Evening Star Newspaper, April 24, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Partly cloudy; lowest about 38 tonight; tomorrow fair; slightly warmer in after- noon; moderate winds. Temperatures today—Highest, 50, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 46, at 6 am. From the United States Weather Bur eport Full details on Page A-l“n i ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every evening and Sunday morning. ch WASHINGTON, 'D. C, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1940—THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. #%* == Che Foening Star 88th YEAR. No. 35,037. K Germans Reported Embarking In Baltic Opposite Sweden; British Raid Five Nazi Bases L Icebreaker Fleet Hints Operations Far to North By the Associated Press. PARIS, April 24—A spokesman for the French War Ministry said today German troops and arms were being embarked aboard transport ships accompanied by icebreakers at German ports on the Baltic Sea across from Sweden. ‘The embarkations were interpreted by the spokesman as an “evident menace” to Sweden following the German invasions of Norway and Denmark. The possibility that the German force was intended simply to rein- force the Nazi expeditionary corps in the Oslo secfor of Southern Nor- way was not excluded by the spokes- man, but he pointed out that the scene of action made this unlikely. The Germans were said to be By the Axtociated Press LONDON, April 24 —The Wester- land Airdrome on the German island of Sylt was subjected to “‘an almost continuous. bombardment for one hour and 40 minutes, during last night’s air raid, an authorita- tive British source said today. The War Office announced that British troops in the- Trondheim area had beaten off a strong Ger- man counter-attack “after some sharp fighting” yesterday and had re-established their lines. The Sylt raid was one of a series massing at ports directly opposite | of five reported by the Air Ministry, Southern Sweden and well to the east of the Danish Straits through which transports for Norway would pass. The presence of icebreakers also was taken to indicate the fleet | was - destined to operate farther North in the Baltic where the waters still are cluttered with ice floes left Jater than usual by the long, hard winter. French military sources have ex- | pressed belief that the Germans may | g0 into Sweden to bolster their Nor- | wegian campaign. The allied Supreme War Council yesterday drafted plans to counter- act any such, action. American War Refugees Arrive in Stockholm By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, April 24.—A group | of American war-zone refugees, es- | corted by Lt. Comdr. Ole O. Hagen, United States naval atteche at Oslo, reached here today from Nor- | way. Among those in the party were | Mrs. Raymond E. Cox, wife of the first secertary of the American Le- gation in Oslo, and her son; Mrs. Thormod O. Klath, wife of the Lega- tion’s commercial attache, and child; Mrs. Austin R. Preston, wife of the Consul at Oslo, and child; Mrs. Easton T. Kelsey, wife of the Vice Consul; Prof. Andreas Ronhove, his wife and two children. Mrs. Florence Jaffray Harriman, Minister to Norway, arrived last night, announcing she planned to remain in Stockholm until the sit- uation is cleared. Mrs. Hagen ar- rived from Oslo this morning. The body of Capt. Robert M. Losey, 31-year-old assistant military attache at Stockholm, who was killed in a German bombing raid at Dom- bas. Norway, on Sunday, will ar- rive here at 9 am. tomorrow. A | delegation from the American Le- | gation will meet the train. British Invite Soviet To Propose Trade Pact By the Associated Press. LONDON, April 24.—Britain has invited Russia to put forward con- crete proposals for a trade agree- ment, having regard to Britain’s paramount object of preventing war supplies from reaching Germany, the government informed the House of Commons today. This report was made by R. A. Butler, undersecretary for foreign affairs, who added that no date had been fixed for the return of the Brtish ambassador, Sir William Seeds, to Moscow. The ambassador returned to London several weeks ago on leave. Mr. Butler also said the status of Greenland, a colony of German- occupied Denmark, was “receiving consideration” by both Britain and Canada. Capt. Harold H. Balfour, under- secretary of state for air, announced that “recent developments” had made it necessary to divert airplanes intended for British transatlantic service to “certain defense services,” but added that “every effort” would be made to reopen service “as soon as circumstances permitted.” Ohio River to Reach Crest Today With Little Damage By the Assoctated Press. CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 24— The Ohio River was expected to erest here today, leaving a muddy