Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1940, Page 3

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1940. ess A3} Germans Massing on S'Ipvakia,-Hungaria_n Frontier Threaten Rumania’ Balkans Apprehensive] As Nazis Menace Rich Oil Fields Bucharest Cancels Army Leaves, With 1,600,000 Men Held Ready By the Associated Press. BUDAPEST, May 17.—Germany was reported today to be massing whole divisions of lightning troops —mechanized and motorized forces —on the Slovak frontier of Hungary and pointed at Rumania 140 miles away. Unconfirmed advices from Vienna, | credited indirectly to German Army officers there, said all but the date had been set for a lightning march through Hungary. < The reports plunged the Balkans into new fear. Military observers expressed belief that Germany might strike into the Rumanian oil fields to keep her war machine in the west from running out of gas. (The British Broadcasting Corp. announced that Rumania had decided to cancel army leaves. Rumania is credited with an armed force of 1,600,000 men and holds a guarantee of British- French aid if she has to fight for her independence.) Rumania Conserves Ofl. The Rumanian government de- creed, meanwhile, that all oil com- panies must sell and store in their own reservoirs whatever quantity of petroleum products the army needs for possible wartime use. The army’s estimate of its possi- ble requirements was not made public, but private sources said as much as 2,000,000 tons might be purchased. The decree applied to all pro- ducers, refiners and retailers whether of foreign or Rumanian ownership. Observers regarded the measure as a new obstacle for Germany in her strenuous efforts to obtain a promised quota of 130,000 tons monthly, which is less than half filled so far in 1940. Anti-aircraft searchlights played over Bucharest last night and new sirens were tested atop the Ru- manian capital’s tallest buildings. Troops Mass in Slovakia. . A steady stream of troop trains and columns of high-speed fighting equipment, replete with artillery, tanks, armored cars, field kitchens and truck trains was reported, by way of Bratislava, to be moving into Eastern Slovakia. Slovakia, which gained a measure’ of independence under German military protection in the breakup of Czecho-Slovakia, lies across the narrow eastern point of Hungary from Northwestern Rumania—the Transylvania section (which Hun- gary lost in the World War and would like to get back.) Still otner German forces were re- ported concentrated in the Zisters- dorf section, north of Vienna, at the western tip of Slovakia. The movements in Eastern Slo- vakia were said to have started Mon- day, with Poprad chosen as tempo- rary headquarters. Hundreds of Nazi warplanes were said to be poised at Vienna and Slo- vak airports, ready to render the almost traditional “softening” ac- tion of the “blitzkrieg” technique. ‘Two days before the reported troop movenfent into Eastern Slovakia, oil refineries in the Bohemia-Moravia protectorate (another part of dis- membered Czecho-Slovakia) were said to have been advised to transfer all their stocks to warehouses and to work night and day to “meet an urgent demand.” Barges Reported Armed. For a week observers at Budapest and elsewhere along the Danube have noted an absence of German barge traffic downriver from Vienna, and some military quarters here said the craft were being fitted to carry heavy artillery, munitions and sup- plies toward Rumania. German officers quartered in ho- tels at Vienna, the capital of old Austria, were reported to have told foreigners that they had orders to march through Hungary, but that they had no idea when the jump- off would be ordered. Military observers believed the German columns could spear quickly through Hungary when and if the offensive is ordered. Apparently they held this belief despite the still undetermined attitude of Hungary— whether it is to be opposition or a grant of easy right of way. Military observers, pointing to the fact that Rumanian oil deliveries to Germany are now well over 1,000,000 tons in arrears of the quota agreed upon by the two countries, promptly linked word of the German concen- tration with what they held to be a growing German need for the en- gine fuel and lubricants. High-Grade Gasoline Needed. They said Germany’s particular need is high-grade gasoline—to power the planes she has been using by the thousands in the big drive to the west through the Netherlands and into Belgium and France. These informants held it to be a gimple matter of arithmetic. The basis of their figuring was that each of Germany’s planes burns an aver- age of 15 gallons of gasoline each hour of every 24. Not that 15 gallons is sufficient to sustain a bomber or a fighting plane for an hour in the air—150 gallons and 60 gallons, respectively, would be closer to their hourly consump- tion—but the consumption of the average plane on an around-the- clock basis would be 15 gallons an hour. Thus the observers arrive at a consumption of 360 gallons a day for the average plane—more than two hours in the air for the average bombers and six for the average te: Your Medical Bills or Dental Bills Paid by Medical-Dental Exchange « » +» without interest or charge. For full informa call REpublic 2126 or visit Albee Bulilding, 15th and Sts. N.W. ‘Berlin (Continued From First Page.) threw themselves against tanks west of Dinant were defeated. Detach- ments of the army and air force are eyerywhere pursuing the enemy, who are retreating westward. “The German air force achieved a series of successes in the morning hours of May 17. “On the Belgian front, a German air squadron composed of six Mes- serschmitt chasers within one hour shot down 13 British fighters of the Blenheim type without any losses to themselves. “In the port of Dunkirk, one de- stroyer was sunk within a few min- utes after being hit by two heavy- caliber bombs. | “Off Dunkirk, one cruiser and one | merchantment were hit by bombs | and severely damaged. 