Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Falr tonight and tomorrow; continued cool; lowest tonight about 40 degrees; gentle northerly winds. Temperatures today—Highest, 88, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 43, at 1:30 am. From United States Wea Bui repo! - fll{f‘deufll'on P%A-Zrm i Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales, Page 12. 88th YEAR. No. ,060. Nazis Repulse he beni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION d South of Dombas With Heavy Loss, British Report; Invasion Bea Prisoners Taken North of Steinkjer, War Office Says B the Associated Press. LONDON, April 27.—Britain reported today that a strong German attack against allied forces in Norway’s Gudbrands Valley, through which a German force is attempting to reach the‘ strategic Nazi-held port of Trondheim, has been beaten oft with “considerable enemy loss.” The War Office reported the Ger- mans engaged the allied units in the Kvam area, some 30 miles south of Dombas. German pressure there continues, however. North of Steinkjer, above Trond- heim, the British said the situation “remains unchanged,” but that British patrols “have captured some prisoners.” Situation Stabilized. Earlier, a British military source described the situation on the Trondheim front as “stabilized.” ‘This source declared that “things thought they might be.” “The ‘disorderly rabble,’” he con- tinued, “is not as disorderly as it has been described.” Describing action near Kvam, south of Dombas, mentioned in last night's War Office communique, this source declared that the Germans were beaten back with heavy loss.” Later the Nazis returned to at- tack the British, under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire —evidently from strafing German aircraft— withdrew and “took less exposed po- sitions,” according to this British | source. Norwegians Fight at Voss. This source declared that Nor- wegian troops were at Voss in the Bergen area fighting off twin Ger- man attacks. One attack was said to be by infantry advancing along the railroad from Bergen. the sec- ond by fresh troops landed in Har- danger Fjord. (A German communique de- elared Voss had been captured from Norwegian forces.) The British say also “for what it is worth” that Norwegian troops are in the region of Nes on the railroad 100 miles east of Bergen. The Ger- mans were reported advancing to- ward them along the railroad run- ning from Tyri Fjord. This British source said that an evewitness, who recently returned from Norway, had told him that German “parachute troops had been mopped up.” Many were found frozen in the snow, and others with broken legs, it was said. There was nothing to report from Narvik, this source said, except that “very heavy snow is impeding the movements of both forces.” “There has been a heavy bomb- ing of the railroad from Andalsnes | to Dombas by the Germans,” he said, “but the Germans no longer are undisputed masters of the air.” The allied forces were said to be making full gase of Indian army officers who have had extensive ex- perience in mountain warfare. Press Warns Public. The ‘British press warned the public to expect setbacks for allied forces in Norway until the naval, air and land forces are marshalled to their full strength against the Germans in Scandinavia. Military commentators agreed that fighting in Norway probably would be long and tough, but pre- dicted allied sea power ultimately would bring victory. Some sections of the press de- manded an official declaration from Prime Minister Chamberlain that the Norwegian operations are not regarded as a “side show” of the main war. While commenting on reports of “strategic withdrawals” by the allies, and on allegations that “raw troops” have been thrown into the fray, the press generally reserved Judgment on the conduct of the war. The Laborite Herald, however, (8ee LONDON, Page A-3) Hungarians Propose Joint Danube Control By the Associated Press. BUDAPEST, April 27.—The Hun- garian government announced to- day that it had proposed interna- tonal control of the 75-mile stretch of the Danube near the Iron Gate which Germany has accused the allies of attempting to dynamite. . The Hungarian proposal, which ‘Was reliably understood to have full German backing, was sent to Yugo- slavia, Bulgaria and Rumania, a Foreign Ofice communique said. American-Owned Paper I's Bombed in Shanghai By the Associated Press. SHANGHALI, April 27.