trail 500 miles long, but little dam- nge. Weather Bureau observers pre- Bicted the river would reach a 60- foot stage, 8 feet above the flood fevel, by noon and then remain stationary at the crest for 24 hours before starting its runout. Most of the damage was caused by flash floods in tributaries of the Ohio. Huntington, W. Va., lay snug behind its uncompleted flood wall, where last year’s flood forced 3,000 people from their homes. Woman, Child Reported Killed in Aalborg Raid By the Associated Press. AALBORG, Denmark, April 24— Authorities in German-occupied Denmark today reported the first Deanish civilian air yaid casualties— & woman and child who, they said, were killed by bomb splinters in a British air raid on the Aalborg air- drome Sunday. The announcement said three British planes were shot down in the the others being on the German airdrome at Aalborg, Denmark, and the German-occupied airfields at Stavanger, Kristiansand and Oslo, Norway. Sylt Airdrome Is Bombarded For Hour and 40 Minutes Foe's Counter-Attacks in Trondheim Area Beaten Off, Lines Re-established, London Says The British account said that dur- ing the raid on Stavanger Airdrome “about 20 enemy aircraft were heavily bombed” and a number were believed destroyed or badly dam- aged. Raiders Evade Barrage. The raiders at Kristiansand con- centrated on airdromes and runways and evaded a “barrage sent up by ground defenses,” it was said. Bomb bursts were observed and confirmed on the edge of the run- way, between the runway and hangars, and one salvo “exploded within 50 yards of the main hang- ars.” “Offensive reconnaissance” was reported carried out over Trond- heim Fjord. A Reuters (British news agency) dispatch from Stockholm said Brit- ish and Norwegian anti-aircraft (See LONDON, Page A-3) Norse and Allies Locked With Nazis On Three Fronts Guerrillas Harassing Invaders; Swedes Order German Ships Away By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, April 24—Out- breaks of guerrilla fighting around Oslo were reported today to be han- dicapping the German invaders of Norway behind the lines while Nazi shock troops were, locked in a death struggle with British, French and Norwegian regulars on three major fronts. Swedish newspaper correspondents said the rattle of machine-gun fire had been heard frequently in Oslo suburbs in the last few days as Nor- wegian irregulars, defying an edict providing the death penalty for pos- session of weapons, harassed the Germans with hit-and-run tactics. Battle Outcome Unknown. The principal topic of conversa- tion in Sweden, meanwhile, was fur- nished by mounting evidence that a naval engagement — possibly of major proportions—had been fought yesterday in the Skagerrak. The outcome of the action was clouded by conflicting reports, but Swedish circles speculated that the British fleet had made a determined effort to close the sea route by which Germany has been pouring rein- forcements into Norway. Determined to avoid involvement in the war raging at her very door- step, Sweden continued to take ac- tive steps to prevent infringement on her neutral status. Five German minesweepers, reported active in Swedish waters in the Skagerrak, were summarily asked to leave—and eon‘mncd immediately. Fighting North of Oslo. While allied land forces were re- ported continuing their attempts to pinch off the German-occupied ports of Trohheim and Narvik, on Nor- way's west coast, the bitterest fight- ing appeared today to be raging in the vicinity of Lillehammer and Rena, some 80 miles north of Oslo. The two towns are strategically important because they are situated at the southern entrances to the parallel Gudbrandsdal and Oster- dal Valleys, gateways for attack on Oslo from the north. Lillehammer also is important be- cause it is on the railway running northwest to the British debarka- tion port of Andalsnes, while Rena, 30 miles east, is on the line con- necting with Tronheim. The Norwegians, reinforced by British troops, were reported to be putting up stiff resistance at both points, Dispatches to the Swedish news- paper Dagens Nyheter said the Ger- mans were advancing slowly at House Unit Backs Bill To License Foreign Securifies Sales Measure Would Clarify President’s Power to ‘Freeze’ Assets Here By the Associated Press. The House Banking Committee, acting with unusual speed, unani- | mously recommended today legis-§ lation to clarify the President's| power to require licensing of trans- actions in securities of foreign | governments and their nationals. Chairman Steagall said the leg- islation was requested after New ‘York attorneys questioned the Pres- ident’s authority to impose the li- censing requirement with reference to stocks and bonds owned by Dan- ish and Norwegian nationals. Pres- ident Ruosevelt issued an executive order on