Evening Star Newspaper, May 15, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Showers tonight and tomorrow morning; cooler beginning late tonight; fresh southwest, shifting to westerly winds, Tempcratures today—Highest, 87, at 2 pm.; lowest, 64, at 6 am. From the Jn Ful) States Weather Burean repors. "elumu on hn'A-l,n. . Closing New York Markets—Sales, Page 18 B8th YEAR. - No. 35,078. he bermn ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1940—FIFTY /PAGES. »#% Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star deiivered to their homes every ing and Sunday morning. (@) Means Associated Press. THREE CENTS. FRENCH HURL BACK NAZIS IN SEDAN SALIENT 600,000 Men Engaged in Violent Battle South of River Meuse CounterBlows Reported in North; Maginot Line Pierced, Berlin Says 40 Divisions Pitted In Major Drive Into France BULLETIN. LONDON, May 15 (#).—The British destroyer Valentine has been beached after being dam- aged by German air attack off the coast of Holland, the Ad- rriralty announced tonight. By the Assoclated Press. PARIS, May 15—The ¥rench ecommand about half the German forces which crossed the Meuse River yesterday had been drivea back. It estimated that 20 divisions on each side—a total of 600.000 men— were pitted in a finish fght in the *“Battle of the Meuse.” Violent French counter-attacks were reported after a French War Ministry. spokesman had admitted that Nazi forces. smashing at posi- tions south of Sedan, had crossed the river and established a salient 4 miles deep on its south side. The major struggle apparently was centered around Sedan, 10 miles within France from the Belgian frontier. Counter Attack in Belgium. But the French also reported a successful counter attack on the northwest uank in Belgium and soiid defenses to the southeast in France. The German thrust originally penetrated 10 miles south of the river—or nearly 20 miles into France ~—this spokesman said, but a French counterattack reduced this pocket below the river to about 4 miles. He said the attack came late yesterday. The Meuse River runs generally north and south in this area, and the French have been holding the west bank against the Germans on the east. German efforts mmthnmiedm region, this commentas ap- p:ftfl to be the “biggest” of the entire Meuse front, extending southward from Namur, Belgium. Fresh reinforcements were arriv- ing in the German lines from Bouil- lon, industrial settlement north of Sedan. Situation Held Favorable. The situation of the allies in Central Belgium was declared *favorable.” A German tank attack in the level region northwest of Namur, near Gembloux, was hurled back by French counterattacks. The Germans were reported to have suffered “enormous losses,” particularly in tanks and their crews, and a 4-to-1 ratio in planes. In the Belgian Ardennes Moun- tains, between Namur and Dinant, the Germans established bridge- heads on the west bank of the Meuse, which immediately drew strong counterattacks from the French forces on the same side of the river. A French military spokesman de- scribed German landings on the ‘west side of the Meuse under allied fire from land and air. Hurled Back to River. Part of the German force which erossed the Meuse south of Sedan was hurled back into the river. Heavy French forces pushed east- ward against the Germans. The German troops were de- scribed as the “best” shock de- tachments. Additional reinforce- ments. were arriving from Neuf- chateau, Belgium, and also coming in behind German lines from Marche, Belgium. French and British aerial forces, meanwhile, were laying down “tons and tons” of bombs on German rear lines, troop concentrations, high- ways, boats and bridges. German planes were reported bombing the French rear guard. East of the Moselle River in the Maginot Line sector, several “very strong” local German attacks ran fnto defense fire from French ad- wance posts and wilted. Alr raid ‘alarms were sounded this morning in the regions around Rouen, Havre and Bordeaux, but no attacks were reported. The French high command re- increased German ported pressure slong & 55-mile stretch of the vast, curving Meuse River front from Namur to the junction of the Meuse (See PARIS, Page A-5) Natis to Begin Raids On England When ‘Completely Ready’ B the Associated Press, BERLIN, May 15.