12,000 Declared Captured. “In the fight southeast of Sedan, the commander of a motorized sharpshooters’ regiment, 'Lt. Col. Balck, achieved special successes with his troops by a feat of personal fearless daring. “Until now, 12,000 persons, in- cluding two generals, have been captured in this sector, and numer- ous weapons of all kinds have been taken. e “On the southern wing our own strong forces threw back enemy relief attacks and were able to gain ground by four thrusts which fol- lowed. “On the Saar front, scouting ac- tivity continued against the Maginot Line. “As already announced by special bulletin, French long-range artillery shot at the undefended city of Rastatt without any military reason. The heaviest German batteries thereupon in reprisal opened fire on Hagenau (a French town). “In Holland, the conquest of Hol- land in Southern Zeeland is in progress. Tholen (island city) capitulated yesterday. Troop Trains Destroyed. “Rear communications in France and Belgium constituted the chief object of attack for the air force on May 16. Many stretches of railways, including highways, have been effec- tively destroyed. Troop *transport trains have been annihilated, troop concentrations and marching columns have been scattered. “Off the Netherlands - Belgian Coast, one enemy cruiser and one gunboat were sunk in the course of an attack upon enemy naval forces and transport ships. One trans- port ship was struck so heavily it had to be stranded. Two French destroyers were damaged. “In the central North Sea, one submarine after diving under was hit by a bomb and its destruction is presumed. ¥ “Before Narvik it proved possible to score a bomb hit on one battle- ship and a light cruiser and set fire to one 1500-ton tanker. “One enemy pursuit plane was shot down during air fights there. “It proved possible to relieve our Alpine troops during their defense by air attack on enemy debarka- tions and concentrations. Rein- forcements were sent to them. “Yesterday the enemy lost 59 planes all told in the west. Of these, 30 planes were shot down during air fights, eight by anti-aircraft and artillery, and the rest were destroyed on the ground. “Fifteen of our own planes are Allies Declared Routed.| The allies have been routed on the 115-mile line from Antwerp to Sedan, authorized Germans claimed. These sources asserted the allied forces were unnerved by Germany’s awe-inspiring “stukas”—dive bomb- ers—and were “in hopeless confu- sion.” For Belgium, they said, there is only one sensible choice—capitula- tion before Brussels is laid in ruins and the remaining Belglan forces annihilated “Yesterday was & big day of catas- | magnitude almost beyond compre- BELGIUM.—FIRST FRENCH PRISONERS IN BEI;GWM;A German soldier guarding a group of the first French troops captured by the Nazis on Belgian soil. The French prisoners trophies for all categories of enemy weapons,” one authorized commen- tator asserted in advance of the high command’s regular communi- que. “We have made progress of a hension.” Break Through at Louvain. Authorized sources claimed that the “Dyle position,” Belgium's sec- ond line of defense before Brussels, has been smashed at Louvain, 16 miles east of the Bejgian capital, as well as at Wavre, 12 miles south of Louvain. Belgium, it was stated, “practically is finished.” They said the remaining forts ringing Liege had surrendered. (The Brussels radio, however, broadcast today that the forts were holdmg\ out.)) At the same time it was under- stood the immunity which the Ger- mans conceded to Brussels from bombing attacks would expire today unless the German high command was satisfied that the city was strip- ped of its character as a fortified town. The commentator who claimed that yesterday was one of catas- trophies for the enemy moreover as- serted there was disunion between the English and French commands. The French, he said, are insisting on retiring before Paris to defend their capital, while the English per- sistently are heading for the coast. Stukas’ Effect Cited. An authorized commentator of- fered the following as an example of the terrifying effect of the dive bombers: A whole French battalion (about 800 men) when attacked by “Stukas” during their march was terror-stricken and spread white sheets as a sign of capitulation. The commander of the bomber forma- tion, he said, dropped a message di- recting an about-face march to a point where German troops dis- armed the men and took them | prisoner. “It is not that the French are; cowardly,” this commentator made haste to assure this correspondent. “They are gallant, brave and courageous. But there is nothing S0 unnerving as a bombing attack from the air.” Defense (Continued