—The Amer- fcan-owned Shanghai Post, which had been threatened anonymously for eriticizing the Japanese military leadership in China and the new Japanese-sponsored Chinese central government at Nanking, was bombed today by terrorists. A policeman guarding the build- echayes wers nbired. Thres mere em) were injured. Three more Chinese G. C. Bruce is the publisher of the paper, Randall Gould the editor, German White Book Contains Purported Secret Allied Papers Orders, Consular Telegrams and Norse Foreign Office Documents Included By the Associated Press. BERLIN, April 27.—In a bulky col- lection asserted to be British orders for the occupation of Norway, Ger- many sought today to demonstrate that she entered Norway and Den- mark only a brief jump ahead of the British, These orders, issued as the latest “white book” to be published by the German government, contained translations of various orders pur- portedly from the British general staff to an expeditionary force. The dates on numbers of the orders were for early in April, several days ahead of Germany's surprise move into Denmark and Norway. In addition several documents pur- ported to show the efforts of the Britist Navy command to get in- formation from their Consuls at Nar- vik, Far Northern Noriegian ore, port, and other ports as to the depths of harbors, possible landing fields and any air or docking facilities which would expedite the landifig of troops. Bombing Anticipated. One order dramatically antici- pated steady bombing by the Ger-~ man air force by directing that “main opposition can only be ex- pected in the first instance from enemy air action, which might be directed against the force while actually landing.” “In such eventuality the landing will be covered by the Royal Navy,” the order continued. “As soon as troops have disembarked they must " (8ee DOCUMENTS, Page A-5) Germans Smashing most certainly are not as bad as you | Toward Trondheim From Two Sides Allied Positions in All Of Area Believed Endangered By the Associated Press, STOCKHOLM, April 27.—German columns smashing across Central Norway from Roros toward Storen and on Dombas were reported in Swedish dispatches to be moving | with such amazing speed today as ao endanger British-French and Nor- wegian positions in the Trondheim area. Latest dispatches indicated that Norwegian units already were well scattered, while the allied forces | were giving ground before the pres- sure of relentless attacks by ma- chine-gunning German planes. They said a decisive battle was being awaited at Dombas, 100 miles south of Trondheim and 75 miles south of Storen. This is the highly important railroad and highway junction where the road from Oslo branches off to Andalsnes, allied troop landing port, to the west and Storen and Trondheim in the north. (In London the war office report- ed that German forces driving toward Dombas had been repuised with considerable losses 30 miles south.) Germans Near Dombas. The German drive on Dombas was reported to have nearly reached that town, possession of which goes far toward giving control over the Central Norwegian railway network. In the Roros area German opera- tions were said to have extended almost to the Swedish border, 25 miles east of Roros, and to be reach- mng northwest toward Storen, only 25 miles south of Trondheim, on the west coast. In both actions German planes, swooping down into the narrow val- leys, were said to be breaking up de- fense units and thus enabling the small but well-equipped German forces to move forward. In the sector north of Trond- heim, where the allies—French troops of the Foreign Legion and Chasseurs Alpines and British units —are holding positions immediately north of Steinkjer, the situation was reported unchanged. Steinkjer is 50 miles north of Trondheim. The fate of allied troops which were said to have reached Lille- hammer, 80 miles south of Dombas and about halfway between Dombas and Oslo, was in doubt. It was be- lieved they had retreated in the face of a German move to outflank them. Britain admitted Thursday and yesterday that allled troops driving toward Lillehammer had been forced to withdraw. Decision May Come in Hours. Neutral observers believed the question of eventual defeat or vic- tory for the allies in the Trond- heim area will be settled in a mat- ter of hours if the Germans con- tinue their twin advances. ‘They expressed amazement at the ease with which the Germans ‘vere going forward, as well as at their ability to keep reinforcements com- ing up through the exceedingly nar- row valley roads, where defense would appear easy. While full details of the opera- tions were not known, tribute was paid to the apparent efficiency of the German engineers in rebuilding bridges and roads that had been dynamited by the allied and Nor- wegian troops and Norwegian vol- unteers, It was believed that in many in- stances the Germans were able to work their way around shattered bridges by crossing over frozen streams and rivers. Other dispatches indicated the (8ee STOCKHOLM, Page A-6) Nazi Plane Flying Note To Hungarian Capital By the Associated Press. BUDAPEST, April 27.