Evening Star Newspaper, May 18, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Increasing cloudiness tonight; tomorrow mostly cloudy; local showers; little change in temperature; lowest tonight about 56. Temperatures today—Highest, 75, at 1 p.m.; lowest, 53, at 6 a.m. From the United States Weather Bureat report. ® Full Getalls on Page A3 - Closing New York Markets—Sales, Page 15 88th YEAR. No. 35,081 ah WASHINGTON, D. C., ' SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1940—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. LT WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star ’From Press to Home ’ Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every evening and Sunday morning. Associated Press. THREE CENTS. NAZIS IN ANTWERP, SMASH NEARER PARIS ' Waves of 80-Ton Tanks Hurled at French; Reynavd Takes War Reins 60 Miles From Goal, Reich Says; Defense Co Allies’ Retreat Declared Rout In Some Places By LOUIS P. LOCHNER. Associated Press Foreign Correspondent. BERLIN, May 18.—Germany’s mighty forces raced into strategic Antwerp today while to the south their left wing thundered to within 60 miles of Paris, authorized sources said, and to the north their right wing mopped up in Southern Hol- land, where resistance on islands of Zeeland Province crumbled. . Heavy attacks by Nazi warplanes against enemy troops reeling chk under the impact of the onrushing warriors were reported by the high command to have turned the allied withdrawal into a retreat which “at & number of places resembled a rout.” High Points of Drive. Three high points of the pounding drive in theg w:’:t toward Belgian and French channel ports facing Eng- land and toward Paris stood out in German reports: 1. Advance guards in Northern France cut through to within 60 miles of Paris while the main army is within 100 miles of the French capital. (Paris, however, insisted the Gerrmans at lno) point were er than 100 miles. ne;:rAntwerp was entered today and the swactika flag raised over the City Hall following yesterday's sweep in Belgium which netted Brussels, 28 miles south of Antwerp, Mechelen (Malines) and Louvain. 3. The last vestiges of Dutch re- sistance on Walcheren Island, part of Zeeland Province, was eliminated as the Dutch Army commander offered his ‘capitulation, while on the islands of Schouwen and South Beveland more than 2,000 Dutch and French were captured. Dash at Freach Capital. After a 62-mile-wide wide hole in Northern Prance in the Maubeuge-Montmery region, the German Army dashed on madly in & rush for the French capital. The German high command etched in stark language the speed and the weight of the drive south of Maubeuge, which is about 120 miles airline northeast of Paris. It said: “South of Maubeuge German armored forces penetrated French frontier fortifications, dispersed two enemy divisions and pursued the rereating enemy beyond the upper Smibre (River) in a southward direction as far as the uppor Oise (River). . “Infantry divisions are now closely lollowing up in tremendous marches. Many among the defeated French troops were made prisoners and large supplies captured.” South of there, south of Sedan in the region where the main Magi- not Line has its western anchorage, the high command said “we gained ground in a southerly direction.” Forts Broken at 2 Places. The entry into Antwerp, important and heavily fortified port at the northern end of the allied lines, was reported by the German official news agency at almost the same time as the high command communique, re- viewing yesterday’s developments, had announced “we succeeded in breaking into the outer ring of the Antwerp fortresses at two places.” (A Belglan communique said Belgian troops “in Antwerp province especially” inflicted heavy losses on the Germans. British and French spokesmen said the withdrawal in Central Belgium followed plan and was made necessary because of devel- opments in the south.) Cleaning up resistance in the province of Zeeland in the Nether- lands northwest of Antwerp and seizure of Antwerp will enable the Germans to aim for chiannel bases facing England and {v seek to turn the allied flank downward toward Paris. The high command reported that newly seized Dutch coastal batteries (See BERLIN, Page A-10.) U. S. Liner Leaves lfaly - With 1,100 Americans By the Associated Press, GENOA, Italy, May 18.—The United States liner Washington sailed for New York today with 1,100 American fugitives from the war crowding her cabins and overflowing dnto her lounges. Most of those fleeing the war dan- gers were from the Balkans. Two thousand more are expected to fol- low soon on the Italian liner Rex. ANKARA, Turkey, May 18 (#).—The United States Embassy today ad- vised American nationals to leave ‘Turkey as soon as possible for the United States. ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, May 18 (&). —American residents in Egypt are sending their families home in in- creasing numbers in view of the uncertainty of “the Mediterranean situation. Eighty Americans from the Alex- andria district alone are scheduled Reynaud Takes Over War Reins, Naming Petain Vice Premier Daladier Gets Foreign Ministry; Aim Is to Consolidate Leaders By the Assoctated Press. PARIS, May 18.—In a sudden re- construction of the French cabinet Premier Paul Reynaud took charge of the War Ministry and named Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, World War hero, Vice Premier and Edouard Daladier Foreign Minister. A communique from the Premier’s office said the changes were made in the interest of combining political and military leadership in one man —Reynaud, The Premier- will be assisted MasshelPétain in his leadership. Marshal Petain, who will be 84 years old next Friday, until today was France's Ambassador to Spain, where he was sént when Frince recognized the civil war conquest of Generalissimo Francisco 'anco’s Nationalists. Marshal Petain became a Minister of State as well as vice premier. M. Reynaud, who succeeded M. Daladier as premier last March 21, took the war and national defense portfolio he had given to M. Daladier at that time and turned over to him the Ppost of foreign minister. Camille Chautemps had been vice premier. Georges Mandel, who had been Minister of Colonies, replaced Henri Roy as Minister of Interior when the latter declined to accept a post in the reorganized government. Louis Rollin, who was Minister of Commerce, took M. Mandel's place and Leon Barety, a Deputy belonging to the Left Republican alliance, took the commerce post. The reorganization was announced shortly after sirens had sounded an air raid alarm and while Parisians were in air raid shelters. It ended at 5 pm.. Marshal Petain returned to Paris from Madrid only this morning and the cabinet changes were announced after a series of conferences of va- rious Jeaders and a meeting of the inner war cabinet. U. S. Ambulance Drivers Working Day and Night By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 18.—James Wood Johnson, president of the American Volunteer Ambulance Corps, announced that a cable re- ceived today from the corps’ French office disclosed that members of the corps were working day and night near the front lines, but were unable to care for the great number of casualties. The message also disclosed the loss of a sixth ambulance in a week. The cable, dispatched by Col. James V. Sparks, head of the corps in France, said: “Regarding the 10 ambulances sent out with the Anne Morgan group, one is known to be lost, five still are out in the north of France evacuating civilians. Four returned for repairs to ambulance bodies. Eight men (drivers) arrived from Italy Wednesday, leaving Sunday to relieve greatly overworked members of thes Gen. and Myron Herrick sections now operating day and night near the front lines; ut- terly incapable of handling all wounded in sector - but - evacating very large number of serious cases ta field hospitals.” - Fascist Envoy Sees Ribbentrop, Radio Says BY the Associated Press. LONDON, May 18.—The Exchange Telegraph News Agency quoted the Berlin radio as saying that'German Foreign Minister Joachim von Rib- bentrop today received the new, Italian Ambassador, Dino Alfieri, Horrors of War! Full page of pictures of the blitzkrieg in Belgium and Sight of the refugees, Page A5, to'ssil on May 22 on the American Exoort Liner Excambion. A - P Refugees Fleeing From Belgium Suffer From German Bombings A. P. Newsman, Under Nazi Plane Fire, Describes Horrors on French Roads By H. TAYLOR HENRY, Associated Press Foreign Correspondent. PARIS, May 18.—Fleeing crowds of (three words censored) ref- ugees from Belgium and Northeastern France are streaming toward the interior while the French Army meets the trip-hammer blows of the invading German shock forces. I have just returned to Paris from a week’s stay along the sector where the fighting is now heaviest. For more than 70 miles I bicycled along roads packed with slowly plodding peasants and automobiles and convoys moving in the opposite direction. I started back to Paris 24 hours ago from Cambrai after being bombed for more than an hour (four words censored). At least 30 old men, women and children were killed. The fighting in this first of really modern battles has been terrific, like nothing before in history. No Comparison With Last War. A French officer who fought in the last war told me “there can be no comparison between this battle and the worst ones of the last war. Two hours of this is worse than two days of the battle for Verdun.” Verdun was the greatest center of resistance to the German in- vasion during the World War and both the French and Germans suf- fered tremendous losses. Losses are reported (two words censored) heavy. . As P. J. Philip of the New York Times and I were setting out early yesterdsy for on bi- by morning for Paris cycles, the only means of tra & . German dive-| us. ult