April 10 freezing Nor- weglan and Danish assets in this country and requiring licenses for future transactions affecting them. The Senate Banking Committee, also seeking to expedite the legis- lation, arranged meanwhile to con- sider it at a midafterncon meeting. Glass Backs Proposal. Senator Glass, Democrat, of Vir- ginia, a committee member, said he had conferred with Secretary Mor- genthau regarding the proposal. He added: “I am one of those impossible persons who believes that we should | kesp Germany from getting any of | the property of those invaded coun- tries—do it right if we can; do it wrong if we must.” Meanwhile, Senators crossed swords today over a politically-attractive bill authorizing $231,090,050 for 141 river and harbor projects throughout the country. The legislation was taken up as the Senate received from the House a measure—approved without dis- sent—to promote Army officers auto- matically after specified terms of service, > Democratic Leader Barkley told reporters that “there are a lot of controversies” in the rivers and harbors bill and that several days’ debate might be required. A num- ber of Senators are making de- termined efforts to obtain improve- ments within their States. Memorial Service Today. The House set aside all business today for a memorial service honor- ing 20 members of Congress who died during the last year. They are: Senators Logan, Democrat, of Kentucky and Borah, Republican, of Idaho; Representatives Lord, Re- publican, of New York; Owen, Democrat, of Georgia; Griswold, Republican, of Wisconsin; McRey- nolds, Democrat, of Tennessee; Eaton, Republican, of California; McMillan, Democrat, of South Carolina; Bolton, Republican, of (See STOCKHOLM, Page A-3) Summary of Page. Amusements, B-18 Comics . B-16-17 Editorials .. A-10 Finance . .A-17 Lost, Found, B-11 Foreign Italian attitude is growing sharper toward Britain. Page A-1 British raid 5 Nazi bases in Germany, Denmark and Norway. Page A-1 Norse and allies locked with Nasis on three fronts. Page A-1 Nazi troops reported embarking from Baltic ports. Page A-1 All South Norway from Stavanger to Oslo held, say Nazis. Page A-2 Chinese claim recapture of Kaifeng. Page A-3 National House group approves foreign securi- ties legislation, Page A-1 Guffey widening lead over Jones in Senate race. A-1 Fire takes 212 lives at Natchez (Miss.) Dance Hall. Page A-2 Secrecy shrouds Roosevelt talks with Mackenzie King. Page A-4 Washington and Vicini raid and the crew of one was taken | Twi prisoner. 0 colored youths ess Sirkis Page A-2 | .| . B. I. probes shooting of sentry at (See CONGRESS, Page A-3.) Today’s Star Quantico. Page A-2 Union conspiracy trial starts.in Dis- trict Court. Page B-1 Restoration of underpass funds sought by Overton. Page B-1 Editorial and Comment This and That. Answers to Questions. Letters to The Star. David Lawrence. Alsop and Kintner. Frederic Willlam Wile, Charles G. Ross. Constantine Brown. Sports Pilots see A’s and Bees factors in a few years. Page A-13 Mickey Harris, victor over Nats, bolsters Red Sox. Page A-13 Old-style starting barrier seen likely for Derby. Page A-15 Jack Talbert notches 448 all-time city pin tourney set. Page A-16 Miscellany Service Orders. Nature’s Children. Vital Statistics. Page A-10 Page A-10 Page A-10 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-6 Page A-6 | Garner, 3, and Senator Wheeler, 1. Page B-§ Page B-16 Page B-16 Page B-16 Page B-11 PageB-17 i Bedtime Story. Letter-Out. Winning Contract. Uncle Ray's Corner. | Cross-Word Puzzle. Guffey Beating Jongs in Senate Race by 80,000 Senator Has 350,481 To 271,454; Roosevelt Gets 438,069 By the Associzted Press. PHILADELPHIA, April 24.—8en- ator Guffey, leading by 80,000 votes, apparently won a factional fight for the Democratic senatorial nomina- tion today in the Pennsylvania pri- mary, which also produced a heavy vote for President Roosevelt. Senator Guffey’s majority over Walter A. Jones, Pittsburgh oilman, who was supported by Democratic State Chairman David L. Lawrence, mounted by the hour as late re- turns from yesterday’s voting trick- led in. Mr. Roosevelt, whose name was entered by the State committee on the presidential preferential ballot, was given morg than 430,000 votes, more than any other Democrat re- ceived. He was unopposed. No names were entered officially on the Republican ballot, but the voters wrote in those of Thomas E. Dewey, New York district attorney, and a number of others, including | Gov. Arthur H. James. Mr. Dewey topped Gov. James by a six-to-onm margin. Unofficial returns from 7,075 of | the 8,105 districts gave for Sena- tor: Senator Guffey, 350,481, Mr. Jones, 271,454. In the same tabulation, William N. McNair, former Mayor of Pitts- | burgh—who opposed the New Deal— polled 47,457. Both Senator Guffey and Mr. Jones