From First Page.) National Guard as well as for sea- coast defense anti-aircraft units. Gen. Gasser said it was not planned by the War Department to utilize at present the facilities of Muscle Shoals, Ala,, munition plant of the World War period. Representative Sparkman, Demo- crat, of Alabama commented that he thought this was a “mistake.” He declared there was a plant there, covering 200,000 acres, available for use. The plant cost $3,500,000, he asserted. Two Weeks Goal Set. Both House and Senate mani- fested, with scattering exceptions, & unanimity that almost approached the pitch of early New Deal days in 1933. Leaders set for themselves the goal of having the President’s recommendations voted in two weeks’ time. are said to be wearing uniforms and helmets similar to those worn by members of the French Tank Corps. Photograph passed by German censor. terday, were still fresh as the legis- lative wheels began to turn. There was his emphasis that it was not enough to have formidable defense plans which existed only “on paper,” and the accompanying reminder that in the last few months inadequately prepared nations had found “themselves overrun by the enemy.” ‘Wants 50,000 Planes. “Surely,” Mr. Roosevelt said, “the developments of the past few weeks have made it clear to all of our citizens that the possibility of at- tack on vital American zones ought to make it essential that we have the physical, the ready ability to meet those attacks and to prevent them from reaching their objective.” Swinging into action as soon as the President concluded speaking, House and Senate committees pointed to a short cut to start work on a program which included a rec- ommendation for a 50,000-plane air force. The contemplated short cut was to incorporate virtually all the President’s emergency plans in the regular Army and Navy bills pend- ing for. the year beginning July 1 This would obviate the need for the usual protracted committee hearings and expedite a vote in both houses. Emergency Fund Asked. ‘ ‘To add to the regular Army and Navy funds totaling $1,971,000,000, Mr. Roosevelt asked $732,000,000 for the Army and $250,000,000 for the Navy. Besides this, he requested $200,000,000 to be placed at his dis- cretion for use, if necessary, in event of emergencies affecting the na- tional security and for contract obligations related to defense needs. Analyzing the special defense message, members of Congress saw this broad program: Army—An increase in the pres- ent strength of the Regular Army and National Guard, backed by a vastly enlarged military arsenal capable of supplying a force of 1,000,000 men with the most moa- ern equipment. Navy—acceleration of the war- ship building now under way, with the goal of having a fleet “in being” of 500 vessels. Aircraft—more planes to swell the combined Army-Navy strength above the current level of 5,000. Tremendous expansion of replace- ment production capable of turning out 50,000 planes annually. Anti-air Defense. Anti-air defense—acquisition of a number of anti-aircraft batteries, detector and other equipment to go with them, and the training of anti- air personnel. Coast defense and bases—modern- ize and strengthen both. Munitions—get the Nation’s in- dustry ready, through educational orders and Government co-plan- ning, for the tremendous expansion of capacity necessary to supply the armed forces in case of attack. As lawmakers took stock of the geared-up defense program, they found it as intricate as the mechan- ism of one of the fleet units it may involve. 3 One thing quickly became ap- parent—the defense boost was likely to give the country the largest peacetime budget in its history. Approval of the extraordinary ap- Mr. Roosevelt’s somber references to “ominous days,” voiced in his surprise address to Congress yes- 4 AVENU 1320 N. Y. AVE 3900 PENNSYLYANIA ARLINGTON. V propriations, added to the regular Government expenditures already in sight, would send the outlay for % Prankfurts cooked in pure creamery butter. - % Ipswich elamo—Sweet ss & nutl HOWARD JoHnson§ E S.E. WASHINGTON FAIRFAX, VA —Wide World Radiophoto. the next fiscal year to about $10,- 000,000,000—or a billion more than the year just ended. Of the esti- mated total, almost one-third would be for national defense. Closely linked was the question of financing the preparedness spend- ing. Mr. Roosevelt made no sug- gestions on that score. Increased Borrowing Indicated. Informed congressional sources in- dicated that increased borrowing, rather than new taxes would be the method. This appeared to fore- shadow a raise in the $45,000,000,000 public debt limit, now almost reached, but the sources said action probably would not be necessary at this session. Despite the knotty financial prob- lems, many in Congress expressed agreement with the President’s as- sertion that the transcendent thing was to make the national defense invulnerable and that other consid- erations were secondary. Although Mr. Roosevelt was in & deadly serious mood delivering his message yesterday, the packed House chamber frequently halted him with applause and cheers Discussing the recommendations afterward, the one point on which Republicans reserved promises of support was the request to allocate $200,000,000 to the President for con- tract authorizations ana emergencies affecting the national