, and Demaio was engaged in rounding up deserters. Demaio denied before the com- mittee he ever knew either man. Mrs. Walter Selby of Chestertown, Md., testified her son Vernon went to Spain in September, 1937, but failed to return. She said she had not been able to find out what hap- pened to him. She said she received letters on stationery bearing the name of the Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade urging her not to worry about her son. Says Selby Was Wounded. John Honeycombe, who said he was a Los Angeles Communist, tes- tified he was with young Selby in Spain and at one time the latter had a shrapnel wound in his shoul- der. ) The witness said he later was ar- rested March 17 without charge, along with Selby, and both were returned to the front lines. Twenty- two of these American prisoners were taken to the battle lines under guard and without arms, Honey- combe added. At the front, Honeycombe said, the American prisoners were given little food and were denied adequate pro- tection. In addition, he said, “the most terrific sadistic pressure” was exerted on the men. The witness said he had heard that Selby was taken from the camp— Castle Defells—near Barcelona—and “murdered by these sadists.” Actor Meredith's First Wife Found Dead From Gas By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 13.—Helen Derby, 34, divorced first wife of Burgess Meredith, stage and screen actor, was found dead in the gas- filled kitchen of her Washington Square apartment early today. Police said she had written a will on a calendar pad and closed with these words: ‘“Feeling fine except for fumes. (Signed) H.” She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Derby of Montclair, N. J. Her father is president and a director of the American Cyana- mid and Chemical Corp., and an officer of several other firms. Miss Derby and Mr. Meredith were divorced in 1935. She previousiy had been married to Stephen Ber- rien in 1926. Her body, fully clothed, was found on the floer by Ruth Ringheim, governess for Miss Derby’s 12-year- old daughter. A police emergency crew failed to revive her. Officers of the Mercer Street Sta= tion said they learned Miss Derby had been depressed last night féle lowing receipt of a letter from & Kenneth Frank on stationery of the Carlton Hotel, Washington, stating that her social ideals were too liberal and that they should end their friendship. Stolen $16,120 Recovered MONESSEN," Pa., April 13 (#)— Mrs. Teresa Kovacic frantically summoned police and reported s roomer had stolen $16,120 in cash. Three officers decided to search ler house before seizing the roomer. It didn’t take long to find the cash, but they spent all afternoon count- ing to make sure it all was there,