—A Ger- man airplane is enroute to the Hun- garian capital with & communica- tion from the German ent, it was disclosed in omcial quarters this afternoon. It was understood that a similar communication also was being transmitted to other governments of Boutheastern Europe. \ r 14 entire | | York March 22, Liner Queen Mary Reported Seen at South African Port Australia Is Believed Destination; lle de France To Sail With Big Cargo By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 27.—The latest information on the whereabouts of the British liner Queen Mary comes | from officers of the Javanese steamer Poelau Tello, who say they saw the liner at Cape Town, South Africa, April 2. The giant liner sailed from New presumably for service as a troop transport for an unannounced destination. Dr. Bernard Van Noort, ship’s surgeon of the Poelau Tello, said Cape Town citizens had been ex- 'pecttng the Queen Mary, as they understood she was on her way to Australia. The Poelau Tello arrived in New York yesterday. Passengers and officers said the Queen Mary was convoyed by three destroyers and apparently was taking on fuel and supplies at the South African port. Another of the world's great liners, the French-owned Ile de France, was virtually ready mean- while to leave the safety of New York Harbor. Since yesterday, huge barges loaded with copper have been tied up beside the newly camouflaged liner at Staten Island, and on the pier itself many trucks have been seen unloading provisions. At about the time the Queen Mary slipped away, the British- owned Mauretania, also painted drab gra® as protection against enemy craft, left the harbor and disappeared in the open sea. Later she was reported in the Far East The Italian Line denied private code messages from Switzerland which said the Rex would not sail from Genoa next Tuesday as scheduled. “You can attribute that to the usual bunk,” said Italo E. Verrando, director of the line in New York, and in Rome it was said without qualification that the Rex would sail. The Ile de France will carry one of the largest cargoes to be taken out of New York harbor in months. Merchandise evidently is being stored even in passenger cabins and corridors, and it is estimated some 12,000 tons will be on board. Besides copper, 20 and 30 foot lengths of steel and steel piping and tubing were being loaded: All windows have been painted black, and all the starboard life- boats have been lowered for check- ing. * before the world with - deep- | mander bearing “a number of po- ! many started a counter-action. The t Allies, Reich Holds Enemy Thwasted By Hours, Says - . Yon Ribbentrop By LOUIS P. LOCHNER, Associated PRss Foreign Correspondent. BERLIN, April 27 (®.—Ger- many talay charged the allies | seated plans to invade Norway, which German intervention [ f6iled “by a few hours.” At the same time Adolf Hitler declared a statz of war to exist with Nor- vay. Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop announced the publica- tion of “documentary proof” that the allies had planned to occupy Norway in an effort to widen the war “to destroy Germany.” Norway connived at the plan, Von Ribbentrop asserted in a half-hour address in the chancellery before the | diplomatic corps, the foreign and German press, and high German | naval, army and air force officials. During German troop operations | in Norway, he said, “we found the | entire plan of occupation of the al- | lied army.” Even as he spoke, the government released a series of documents pur- porting to prove that the British issued orders on April 6 and 7 for the seizure of strategic Scandina- vian points and the high command belatedly announced the capture of some 300 British prisoners in Nor- way, among them a staff com- litically and militarily important | British operations orders and docu- ! ments.” > Blame Put on Allies. Von Ribbentrop’s announcement placed the blame for the German campaign in Norway on the allies, | who, he said, were balked in their campaign to destroy Germany first by the west wall, the capitulation of Poland, and then the peace which eliminated the Russian-Finnish con- flict as an excuse for widening the European war. He praised Sweden for being truly neutral, but held Norway’s neutrality