campaigned on a third-term issue. The count from 4,879 districts gave the President 438,069, Scattered Write-Ins. Although Mr. Roosevelt's was the only name listed, there were scat- tered write-in votes—52 for Vice | President Garner, 8 for Postmaster | General Farley, 5 for Secretary of | State Hull and 1 for Paul V. McNutt. | Returns from 1,800 districts gave | Mr. Dewey 8430, Gov. James, 1,382; | Senator Taft, 250; Senator Vanden- | berg, 171; Frank Gannett, 7, and Herbert Hoover, 3. Mr. Roosevelt got 341 of the Re- publican write-in votes in the 1,800 districts, Wendell Willkie, 6; Mr. Although the Guffey-Jones Demo- cratic scrap was the only lively issuc of the campaign, Republicans, with a registration of 2572100 to the Democrats’ 2,046,129, were poll- ing heavier totals. Cooke Leads Ladner. Republican organization - backed candidates won by wide margins. Heading the slate, Philadelphia City Chairman Jay Cooke, name- sake and great-grandson of the Union financier of the Civil War, added steadily to his first lead over his chief opponent for Republican nomination for Senator, Albert H. Ladner, Philadelphia attorney. Unofficial returns from 6,445 of 8,- 105 districts gave: Cooke, 586,867. Ladner, 179,299, A third candidate, John A. Deren- zo, Altoona publisher, trailed with 39,044 The Republican organization can- didates for State posifims—treas- urer and auditor general—won by comparable margins. Senator Guffey, turned down by Mr. Lawrence and other State party leaders who attributed “party- wrecking tactics” to him, showed strength consistently in the rural districts and heaped up almost a 2-to-1 lead over Mr. Jones in Phila- delphia. He trailed Mr. Jones in Pittsburgh—home town of both. Boland Wins. The break between Senator Guffey and the party leadership dated back to the 1938 primary, when Senator Guffey threw his support to a slate that lost to candidates indorsed by the State committee. This split did not extend to the State offices for which F. Clair Ross was leading for auditor general and G. Harold Wag- ner for State treasurer. Notable among the winners of nominations for 34 seats in the House was Representative Boland, Democratic whip. Both parties also nominated can- didates for 208 seats in the State Legislature and 25 in the State Senate. Republicans elected four delegates at large, headed by Gov. James, and 68 district delegates to their national convention in Phila- delphia. Democrats picked 16 dele~ gates at large, with one-fourth vote | P2 each, and 68 district delegates to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago. Vote Lightest in Years. Long before the tabulation was completed it was apparent that the vote would be the lightest in recent years, despite election day weather that was warm and clear after days of chill and rain. With 4,928 districts counted, Re- publicans had a total vote of 616,446 in the senatorial contest. Democrats, in the same contest, had a total of 517,759 from 6,426 districts. In the 1938 primary, the only recent vote comparable with yester- day’s balloting inState-wide nomina- tions at stake, Republicans had a total of 1429047 and Democrats, 1,281,604. ‘The vote count was slow because of the length of the ballot. So many names were included in long House, district delegate and alternate lists that voting machines could not be used. Bulletin Chairman Gillette, Democrat, of Jowa announced today that the Senate Campaign Investigating Committee had ordered investi- gaters to inquire into the Ne- braska presidential primaries and the West Virginia senatorial pri- ‘Toward Brifain | pation in the war on the side of BILL, | SMELL Italian Atfitude Growing Sharper Mussolini Is Irritated By Trade Hindrances In Allies’ Blockade By the Associated Press. ROME, April 24.—Fascist circles | today reported a sharpening of | Ttaly's attitude toward the allies, particularly toward Britain, but there was no indication that this would lead to early Italian partici- Germany. Premier Mussolini was reported to be greatly irritated by the hin- drance to Italian trade caused by the allied blockade of Germany as well as by reports that British naval circles were indifferent to Italy’s possible entry into the war as an ally of the Nazis. Fascist quarters said Mussolini ex- pressed his feelings with the warn- ing, “Let the English try to come in front of Plumicino.” (Fiumicino is at the mouth of the Tiber River.) Trade Talks at Standstill. One informant said this reported remark had been prompted by a London newspaper’s statement that Rome was within the range of the British Navy's big guns. British efforts to reach a satis- factory trade agreement with Italy were reported today to be at a standstill. One Italian source said that E. W. Playfair, special trade envoy sent to Rome by Britain for the