loosed five bombs on railroad We against a wall amidst a shower of bricks and glass and then raced to a shelter to avoid the plane's spraying ma- chine gun bullets as it returned. I pedaled back toward the hotel. Again the planes attacked. The bombs fell a block away. They were bigger bombs this time. The force of the explosion knocked me off the bicycle, ripping the back wheel to pleces. Ducks to Escape Plane Attack. Again the plane returned to ma- chine gun attack. Again I ducked to the cover of a wall. A French ma- Jor who slept in the hotel room next to mine the night before was among those killed. I recalled he had said to me, “If they get one 6f us and the other escapes it will be pretty nice shoot- ing, won't it?” l:Ve were not over 50 yards apart when they got and I escaped with only brulle}sl‘l,n Screams of the wounded after the bombing were ghastly. One woman with arteries severed in both legs was holding a small baby in her arms, crooning to it. . An old man hobbled around try- ing to stop the flow of blood spurt- ing from the stump of his arm. A baby huddled in the corner of the station kept wailing “Mama, mama.” Bombs destroyed the hotel which for a week had been my headquar- ters between trips to the front. Everything I had, including a typewriter and a steel trench helmet issued by the American Embassy, was lost. I prevailed on a terror-stricken boy on a bicycle to repair my wheel. Philip and I started out again for Paris. As we left a squadron of at least 30 planes was bombing and machine-gunning behind us. We saw billowing clouds of smoke rising from burrning towns and villages as we pedaled 70 miles to the next halting place. Unbroken Columns of Refugees. From every hill unbroken columns of refugees could be seen winding down to the main highway. Nazi planes were flying every- where singly and in squadrons up to 30. Time and time again we (See HENRY, Page A-4.) Glass Eye Explodes SALEM, Oreg, May 18 (P— Naomi Merrick’s glass eye exploded, inflicting severe cuts in the interior of the eye socket. The accident was attributed to expansion caused by heat. Her in- Jury is not serious, unter-Attack Furious * Massed Artillery, Mechanized Units Resist Drive By the Associated Press. PARIS, May 18—The Germans, hurling wave after wave of tanks into the stiffening French lines, to- day widened the pocket they had carved out in the great battle in Northern France, but at the expense of what the French called tremen- dous casualties. The French flung all their strength of arms and spirit into the mael- strom of battle in the north, striving with furious counterattack to block the Nazi drive on Paris pointed by almost invulnerable 80-ton tanks. The French met the German on- rush on the western side of the pocket with massed artillery fire, doggedly determined infantry and their own heavy mechanized units, Using 2,500 Tanks. The Germans were estimated to be using between 2500 and 3,000 tanks in the French pocket and French artillery at some placer was firing point blank at the lumbering monsters. Great numbers of these, accom. panied by masses of planes and fol- lowed by lighter units and infantry, were striking through the Vervins region toward the Oise River and through the Avesnes region tpward the Sambre River. Vervins is 95 miles airline north- east of Paris; Avesnes is 20 miles north of Vervins and 110 miles air- line northeast of Paris. The French reported the German progress was only “slight” in the Avesnes sector. The principal effort seemed to be around Vervins, where !rex::‘l:l;rmury not only was pour- ity of the pocket more than 60 miles airline southeast of Avesnes, and further east at Montmedy, a forti- fled position guarding the western end of the main Maginot Line, but these attacks were beaten off, the French said. The heavily armored German 80-ton tanks—impervious to any guns short of the formidable French T5s—have clashed at several points with France’s famed “land battle- ships,” military reports said. The French declared their own tanks have proved superior in combat where these giants have met. British and French fighter planes, withoyt regard to the Nazis' nu- merical superiority, were pitted against the hundreds of low-flying German machines which swept for- ward to support the Nazi ground forces. Other allied fiyers dumped what the French sald were thousands of tons of bombs on the German com- munication lines and mechanized (See PARIS, Page A-3.) Bata Firm Fined $8,000 On Wage Act Charge By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, May 18—A fine of $8,000 was imposed on the Bata Shoe Co. in United States Court yester- day for violating the Wages and Hours Act by failing to pay its em- ployes an estimated $10,000 in over- tirhe wages. The Czecho-Slovak firm, headed by Jan Bata, and with a plant at Belcamp, Md., pleaded guilty, waiv- ing the suggestion of Judge W. Cal- vin Chestnut that it offer evidence as to its innocence. 