was a sham. “Since the beginning of this year,” the Foreign Minister said, “England and France have tried with all their means to bring about a new scene for the war.” Britain’s laying of mines in Nor- wegian territorial waters, announced April 8 as a measure against Ger- man traffic there, he said “in reality * * * was to serve to protect the English expeditionary force which was already in the North Sea at this time. * * * “On April 9, fn the morning, Ger- object was to prevent the English {from landing in the Norwegian ports. When the allied statesmen say that their plan had failed they made the gravest accusations against the German people.” With the greatest show of emo- (See VON RIBBENTROP, Pg. A-3) Ribbentrop Address ‘Perverted Truth,’ British Declare By the Associated Press. LONDON, April 27.—Authori- tative circles close to the Brit- ish Foreign Office today de- clared the statement by Ger- man Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop “is character- ized by deliberate perversions of the truth” from “beginning to end.” An authoritative British statement said the Germans “now seek to justify” the ex- tension of the war “on the basis of alleged documents of which they had no cognizance when they committed their aggression.” It Paris, the French shrugged off Von' Ribbentrop’s address and his “White Book” as “much ado about nothing.” ‘Perfect Bombing Job’ Leaves Steinkjer a Blazing Ruin Stowe Finds Little Norwegian Town Blackened Skeleton After Nazi Raid By LELAND STOWE, Chicago Daily News Correspondent. OSTERSUND, April 27.—We brow of the hill and suddenly looked down upon a masterpiece of the 20th century’s newest art—bombing from the air. There lay the blackened and burning skeleton of Steinkjer, a town which had housed 4,000 contented Norwegians less than a week before. It had been bombed again within<- the last two hours, and this was Monday. Now there was not much left on which to waste high ‘cost airplane explosives. Along the wa- ter front the flames were leaping luridly against the deepening twi- light. They danced madly upward from a score of buildings. It was the kind of a big fire that small boys usually run to, but there were no boys and firemen here. The only spectators stood where we did, on the brow of the hill which was lmmncuht:dm v:l':h coat of ices trimmo snow. mfi;:m&motmenmd women, the last - inhabitants of Steinkjer to abandon their homes and all their earthly belongings. I did not see their faces. My eyes were riveted on the tongues of fire and upon the scarred, black fingers of scores of chimneys. This, in the pariance of the army boys, was a X came around the curve on the perfect job. Throughout three and one-half months of the Finnish war I had never encountered s scene of such - concentrated destruction and desolation. It had not taken many German airplanes to do the job either. After all, they carried some of the deadliest explogives and liquid bombs that our civilization yet has produced. Moreover, their pilots had information that both the Brit- ish and Norwegian advance head- quarters were located in Steinkjer. That made the town what is called a legitimate military objective. It was just too bad for those people who were born and lived in Steinkjer. From the sound of the guns I suspected that no other newspaper- man would have an opportunity to enter Steinkjer for an unpredictable (See STOWE, Page A-4) [ | committee learned today. n Star D. 'C., SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1940—THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. #» ‘From Pms‘;o Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every evening and Sunday morning. Sherlock Holmes Gillette at Work! Testimony Favoring Firm Called 'Baloney’ ByN. L. R. B. Atforney Lawyer Tells Smith Unit He Guesses He Meant It Was Irrelevant By CARTER BROOKE JONES. | Testimony in a labor complaint | case favorable to the company was | called “baloney” in a memorandum taken from the files of the Nationai Labor Relations Board's legal re- | view section, a House investigating | The notation was made by Her- bert Puchs, a review attorney, he admitted, identifying notes he wrote in the transcript of a hearing in the Newport News (Va.) Shipbuild- ing & Drydock Co. case, in which the employer was charged with dominating an independent union. “Will you look over that pertion of the transcript,” asked Edmund | M. Toland, committee counsel, “and | tell this committee where there is any baloney in the record?” The witness studied the pages in- dicated and said: “I suppose I meant the testimony had no bearing on the issues in