—Asked how soon a great air offensive would start against England, authorized Nazi sources an- swered today: “Whenever we are completely ready—at exactly the right mo- ment—when it is most uncom- fortable for England.” Newspapers stressed that the Dutch surrender has given the Germans airports within short range of England. reported tonight that) » GERMANS SAY MAGINOT LINE “PIERCED”—Shaded area in this closeup map of battle of Meuse area taken thus far by German forces. extended from Liege (1), east River indicates approximate Heavy pressure area to Gembloux (2), where allies were reported to have repulsed a Nazi tank attack south of Dinant (3), where Nazis established forces after taking two forts near Namur, and to Sedan area German tide had been stemmed (4), where French reported the and Nazi forces hurled back 6 miles after they originally penetrated 10 miles beyond the river or 20 miles into France. the Sedan area. British Air Successes In Attacks Behind Nazi Lines Reporfed Berlin B/roodcusts Spur Preparations to Cope With ‘Chutists By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 15—“Highly suc- cessful” British air attacks behind | the German lines were reported to- day as the Nazi conquest of Holland hammered home to Britain her own exposure to aerial raiders. Machine gun fire sounded this morning near the mguth of the Humber River, along the English east coast. Berlin broadcasts heard here sharpened Britain’s anxiety and spurred recruiting of a new home front army to fight a possible inva- sion by Nazi parachute troops. “German planes already are with- in easy reach of the important Eng- lish port of Harwich,” a German announcer warned. “More than that, they have bases for direct attack against the whole of England . . In this age of modern warfare, the insularity of the British isles has ended.” Harwich is less than 125 miles from the Dutch mainland. Another said: “The German Army is now stand- ing at England’s door, which can be reached by our fighter planes in less than an hour. “That is the importance of Hol- land’s capitulation.” The Air Ministry said British fiyers had given the French “valua- ble assistance” in the great battle which developed at Sedan and the crossings of the Meuse yesterday. Britain's air force, it said, “de- stroyed permanent bridges and two pontoon bridges and with anti-air- craft guns brought down 15 German planes in a terrific battle near Sedan * * * “Repeated low-flying attacks on enemy troops and tank concentra- tions were made.” It acknowledged loss of 35 British planes. Despite the adverse developments in Holland and the threats of a German push across the North Ses, Britain remained calm. A British military spokesman con- ceded that part of the Dinant-Sedan ‘“defense zone” was in German hands, but emphasized that Sedan, although in an area heavily fortified in depth, is not in the Maginot Line, which ends at the Luxembourg frontier From there an extension, |’ the “Little sMaginot Line,” runs northwestward to the North Sea, in- cluding the Sedan sector. Sedan, however, lies on the outer edge of the extension, Flanders Operations Proceed. French said the German salient had been reduced to a 4-mile salient flerce French counterattack along the northwest extension of . the Maginot Line. War’s biggest (arrow) south of the river by battle still was anticipated in —A. P. Wirephoto Maps. 100,000 Dutch Slain Battling Germans, Holland Reveals Fourth of Total Force; Fleet Safe, However, And Has Joined Allies By the Associated Press. May 15.—Netherlands Foreign Minister Eelco N. Van Kleffens estimated today that the Dutch Army had suffered 100,000 men killed—or one-fourth of its total strength of 400,000. Van Kleffens, however, said Hol- land’s fleet was almost intact and had joined the allied naval foaces. He sald that resistance was con- tinuing in the coastal province of Zeeland and that troops which es- caped into Belgium would enter the allied armies. His disclosure of the army’s stag- gering losses was part of his gov- ernment’s first review of the cam- -paign which forced virtual capitula- tion of the Netherlands in five days. The Netherlands Foreign Minister arrived here from London last night. He said that prolongation of op- erations in Holland was decided against, with “millions of souls men- aced with extermination,” but that “every one knows the tenacity of the Dutch—I am convinced we will gain final victory.” Although most of the Netherlands now has fallen to the Germans, Van Kleffens said, the Dutch em- pire still stands and all its resources will be placed at the disposal of the (S8ee DUTCH; Page A-3) Weir's Aunt, a Twin, Dies of Pneumonia at 90 By the Associated Press. PITTSBURGH, May 15—Mrs Mary Weir Daugherty, aunt of Steel Magnate E. T. Weir and one of twin sisters who celebrated their 90th birthday anniversary five days ago, died today of pneumonia. The War at a By the Assoctated Press. The French high command tonight reported at least a partial turn in the sweep of German- armored legions hammering at the “Little Maginot” door of Northern France, Half the German forces which crossed the Meuse River yester- day have been hurled back, the French said, after penetrating at one time to a depth of 20 miles inside French territory, A total of 600,000 men—30 divisions on each side—were re- ported locked in the fierce fight- report, which also cited a suc- cessful French counter-attack on the northwest German flank in Two Namur Forts Overwhelmed By Invaders By the Associated Press. | BERLIN, May 15—~The German high command declared today that Nazl « forces had “plerced” the northwestern extension of France's Maginot Line in the Sedan sector. “By crossing of the Meuse in the Sedan sector,” its communique said, “the northwestern extension of PFrance’s fortification system—the Maginot Line—has been pierced in closest collaboration with the air force. “Here, too, French counterat- tacks were frustrated with heavy losses for the enemy.” Coupled with the powerful thrust into the French section of the | Meuse line was the Nazi report that a German spearhead aiming at the Belgian fortifications of Namur had overwhelmed two forts in that de- fense sector. Authorized sources said the Ger- mans had crossed the Meuse River Monday and, the same day, had con- quered the forts of Lantin and Lou- cien, south and west of Liege. Liege and Namur both are on the Meuse, Namur about 35 miles to the west of Liege. The allies have acknowledged the loss of only one fort, Eben Emael, in the Liege mili- tarized zone. Claim Tanh Attack Repulsed. ‘The high command reported a French tank attack hurled back on the rapidly developing Belgian front. Alongside the progress on the Meuse front, the Germans have forced the submission of Holland, which, they note, has put the war almost on England’s doorstep. ‘The high command also reported telling blows to allied sea and air power. Its communique put allied air losses at 200 planes yesterday alone —(raising to about 1400 the total reported destroyed in the six days of the campaign)—and said “encmy efforts to hamper Germarn fighting activity” through air attack were repulsed. It acknowledged only that “35 of our own planes are g.” “Armed reconnaissance before the Netherlands coast yielded great suc- cesses,” it added. “As previously re- ported in a special announcement, two cruisers and one destroyer were sunk by bomb hits, an additional cruiser was struck by a bomb, one merchant ship of 29,000 tons and four transports were destroyed.” High Command Communique. The text of the communique: “The “fortification of Holland’ has capitulated because of the hopeless fight against superior attacks by German troops on land and from the air. In Belgium our divisions, sharply pursuing the retreating en- emy, reached a position on the Dyle River. “A crossing of the Meuse was forced on & broad front between Namur and Givet. French counter- attacks with tanks on the western embankment were repulsed. “German fighting planes and de- stroyer plane units participated in (See BERLIN, Page A-5.) ‘Down With Yugoslavia,’ Italians Shout in Fiume By the Associated Press. SUSAK, Yugoslavia, May 15— Crowds of Italians, shouting “Down with Yugoslavia!” stoned Yugoslav homes and business offices today at Fiume, Italy, across the border from Susak. The demonstrations began last night and continued this morning without interference from police. ‘Throngs, which also yelled “Hur- rah for war!” hurled stones across the Yugoslav-Italian frontier into Susak, smashing many windows. Glance were described as “scheduled maneuvers.” ‘The report high-lighted mount- ing uneasiness throughout. the Mediterranean area, where Yugoslavia has mobilized her fighting forces against the fear of an Italian invasion. The German assertion that Nazi troops had “plerced” the Maginot Line extension in the sixth day of the war in the west was disputed in Paris. ' The French high command ad- mitted Nazi legions have crossed the river Meuse under the im- petus of a massive attack—both by land and air—but said the Ger- man tide had been stemmed and hurled back 6 miles. A Dutch radio report said Ger- . man motorized troops were - ing into The Hague, the Dutch capital, which capitulated Iate Eelco N. Van Kleffens, in Paris, estimated that his country's army had suffered 100,000 men killed—or one-fourth of its total strength of 400,000, T E flfl /‘“II‘I’“UL [ ”fl'/// - Another Version of the Little Dutch Boy! Commitiee Approves 8-Month W.P.A. Fund 0f $975,650,000 House Members Hit Abuses, but Report They Are Lessening By the Associated Press. A $975,650,000 W. P. A. appropria- tion, spendable in eight months if necessary, was recommended today by the House Appropriations Com- mittee which reported a lessening of “abuses” in relief administration. The W. P. A. appropriation, which the committee approved as Presi- dent Roosevelt had requested it, was part of a $1111,754819 emergency relief supply bil for the fiscal year July 1. The committee sent the bill to the House floor. At the same time, it reported to the House thet the administration of relief heretofore had been marred by abuses including improvement of private property at public ex- pense, over-manned projects, “pad- | ded sponsors’ contributions” and in- adequate supervision and operation of projects on which a high per- centage of non-relief labor was re- quired. Louisiana Worst Case. ‘The worst situation found by the subcommittee which investigated W. P. A, the appropriations group said, was in Louisiana, where some State