security. Called Blank Check. House Republican Leader Martin referred to this as a “blank check.” “We're for the program,” he an- nounced. “However, we will want to look into this blank check propo- sition. I don't believe we should have any blank checks lying around.” Treasury officials, meanwhile, were pointing out that this particular re- quest had an exact counterpart when Woodrow Wilson was voted the same amount for defense pur- poses a few days after 1917 hostili- ties began with the central powers. The Senate yesterday passed leg- islation designed to speed up the Army’s promotion system and pro- vide younger officers in higher grades, but Senator King, Democrat, of Utah moved afterward to reconsid- er this action. Senator King declared the meas- ure had been passed so quickly that & number of members who wished to speak about it had been unable to do so. His motion must be dis- posed of before there can be final action on the bill, which already has been approved in different form by the House. Meanwhile, in anticipation that Congress will quickly authorize in- creases in the strength of the Reg- ular Army, the War Department has directed several hundred recruiting officers to prepare for a renewed drive for enlistments. Official plans contemplate enroll- ment of 50,000 men in the next few months, it was reported authorita- tively. Fifteen thousand will be added in the next few weeks. Officials said the advices to re- cruiting officers was of the general nature, and that new quotas had not been assigned. Aty TS et THE SHOP FOR THE GENTLEMAN Summer “Rambler” by SALTZ $5 other felts to $7:0 U. 5. Rushes Plans To Evacuate Cifizens From Danger Spots Vessel to Be Sent to Ireland to Pick Up Those Leaving Bri_tuin By GARNETT D. HORNER. Action to get American citizens safely out of European countries at war and threatened by possible spread of hostilities was rushed to- day in the face of what the State Department described as “another emergency.” Officials were working out plans to send an American vessels to the west coast of Ireland to pick up those Americans responding to new warn- ings to leave Great Britain. Americans in France and other Southern European countries, in- cluding Italy and Switzerland, also were being advised again to return home unless “‘urgent reasons” com- pelled them to risk their lives in further intensification of the war. They were urged to congregate at Bordeaux, France, or Spanish or Portuguese ports where American vessels may be sent to evacuate them. Plans for evacuating those trying to get out of England through con- tinental ports were abandoned yes- terday because of “increasing diffi- culties in passenger services from England to France,” the State De- partment said. Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy recommended evacua- tion through Ireland instead. The State Department pointed out that Americans in dangerous areas had been advised “repeatedly and during many months” to return to this country while travel was safer. “In spite of these warnings,” it added, “many Americans chose to stay and the department is today faced with another emergency in helping them return to the United States.” Secretary Hull said at his press conference today that details of plans for sending American ships to evacuate citizens fleeing the dan- ger zone had not been fully devel- oped, but that the matter was being given attention. It was indicated that regular passenger vessels, rather than naval craft, would be used for the evacuation, The United States Embassy in London estimated about 3,500 Amer- icans remain in the United King- dom, more than half of them in the London area. On January 1 another 5927 Americans were listed as residents of France; 19,561 in | Italy; 1,415 in Switzerland; 800 in | Hungary and 2,093 in Yugoslavia. New warnings for them to return home immediately if possible were sent out in view of fears of in- tensified bombing of France and England and “the possible spread of hostilities.” Planes (Continued From First Page.) the close of the past fiscal year, with 491 on similar duty in the Marine Corps. In announcing that the Govern- ment will be prepared to build plants for private operation, Mr. Johnson said that if the emergency reserve and will not compete in the It is estimated 30 new plants will be needed under the expansion program. At present there are some 31 plants handling military orders. The new plants would produce planes, engines, equipment and ac- cessories. President Roosevelt approved plans for Monday’s conference and also has approved the plans for the typical plane plant, it is understood. Idea Not New to Roosevelt. An air force of 50,000 Army and Navy combat airplanes has been u hope of President Roosevelt since Truss Headquarters We are very proud of our 30 years’ and more experience in properly fitting trusses. We have ex- perienced personnel for men and women. Our prices are reasonable. GIBSON'S 917 G St. N.W. The Rambler . . . is a Light Weight Felt that can take it! Shape it to your whim . . . roll it . .. treat it rough . . , ‘twill retain that certain air. A natural for town and coun- try. $5. ALTZ 1341 F BROS. INC. The Original SALTZ Store A passes these plants will be held in| open market with private industry. | the Munich crisis of September, 1938, raised the threat of air power before