this The Testimony. Mr. Toland brought out that the witness in question had testified he had worked at the plant and had not been aware of any company support for the Employes’ Repre- sentative Committee. “I would like to know,” demanded Chairman Smith of the investigat- ing committee, “how you reached the conclusion that this evidence ‘was immaterial to the case.” “The issue,” said Mr. Puchs, “was domination of the union which the company admittedly started some years before.” The board official added that he did not think it mattered whether this witness had observed such domination. “Assuming,” said the chairman, “that the company started this union eight years before the passage of the act (the Labor Relations Act), and that after the law went into effect it ceased such domination, would you consider evidence of that irrelevant?” Mr. Fuchs said he would not. But he insisted that the testimony of the witness in question was negative and of no value and could fairly be called “baloney.” In the Newport News case the board found the company guilty of violating the Wagner Act by setting up and controlling a company union. The Supreme Court upheld this de- cision. Ex-Examiner to Return. Mapes Davidson of Orange, N. J, former N. L R. B. trial examiner, who resigned re- cently, charging the tribunal with allowing its staff to be “loaded with Reds of varying shades,” was under summons today to return Tuesday to the witness stand before the Smith Committee. Mr. Davidson, who told the com- mittee yesterday he was forced to, quit his job by pressure of Com-’ munist influence among board offi- cials, was asked by Representative Healey, Democrat, of Massachusetts, a committee member, to return for farther questioning. Charles Fahy, general counsel of the board, issued the following statement after Mr. Davidson com- pleted his testimony yesterday. “The board unanimously dis- (8ee LABOR BOARD, Page A-5.) Records Broken.in Two Events at Penn Relays By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, April 27—Two records went by the boards today as the 46th Penn Relay Carnival en- tered its second and final day today with new performances in the ham- mer throw and the haif-mile relay. Robert Bennett of Maine tossed the weight 175 feet 21, inches to better the mark of 174 feet 5 inches set by Pred Tootel of Bowdoin in 1923, In the half-mile relay finals the North Texas State quartet was timed in 1:254, bettering the mark of 1:259 set by Pittsburgh last yeas. Pitt, running second today, equalled last year’s mark. The Texas team was made up of Welby Williams, Olvis Hicks, John Jackson and Ed- ward Rogers. (Early Story on Page A-17) (A, Cousin of Ribbentrop |Dies at Detroit Home By the Associated Press. DETROIT, April 27—Henry A. Ribbentrop, a second cousin of Ger- many’s Foreign Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, died today at his home here. A resident of the United States 31 years, he was a naturalized citi- zen. His widow and two children survive, Roosevelt Leaves Georgia Retreat Today for Capital Due Here Tomorrow; Calls to Washington To Punctuate Trip By JOHN C. HENRY, Star Staff Correspondent. WARM SPRINGS, Ga., April 27— In better health than at any time since a heavy cold struck him some two months ago, President Roose- velt prepared to leave here today, | with arrival in Washington sched- uled for about mid-day tomorrow. Closely attentive to the course of foreign affairs and to the last- stretch activities of the present Congress, the Chief Executive planned a busy week at the Capi- tal, with a legislative conference slated for Monday and consultations with his State Department advisers likely within a day or two of his| return. As on the trip southward and dur- ing his 10-day stay here, the Chief Executive was to have several tele- phone connections with the Capital '| during his 20-hour train ride. Not All Rest. Although the emphasis during his stay here has been on rest, Mr. Roosevelt undertook several impor- tant ventures during the vacation period. First was & major political speech last Saturday night to the Young Democratic Clubs of Amer- ica, actually broadcast to the Na- tion; second, a two-day conference with Prime Minister MacKenzie King of Canada; third, the issuance of proclamations and executive orders by which the full force of our neutrality policy was imposed on the Norwegian-German conflict. In addition, the President had sev- eral conferences on Government fis- cal problems with Lauchlin Currie, his closest economic adviser. Brief Press Conference. Yesterday, his final full day at this .nountain resort, Mr. Roosevelt