officials have faced criminal charges. The committee’s report de- clared that it was “incompre- hensible” that Federal officials, “at least in Louisiana, were not cogniz- ant of the waste and diversion and misapplication of funds.” The $975,650,000 W. P. A. appropri- ation was compared with a $1,477,- 000,000 relief outlay for the full 12 months of the current year. The committee said the sum would provide employment for an average of 1,330,000 persons if used over a 12-month period or 1,950,000 on an eight-month basis. Permission to use the money in eight months, if necessary, was rec- ommended, the committee said, on President Rooscvelt's request that this be done and in the light of re- ports showing a decline in indus- trial activities since January, when the Chief Executive made his orig- inal request for $975850,000 for 12 months. Employes’ Number Restricted. ‘While clearing the way for ex- penditure of all the money in eight months, the committee—without ex- plaining why—wrote into the law restrictions on the total number of persons who could be employed in the five months from July 1 until after the November elections. These restrictions, which the committee said were based on W. P. A.'s estimates of its own needs, were a top of 1,700,000 persons for the months of July, August and Septem- ber; 1,800,000 for October and 2,000,- 000 for November. House leaders arranged to take up the big relief measure today after completing work on the farm ap- propriation. In addition to W. P. A. funds the measure , as recommended by the Appropriations Committee, $115,000,000 for rural rehabilitation (8ee APPROPRIATIONS, Page A-3) Communist Party lllegal, Canadian Court Rules By the Associated Press. OTTAWA, Ontario, May 15 —Jus- Edgar Rhevrier Wanted: Men For Jobs Now Available ‘Wanted: Not jobs, but men to fill them. The District Employment Center, which usually finds things the other way around, announced today it had more jobs than men in certain flelds. It youre a white, experienced bricklayer, carpenter, paperhanger or “automobile , you can walk into the Employment Center and walk out to & job. The Employment Center also is in need of experienced white men and women for all types of hotel and restaurant work. Edwin W. Jones, acting director of the center, said it looked like more jobs were opening up, that the need for more men was more than a sea- sonal shortage. The number of calls, he said, had shown a consistent increase over last year. May, 1939, was the biggest placement month in the history of the service, he said, and this month seems to be even bigger. Financial Markets Improve as War Panic Subsides Stocks Rebound as Heavy Buying Develops in Steel, Motors and Aircrafts By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 15.—Financial markets generally improved today, led by a brief but vigorous rebound in the New York Stock Exchange, after yesterday’s demoralized sell- ing attributed in Wall Street to fears of an early German victory in Europe. : After a further sag in the open- ing transactions, on top of Tues- day’s drops of $2 to $19 a share, stocks quickly turned upward, as heavy buying swept through steels, motors and aircrafts, many rising $3 to $6 above yesterday’s final prices. Wheat prices at Chicago tumbled 10. cents a bushel today, the second consecutive session in which the market has declined as much as trading rules permit. Heavy selling broke out in the excited pit agair as traders sought to evaluate the world-wide economic effect on the German thrusts into allied defense positions on the west-, ern front. Prices were the lowest since early last winter. Brokers said financial sources were turned to the view the war would carry on for some time, making heavy demands ypon the United States for materials, despite the suc- cess of the German thrust in the Netherlands. President May Cancel Trip West Because Of War Crisis Plans Now Uncertain; Busy With Draft of Defense Message By JOHN C. HENRY. Pending clarification of the deeply disturbing European crisis, President Roosevelt’s plans for a June trip to the West Coast are extremely in- definite and tentative, it was an- nounced at the White House today, with no details or itinerary being worked out. For the time being, the Chief Executive is devoting virtually all his time to the drafting of his spe- cial defense message, expected to embrace a request that Congress approve an immediate supplement- ary program costing in the neigh- borhood of a billion dollars. With today’s calling list trimmed, Mr. Roosevelt conferred with Dr. Paul Van Zeeland, former Prime Minister . Belgium, at noon, and had a luncheon conference with Gerard Swope, retired industrialist. This afternoon Mr. Roosevelt was to appear briefly at the White House garden party for disabled veterans. Deeply upset by reports coming from his country, Mr. Van Zeeland told reporters as he left the White House that he hoped to get passage on a trans-Atlantic