2 The amount of the fine was agreed on by the company and United States Attorney Bernard J. Flynn, who filed the allegations without the formality of an indictment. * Information that Mr. Flynn placed before the court charged the com- pany worked its employes more than 42 hours a week, failed to pay them overtime wages and failed to keep proper records. Beverly R. Worrell, attorney rep- resenting the Wages and Hours Division, Labor Department, esti- mated the overtime due totaled more than $10,000—an amount to which Joseph P. Brazy, company counsel, did not object. The War at a Glance /By the Associated Press. Antwerp, anchor of the allies’ northern flank, was claimed to- day by the Germans as Adolf Hitler’s vanguards were reported to have carried the battlefield to miles of Paris. Churchill Reported Seeking Friendlier Approach to Soviet Halifax Talk With Envoy May Pave Way to Renew Trade Negotiations By the Associsted Press. LONDON, Msy 18. — Winston Churchill's new win-the war gov- ““{ernment was saild by a reliable source today to be seeking a ‘new and more friendly approach” to im- provement of relations with Soviet Russia. Inclusion of the Labor and Liberal parties in the new cabinet was said to have paved the way for aban- donment of the so-called “stiff- necked” attitude toward the U. S. 8. R, credited to former Prime Minister Chamberlain and most of his Conservative regime. A softening of press attacks al- ready has been noted. Russian Ambassador Ivan Maisky saw Lord Halifax, foreign secretary, on Thursday, and it is understood they discussed problems raised by British contraband control—princi- pally delays in shipping and how to shorten them. It was hinted that this discussion might open the way for trade nego- tiations on a broader basis, and ultimately lead to an improvement in political relations between the two countries. A few days before Mr. Churchill took over as Prime Minister, May 10, Russian circles here said Brit- ain’s entire attitude toward reach- ing a trade agreement with the Soviet was regarded as “unsatisfac- tory.” Concerning the new government’s attitude, however, it was recalled that Mr. Churchill, in a broadcast address March 30, declared that “there is no need for Russia to be drawn into this struggle” unless she desires it. Other members of the new gov- ernment have hinted at a desire to woo Russia away from Germany. The Liberal leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, who later became air minister in the Churchill cabinet, urged on October 26, 1939, that Brit- ain take a “vigorous initiative” to improve trade and political relations with Russia. Lord Halifax on that same date in & measure condoned the Russian move into Poland after the German invasion by saying .that the Soviet step would never have been taken if Germany had not acted first. Clement R. Attlee, Lord Privy Seal in the new cabinet, said as long ago as 1937 a friendly word for Russia, asserting that, united, France, Britain and Russia could “form a force which would make any would -be aggressor think twice.” He urged such a union. Cave-In Victim, Trapped More Than Hour, Rescued A colored laborer was trapped for more an hour by a street excavation cave-in at Thirteenth place and Legation street N.W. to- day. He was completely buried for & short time. The victim, Aaron T. Ollaphant, 33, of the 700 block of Lamont street NW., was for placement of piping in the 10-foot excavation Roosevelt Emergency Powers In Arms Drive Proposed Vinson Would Give Authority to Suspend Wage-Hour and Other Regulations BULLETIN. An Appropriations Subcommit- tee sped a $1,827,491,724¢ Army bill toward Senate action today after inserting a provision to make the full sum available for emergency defense purpeses as soon as the measure becomes law. The bill cll;lried both Regular Army funds and emergency a ations asked Thursday b%ddmt Roosevelt. By the Associated Press. Chairman Vinson of the House Naval Affairs Committee proposed today that President Roosevelt be given emergency power to suspend wage and hour standards and re- lax Federal financial controls in order to eliminate “bottlenecks and delays” in the billion-dollar armament drive. Hamburg and Bremen 0il Tanks Bombed, London Reporfs Some Declared Destroyed, Others Heavily Damaged; Ten Bombers Shot Down By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 18.—The Air Min- istry today reported hits on oil storage tanks in Hamburg and Bremen during a night raid on Germany by British flyers. Some of the storage tanks were destroyed and others were heavily damaged, it said. British raiders also successfully bombed German oil tanks at Bergen, Norway, the ministry announced. Position Very Serious. An authoritative spokesman said the allies’ position “is very serious but certainly no -worse and possibly & little better than yesterday.” The press acknowledged it was the “darkest hour” since 1918, when the allied World War armies were in danger of a crushing defeat. Germany’s advance in “the battle of the Bulge” in northern France, the spokesman said, “has very much slackened, perhaps only terhporarily, but exhaustion of German uni taking part.in the operations is apparent.” Withdrawals by British and Bel- glan, he declared, conformed the movements southward and “there was no question of a break through or of troops retiring in confusion.” 