saw the newspaper correspondents for a brief press conference, drove to the golf links for a second round of “kibitzing,” then took a long drive to the rural resettlement proj- ect at Pine Mountain Valley. Greeted by most of the 182 fami- lies of the settlement, plus scores of the farmer-neighbors, the President made a brief, extemporaneous speech in which he reviewed some of the community advantages stem- ming from the co-operative project. Negro Parley Accepls Lewis" Invifation To Co-operate Applause Also Greets Pro-Soviet Address By Secretary By tumultous applause, cheering and shrill whistles, the 3d National cepted John L. Lewis’ invitation for political co-operation in this cam- | paign year, but approved strong ex- pressions of favor for the Soviet | Union made by the congress’ sec- retary, John P. Davis of Washington. The demonstration came at the close of Mr. Davis' address which stirred frequent applause, particu- larly when he attacked “American imperialism.” In it he called for wholehearted approval of the invitation extended last night by C. I. O. Chieftan John L. Lewis and predicted that with co- | operation in Labor’s Non-Partisan League, and the American Youth Congress, the Negroes of this gen- eration would “taste victory.” Explainnig that he sympa- thized with the aspirations of the Soviet people and their ideals of “amity, collabora- tion and peace,” Mr. Davis declared his conviction that the American Negro people will refuse to follow “American imperialism in its attack upon the Soviet.” Like other leaders of the Negro Congress, he con- demned the Dies Committee. He demanded enactment of the anti-lynching bill and repeal of the poll-tax laws in the South to enable the Negro to vote. Welcomes Any Aid. Purther indications of his sym- pathy for the Soviet were given when he described the National Ne- gro Congress as a “non-partisan body, welcoming all political faiths as long as they are willing to work li‘ld collaborate with the Negro peo- ple.” He said these representatives would be welcomed to the congress, “whether they are Socialists or Re- publicans, Communists or Demo- crats.” Shortly after he challenged any opponents of the Lewis invitation. He described it as a “friendly offer” and characterized any one who was inclined to reject it as one whose loyalty to the cause of the Negro people should be doubted. The demonstration®at the conclu- sion of the speech lasted for some time. As Mr. Davis sat down, the president of the congress, A. Philip Randolph, who is international pres- ident of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, said that the demonstration apparently Was an expression of deep apprecia- tion for the report of the secretary. Suddenly a voice from the audi- ence spoke up: “What about ap- proval?” “There is no doubt about ap- proval,” replied Mr, Randolph. ‘The congress, in & business session (8ee NEGRO CONGRESS, Pg. A-3) Summary of Py Amusements, B-16 Church News, A-13-15 Comics __ B-14-15 Radio . ____ B-14 Real Estate B-1-8 Serial Story. A-6 Society A-11 -16-17 g Allied invasion of Norway feiled, Von Ribbentrop says: Page A-1 Situation unchanged in Steinkjer region, British report. Page A-1 Two Nazi columns smashing into Trondheim area. Page A-1 Stowe describes “perfect bomb job” at Steinkjer. Page A-1 Vist battle story given by wounded corporal, Stowe says. Page A-3 300 British taken with documents, Germans report. Page A-5 National accepts John L. Lewis’ political bid. A-1 Wallace advises farmers interests. Washington and Vicinity Roosevelt due to return to Wash- ington tomorrow. Page A-3 Senate supply bill witnesses asx more relief funds. Page A-18 X loP;:.htl Page A Today's Star age. ( Sports Bonura merely fills in while Vernon is developing. Page A-16 Daffiness gone as Dodgers sport best record in history. Page A-16 More records loom today in windup of Drake relays. Page A-16 Georgetown, Maryland athletes score in Penn relays. Page A-17 Ebersole new secretary of National Duckpin Congress, Page A-17 Editorial and Comment Page Page Letters to The Star. Page David Lawrence. Alsop dnd Kintner, G. Gould Lincoln. Lemuel F. Parton. Jay. Franklin. Miscellany Nature’s Children. Service Orders. Vital !tlmxulflu. Barbara Bell Pattern, Needlework. Negro Congress today not only ac- | THREE CENTS. Neutrality Act Revision Urged: Senators Cool Colleagues Regard Adams’ Suggestion As Premature By the Associated Press. Relaxation of the six-month-old Neutrality Act was proposed in con- gressional circles today, but imme- diate reaction was that the sugges- tion was premature. Senator