Clipper on Fri- day for return to Europe and im- mediate enlistment in the Belgian Army. If Clipper accommodations are not available, he said he would leave by boat on Sunday. The_former Belgian Premier de- clined to reveal the nature of his conversations with the President. The proposed Western trip was announced tentatively by the Presi- dent at Warm Springs last month. At that time he said he hoped to leave Washington around June 10 and be away approximately 21 days, perhaps going as far as Alaska. The President has found time in the last 18 heurs to sign 13 bills, among them measures amending the National Defense Act, relating to Army enlistments, and to the max- imum authorized strength of the Army Medical Department. Also approved was a deficiency appropri- ation bill for the Departments of State, Commerce and Justice and for the judiciary. An authorizatipn for the Secretary of Interior to lfiguire property for the Antietam bRttle- fleld site in Maryland likewise was Rain, Wet Grounds Keep Griffs Idle By the Associated Press. DETROIT, May 15.—Today’s base- ball game between the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers was postponed due to rain and wet grounds. The Nationals move on to Cleveland, where they open a series with the Indians tomorrow. ‘All Is Well, Ex-Kaiser's Aide Reports From Border Town By LOUIS P. LOCHNER, Associated Press Foreign Correspondent. Congress fo Get Defense Fund Plea Tomorrow President Rushes Special Message; Quick Approval Seen By the Associated Press. President Roosevelt sped work to- day on his request for an extraore dinary defense program expected to cost $976,000,000, but the White House said he still would be unable to whip it into shape for submis~ sion to Congress before tomorrow. The Chief Executive worked until 2 am, the White House said, and then directed that his calling list for today be held to a minimum so that he could continue drafting the request, which—after his own re- armament appeal and that of Gen. John J. Pershing yesterday—seemed almost certain of quick approval by Congress. While the President has decided on the amount he will request to bulwark the Army and Navy, it was said the figure would not be dis- closed until the message reached Capitol Hill. Larger Fleet Held Essential. The Senate Naval Committee con- tributed to the armament discussion by submitting a recommendation for an 11 per cent fleet expansion bill, saying the resultant defense force would be so effective “that few nae tions, not excluding victorious totali= tarian nations, will challenge its power.” Recommending expansion of fleet and air bases, the report declared the United States must have a Navy capable of controlling the sea ap- proaches to this country and which must be supplemented by a strong land-based air force: It said an air force alone would not be sufficient, obse: that the United- States might be defeated by enemy close to American shores from which fihen could attack industrial cen- The report, prepared by Chairman Walsh, argued against concentra- tion of wartime power, assertin that American entry into the Euro- pean conflict would be certain to be followed by a regimentation of authority which would make this practically a totalitarian Govern- ment. More Panama Bases Urged. The committee said the United States was not vulnerable to direct attack by any means whatever “save those with which a thoroughly modern navy and air force can deal adequately. Observing that future considera- tion of a two-ocean fleet may be necessary, the committee recom- mended extension of the existing submarine and naval air bases in the Panama Canal area. It said it might be desirable to consider the question of building a canal across Nicaragua. “In the Pacific,” the report said, “we should maintain an impreg- nable fleet and air base in Hawaii; complete or undertake the construc- tion of the air and submarine bases recommended by the Hepburn (naval) Board at Unalaska, Sitka and Kodiak, Alaska, and the air and submarine bases at Midway, Wake, Johnson, Palmyra, Canton, and in * the mid-Pacific Ocean. “We should make Guam a link in our scheme of national defense by developing its harbor and facile ities, and maintaining there an op- erating force of submarines and long-range patrol planes. It will then stand as a sentinel of the sea— a far-flung lookout, to furnish vital information to the defense line of our fleet wherever it may be. Caribbean Air Base Favored. “In the Atlantic, we must improve our bases at Hampton Roads, Va.; Pensacola, Fla.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and complete the bases re- cently authorized at Quonsett Point, R. I; Jacksonville, Fla, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. “Serious consideration should be given the question of acquiring, if possible, places in the Caribbean area for additional United States (8ee DEFENSE, Page A-5.) Dutch Give Indies Governor Powers for Emergency