negotiations, had made no prog- ress. Italians generally criticized the British contraband control which has annoyed Italy because of the stopping, searching and sometimes the holding of Italian ships, even those plying between Italian and Ethiopian ports. British Buying Is Sore Point. Informed Italians said this situ- tion explained the Fascist press’ in- sistence on Italy’s right to more freedom of the Mediterranean. Another sore point was said to be the British buying of raw materials to keep them out of German hands, to the hindrance of Italian trade, particularly in the Balkans. Italian reports from Belgrade said an Italian-Yugoslav trade commis- sion would meet in Rome the first week in May and would discuss the possibility of abandoning the barter system now in use between the two countries. Some foreign observers interpreted this as an Italian move to combat the British economic of- fensive in the Balkans. German Victory Forecast. The Bologna newspaper Resto del Carlino today forecast a German victory in the European war and de- clared that Italy’s future as well as Germany’s is at stake in the out- come. Discussing the question “Should we fight for Germany?” the news- per said that if Italy entered the war “we will not fight ‘for Germany,’ but rather ‘beside Germany.’” The newspaper continued: “If we enter the war we will do it for ourselves and for our interests. By this we do not mean that Ber- lin’s cause daes not concern us. Quite the contrary. We believe in a victory of German arms, and the forces of the Reich have all our good wishes, since we know well that in this conflict our future and that of our sons and grandsons also is at stake.” Italy’s aim, said the newspaper, would be “to help our own fortunes and so much the better if this co- incides with that of the German people.” Reynaud Calls Cabinet ToAdopt New War Plans Ba the Associated Press. PARIS, April 24.—Premier Rey- naud summoned his cabinet today to put into effect new plans agreed upon by the allied Supreme War Council to co-ordinate French, British, Polish and Norwegian action against any new German assaylt. The cabinet session was scheduled for 4:30 pm. at Elysee Palace. Little activity was noted on the western front except for the usual /% SO patrol skirmishes and artillery ex- changes. Aerial operations dwindled under overcast skies. METHING. ) £ DO You? /- | i More Penguins For Capital Zoo Reach New York By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 24.—Eleven tuxedoed pals for the Emperor “Dug- gan,’ hitherto the only South Polar penguin in the United States, arrived in the Grace liner Santa Maria today en route to the National Zoo in Washington, D. C. e The shipment of company for the lonely “Duggan,” who arrived | several weeks ago and is now strut- ting stylishly in an air-conditioned room at the National Zoo, is com- prised of black-and-white Adelie penguins from Antarctica. The consignment of 200 birds, mammals and amphibians also in- cluded a mouse-size Chilean mar- supial which carries its young in a pouch like a kangaroo, golden frogs from Panama and four Chilean black hens which lay green eggs. ‘The cargo was in charge of Mal- colm Davis, curator of birds at the ‘Washington Zoo and a member of the United States Antartica Explor- ation Service under Admiral Rich- ard Byrd. Mr. Davis said one of his prizes, a crab-eater seal, was the only Ant- arctic seal ever taken out alive, as far as he knew. He captured it with a net while the seal was sleeping on an ice floe. During the voyage north the pen- guins were kept in the refrigeration room at a temperature between 35 and 40 degrees, and occasionally were allowed to sport in a temporary tank built on the after-deck. Norwegians Describe Sinking of Gneisenau By the Associated Press. LONDON, April 24—The official Norwegian Telegraph Bureau's ac- count of the alleged sinking of Germany's 26,000-ton battleship Gneisenau—"bow first, with three propellers racing in the air, amid a big area of flaming oil"—was published today in a Stockholm dis- patch to the Exchange Telegraph (British news agency). Earlier Norwegian reports of the destruction of the Gneisenau were quoted yesterday in a statement in the House of Lords by Lord Hankey, minister without portfolio. ‘The Norwegian Telegraph Bureau, which is operating “somewhere in Norway,” said the alleged sinking occurred in the early phase of the German occupation of Norway dur- ing an attack on Oslo Fjord. This account said the battleship was hit twice at 1,400 yards by guns of the Oskarborg Fort and” by torpedoes from a torpedo battery. The Germans tried to run the ship ashore, but she sank rapidly, bow first, the Norwegian-British ac- count said. Britain Detains 37 Ships LONDON, April 24 (#).