Adams, Democrat, of Colorado, told reporters he favored wiping out the restrictions which forbid Americans to extend credits to belligerent governments and pro- hibit American shipping from enter= ing the combat zones proclaimed by President Roosevelt, which now in- clude all but Southern European waters. The need for action now, however, failed to impress several of Senator Adams’ colleagues. Although they agreed that the revision question would be raised eventually if the European war became protracted, they sald they saw no reason for changes at the present time. Some expressed fear that modification might tend to involve the United States in the conflict. Backs Shippers’ Rights. “The American shipper,” Senator Adams contended, “should be per- mitted to exercise his rights under international law so long as it is made clear that the risks he takes are his own. If the war keeps spreading, there will be no American ships in the trans-Atlantic service. “An American should have the right to invest his money anywhere he wants. If some airplane manu- facturer wants to sell on credit to Germany or Great Britain or France, then he should be able to do it.” Chairman Pittman of the Foreign Relations Committee denied that American shipping was suffering from the war. He said the allies were estimated to have sufficient financial reserves to go two years without credit and that he did not believe the conflict would last two years. George Forecasts Pressure. Another member of the For- eign Relations Committee, Senator George, Democrat, of Georgia, said he expected pressure ultimately for Neutrality Act revision. But he add- ed he saw no reason at present to relax the credit regulations because a change might tend to involve the | country abroad. “It is impossible to foresee what may occur or what emergencies may arise,” he said. Senators Schwellenbach, Demo- crat, of Washington and Mead, Democrat, of New York both said no immediate changes were needed. Senator Schwellenbach said he did not think revision efforts would be successful, .and that they “shouldn‘% be.” Senator Mead asserted that, if the war spread to the Mediters ranean and the East Indies, this might necessitate some action. Amendments Proposed. In the Senate yesterday Senator Danaher, Republican, of Conaecti- cut proposed amendments to leg- islation confirming the President’s authority to “freeze” the American investments of Danes and Nor- weglans. The “freezing” was ordered at the start of the Scandinavian invasion, but some aspects of its legality have since been questioned. Senator Danaher’s amendments are designed to curtail the broad monetary powers granted to the President during the 1933 banking crisis. Democratic leaders labeled them “purely partisan” and pre- dicted victory for an unamended measure Monday. Senator Danaher proposed that existing presidential powers to re- Guire the licensing of transactions in foreign exchange, credits, gold and silver be repealed as far as American citizens are concerned, He also proposed that all of the broad powers given the President under the Emergency Banking Ac of 1933 be terminated on May 1941, Spirited Patrol Clashes Reported at West Front By the Assoctated Press. PARIS, April 27—Spirited ene gagements between French and Ger- man patrols keeping watch over the western front were reported by the French command today. The War Ministry spokesman said both sides suffered losses during scouting encounters yesterday east of the Moselle River. A strong Ger- man raid against a French outpost west of the Vosges Mountains also was reported repulsed with some losses. Post Office Opens 4,316 Miles From U.S. for 12 Men By the Associated Press. If you want to get-away-frome it-all, here’s the job supreme— postmaster of Canton Island, down in the South Pacific, 4316 miles from San Francisco. In announcing the establishment of Uncle S8am’s newest stamp-sell- ing emporium, Postmaster General Farley today said Harold K. Graves would be its acting postmaster. Mr. Graves, an employe of the Pan American Airways, is already at the distant speck in the Pacific work on a landing base for the San Francisco- New Zealand mail line. One of the Phoenix group near the equator, Canton is just a tiny dot on the biggest- of maps. It ranges from 50 to 600 yards in width and is about 11 miles long. At present there are about 12 men to whom Mr. Graves can sell stamps and deliver letters. The other inhabitants are rats and her- mit crabs. Mr. Farley is not sending Post- master Graves a bicycle or a motor cycle—he isn't expecting him to do much special delivery business at the start.