the eyes of a troubled world. Immediately after the fall of Czecho-Slovakia the President dis- cussed with military leaders the advisability of building up a 50,000~ ;l“rphnm e air force for the United The ides, at the time, was in view of the fact that the Air Corps’ objective then was only 2,320 airplanes. Leading aircraft manu- facturers were summoned to Wash- ington, and in conference with Mr. Johnson and other officials, it was decided tentatively to work up a 10,000-plane project. This total, however, was reduced to approxi- mately 6,000, and Congress author- 1zed building to this limit when it passed the $300,000000 Army Afr Corps expansion appropriation last year. As a result of our Army and Navy contracts and allisd war orders, the Ameri aircraft industry now is in the midst of a plant develop- ment and personnel-training pro- gram which is expected to increase its annual production capacity to approximately 15,000 military air- planes by next fall. Orderly Expansion Possible. “That part of the President’s message which contemplates ine creasing our production capacity to 50,000 military airplanes per year means rapid expansion of all manu- facturing branches of the industry, including planes, engines, propellers and accessories,” Col. John H. Jouett, president of the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America, trade association of the American aircraft manufacturing industry, said today. “Fortunately, the entire industry is in the best possible position to undertake this expansion in an orderly manner. Of our 45 airplane plants, 23 already are working on military orders. The rearmament program which started last year and quantity orders from the allies dur- ing the last several months have developed our production capacity and so changed manufacturing tech- nique that a further expansion is relatively a simple matter. In other words, we have had nearly a year on experience in expanding produc- tion. The bottlenecks that threat- ened increased production several months ago no longer exist.” 100,000 Now Employed. The aircraft industry now has 100.000 employes in the airplane, en- gine and accessory plants and is spending large amounts training new employes, Col. Jouett reported. “From preliminary study,” he said, “the program outlined in the Presi- dent’s message would seem to i volve slightly more than a three- fold increase in the number of em- ployes, with the plants working on a full-shift basis; at the same time tripling floor space of the airplane manufacturing plants and doubling the floor space of the engine plants. “It should be realized that normal peace time procedure in Government rocurement of aircraft equipment must be somewhat modified in order to speed up production. Certain de- partmental interpretations of exist- ing laws probably will have to be changed in order to develop the sub- contracting system to the fullest possible extent.” Leaders of the aircraft industry, interviewed in various parts of the country by the Associated Press, were in general agreement with the head of their trade association. Donald W. Douglas, president of the Douglas Aircraft Co. Monica, Calif,, said when asked about the 50,000 airplane program: “We can do it. No task is tov great and no accomplishment impossible for a free people united in loyalty and love of its country.” Philip G. Johnson, president of the Boeing Aircraft Co. Seattle, expressed a belief that the American aircraft industry could expand suf- ficlently to meet the demands of such a program. “If President Roosevelt wants to. open the throttle for a 50,000-plane takeoff, the American airplane in< dustry is ready to go—and go right now,” said Robert E. Gross, presi= dent of Lockhead Aircraft Corp., Los Angeles. “There is still much excess production that can be de- veloped, inasmuch as few, if any, companies are working three shifts and the majority not even two fulk crews.” Program Declared a Challenge. Richard W. Miller, president of the. Vultee plant in Southern California, said: ‘This will challege the in- genuity of America’s fastest growe ing industry. Accomplishments in the past month, however, can leave- no doubt in the minds of the American public that this challenge can and will be met.” o Consolidated Aircraft Corp. Sam Diego, pledged 100 per cent co< operation and announced it is ready to push production to maximum. speed at once. The company builds long-range Navy patrol flying boats and four-engined bombers for the Army, Dodge Group Planning : Huge Newport News Plant NEW YORK, May 17 (®.—Om the heels of President Roosevelt's request for a 50,000-plane air force; Charles Cone of Miami Beach, Fla., announced here today that a group headed by Horace E. Dodge, of the Detroit automobile family, planned to open a huge plane and enging factory in Newport News, Va. “Things have happened rapidly since the President’s speech yess terday,” said Cone. “We already have our own landing field in News port News, near the plant building, which covers about three acres.” LVERN “TOPS” WITH ALL THE FAMILY At Your Nearest Dealer WILLIAMS ILOMAT HEATING Now you can easily afford the great comforts of an Oil-O- Matic. Find out about the “Thrift Meter” and how it gives money-saving “Meas- ured Heat.” COLONIAL FUEL OIL 1709 De Sales St. N.W. 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