—The Min- istry of Economic Warfare an- nouaced today that 37 ships, includ- ing nine Danish vessels, had been taken to contraband control bases or detained in Britain because of the situation in Norway and Denmark. THREE CENTS. Communists Hold Key Marine Radio Posts, Dies Probers Told Would Set Up Soviet i System in Event of War, Says Witness By the Associated Press. Fred M. Howe, who said he had| been “kicked out of office” in a| marine radio union, told the Dies| Committee today that ‘“high offi- cials” of the American Communi- cations Association (C. I. O.) were Communists who planned to help| set up a Soviet system in this coun- | try in event of war. He testified also that he had seen | a man named Stano, whom he iden- | tified as a Communist, in the radio | room of the yacht Sea Cloud, owned | by Joseph E. Davies, former United | States Ambassador to Belgium and | Russia. Mr. Davies was Ambassador to Belgium at the time, Howe said, and “Stano” was in a position to handle and copy radiograms sent to and from the yacht. Mr. Davies, who is now a special assistant to Secretary Hull here, said of Howe's testimony about Stano: “George Stano has been employed as chief wireless operator on the yacht Sea Cloud since 1934. He is an excellent operator, quiet, efficient, reliable and thoroughly trusted by his captain. I do not know his poli- tics or his religion. If he is a Com- munist, it would be a great surprise not only to me but also to his ship- mates, and I do not think he is.” ‘Howe charged that the Interna- tional Executive Board of the Amer- ican Communications Association had used a “goon squad” to oust him forcibly as an official of Local 2 of the American Radio Telegra- phers’ Association, marine division of the A. C. A. ‘Would Tie Up Communications. Of communiam, he declared: “High officials of the American Communication Association are members of the Communist party and have been for years. Their sole purpose is to get control of com- munications and, in event of war, to tie them up and help the party take over industries of the United States and establish a Soviet sys- tem.” He testified that Communists were radio operators on many of the finest ships in the American mer- chant marine and on some smaller ships were the only operators aboard. The party had succeeded also, he | said, in placing members in the Government’s airway radio service. Some in U. S. Service. Until recently, Howe testified, Hollis O. Fairchild, whom he identi- fled as a Communist, had been an employe at the marine radio station at Chatham, Mass.,, which he said was the best and largest in the country, able to communicate with ships throughout the world. Asked whether he knew any Com- “(See UN-AMERICAN, Page A-3) Army’s Big War Games in May To Exclude Foreign Observers Foreign military attaches will not be invited to watch the Army’s war games in the Louisiana-Texas area next month, it was disclosed today. It was exlained officially there would not be sufficient accommoda- tions for the large number of per- sons wishing to view the maneuvers of some 70,000 troops in the largest peacetime operations of “stream- lined” diwisions. Foreign attaches were welcomed at first Army maneuvers last summer at Manassas, Va., and Plattsburg, N. Y., and are expected to receive invitations to witness war games of the same organization in Northerm New York next August. Foreign observers, however, were excluded from the joint Army-Navy maneuvers last summer in Califor- nia, where West Coast defenses against sea attack were tested. The prospect that the Louislana- Texas maneuvers May 11-25 'will attract hundreds of, American official observers has pi ted & problem which the general staff has not yet solved. Ranking National Guard offi- cers will take part both as observ- ers and as actual commanders. All members of Congress have been in- vited. The Army command feels that by / putting National Guardsmen in re- sponsible positions in the field they will be able for the first time to gain valuable experience as troop leaders in an extensive operation. New weapons will be used in the maneuvers, but most already have been standardized. Some observers believe, however, the Army may introduce some of its more closely guarded develop- ments which officials would rather not have foreigners see in action. European powers have been re- ticent to tell United States military attaches stationed abroad what they have developed. Some officials here | 1 take the position that if foreign powers refuse us information, there is little reason for this country to tell them anything gratis. The war games will cover more than 3,000,000 acres of Texas and Louisiana. In this vast field of op- eration the latest anti-aircraft guns, the new Garrand .30-caliber rifie, tanks, streamlined mechanized units and heavy fleld pieces will be given severe tests under simulated battle conditions. The climax of the battle is ex- pected to come about May 20, when Secretary of War Woodring, Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of staff, and other view the spectacle. : § 212 Die as Fire Races Through Dance Hall Colored Victims Trapped in Building In Mississippi By the Associated Press. NATCHEZ, Miss, April 24~Two hundred and twelve colored men and women burned to death here last night when flames, racing through decorations of dry Spanish moss, trapped them in a one-exit dance hall, One witness attributed the fire to a carelessly lighted cigarette. Coroner R. E. Smith said a num- ber of the survivors remained in critical condition, and expressed be- lief that others might die. About 300 dancers were in the hall when the fire broke out and flared suddenly. There were no rear |or side doors in the building and windows had been boarded up. “From my examination, it ap- peared that most of the people died of suffocation,” the coroner said. A majority of the victims were about 15 or 16 years old. Thievery Reported. Deputy Sheriff William I. Hebert said after the blaze died down he enlisted the services of several col- ored persons in removing the dead but soon discovered they were rifling the pockets of the corpses. Even as late as daylight, he said, he caught one sneak thief leaving with a cor- net. The deputy said Bandleader Wal- ter Barnes was among the dead and that only two members of his 12- piece orchestra escaped. “The building is entirely sheathed with corrugated iron,” the deputy said, “and this formed an oven. The only exit was an ordinary-sized door at the front. Spreads Quickly. “All indications are that the fire started near the door and spread quickly in the moss, which had been hanging for several years. A venti- lating fan in the rear may have sucked the fire upon the helpless dancers who huddled near the band- stand. At least a score or more persons were burned or injured in the stam- pede for the door after the fire started. Red Cross Sending Three | Workers to Natchez The American Red Cross an- nounced today it was rushing three disaster relief workers, Dr. William De Kleine, medical adviser; Mrs. Molly Hodges, Mississippi field rep=- resentative, and Miss Roberta Morgan, Red Cross relief worker at Amite, to Natchez, Miss., to aid the injured and families of victims of the dance hall fire there last night. Col. Raymond Robins Seriously Ill in Tampa By the Associated Press. TAMPA, Fla., April 24 —Brought | from his Chinsegut Hill estate near | Brooksville for an emergency opera- | tion for appendicitis, Col. Raymond Robins, widely known social econ- omist, is in serious condition at St. | Joseph's Hospital here. Col. Robins, a self-educated man who founded his fortune on gold from the Alaska rush, has been an invalid since September, 1935, when he suffered a spinal injury in a fall from a tree. The title of lieutenant colonel was bestowed on Mr. Robins when he commanded the American Red Cross expedition to Russia in 1917 and 1918. His disappearance in 1932 while he was en route to Washing- ton for an engagement with Pres- ident Hoover caused a Nation-wide search. A victim of amnesia, he was subsequently found at Whittier, N. | C.. living at a boarding house under | the name of Reynolds H. Rogers. Ex-Detroit Mayor Denies Indictment; 134 More Cited B> the Associated Press. DETROIT, April 24—Grim and angry, former Mayor Richard W. Reading surrendered today on a warrant charging him with con- spiring to protect the policy house r1acket. “It’s a lot of nonsense,” Mr. Read- ing declared. “It is ridiculous. I don’t even know what policy is.” The former Mayor, who retired from office December 30, 1939, after his defeat by Edward J. JefIries, stood mute on arraignment and a plea of innocent was entered for him. Bond was set at $1,000. Standing near Mr. Reading in court was Chester P. O'Hara, chief prosecutor of the special grand jury that indicted him. Mr O'Hara is a long-time friend of Mr. Reading and has acted as his attorney, but neither spoke a word to the other. The grand jury charged 135 per- sons with graft and corruption conspiracy in operation of lottery and numbers rackets. It named 28 others as co-conspirators, but not defendants. Included were Wayne County Prosecutor Duncan McCrea an:l.!rresem and former police of< icials. Two Hearings Tomorrow On District Bills An effort to complete revision of proposed legislation to liberalize the local unemployment compensation law will be made by the Judiclary Subcommittee of the House District Committee at an executive session tomorrow at 10 a.m. A half hour later the Insurance and Banking Subcommittees of the District Committee will hold final hearing on a bill designed to regu- late the fire, marine, casualty and title insurance business.