10 Bombers 8hot Down. when the board walls suddenly col-| tion lapsed under the loose earth and covered him. His employer, David R. Bell, and two other workmen dug frantically they uncovered the trapped worker’s head. Firemen were sum- moned, and they .worked for an hour and 15 minutes before they were able to release him. When he was removed from the excavation m:hh:lh were hfl‘d:. but by bracing wi arms elped rescuers in extricating him. He was taken to Emergency Hospital, 3 e | with Un Representative Vinson made his proposal after hearing testimony by Navy ent experts as to “bottlenecks and delays.” dent deciared & “mations) smenperey ent 8 “naf to exisr” the Chief Exectiive and the Secretary of the Navy should be able to do these things now pro- hibited by law: 1. Make advances on naval con- tracts up to, 30 per cent before start of work or up to 100 pér cent before completion to finance con- tractors. 2. Remove present requirements for competitive bidding on naval contracts including aircraft. ‘Wage-Hour -Suspension. 3. Suspend present wage and (See DEFENSE, Page A-3) Present Personnel Held Adequate for Defense Program . No Hurried or Extansive Drafting of Outsiders Is Contemplated By JOHN C. HENRY. In the belief that existing Gov- ernment agencies and personnel are adequately equipped and familiar with all phases of national defense mobilization, the administration 1s not contemplating any hurried or extensive drafting of outside persons for assistance in this program, it was indicated at the White House today. President Roosevelt told a press conference yestérdAy that undoubt- edly some outsi would be called in at least in advisory capacity with regard to co-ordinating and expanding industrial defense activ- ities.. Today’s White House reaction on this matter was not in conflict with the President’s remarks, but rather was taken to mean that no extensive or urgent appeal for as- sistance is to be made. For instance, administration offi- cials feel confident the existing Government machinery for direct- ing a Nation-wide tightening of de- fense and co-ordinating all types of mobilization is far superior to that which existed in 1917. It was believed, however, that the whole subject was to be discussed by the President today in a luncheon conference with Bernard M. Baruch, fAnancier and chairman of the World War Industries Board. In addition to Mr. Baruch’s visit, the President was to confer today of State Sum- In Southern California By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, May 18.—South- Stocks Tumble Further With Grain Prices Shares Off $1 to $4 At Lowest Marks In Two Years BULLETIN. Secretary Wallace today asked the nation’s grain fu- tures markets to prohibit until future notice all trading in grain futures below the clos- ing prices of today. This request was made after wheat prices had declined more than 25 cents a bushel this week. Wallace explained that the Federal Government probably was without authority to re- quire cessation of trading in futures contracts, but he said he felt the markets would co- operate. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 18—Financial markets had another bad case of nerves over developments in Europe today. Stocks tumbled $1 to $4 & share to new lows for about two years and grains flopped the permissable limits of 8 and 10 cents a bushel, but buying support quickly appeared and most losses were substantially reduced. The Stock Exchange acted some- what - better than yesterday, when losses ran from $1 to $9 a share, but trading contipued at a strenuous pace and in the final dealings nu- merous issues were down $3 or $4 from yesterday's closing prices. Market Bolstered Later. Heavy buying of steeis and air- crafts in the late dealings bolstered the market, and a few issues actually registered gains at the finish, includ- ing United Aircraft, up $350, and Douglas, up $275. Westinghouse Electric converted a $4 loss into a 50-cent gain in a last-minute come- back, and losses of around $2 in United States Steel and Béthlehem were about recovered. The list generally finished lower, however, with Allied Chemical, American Telephone, American Can and Woolworth off $3 to $4, and Sears, Phelps Dodge, American Smelting, Texas Corp., Santa Fe and Moatgamery Ward down about $i to $2. Trading Pace Fast. Trading was the most active for a Saturday session since last autumn. Cotton, off as much as $2 a bale at one time, closed $1.35 to $1.55 a bale lower. Wool tumbled as much as 3.8 cents a pound and came back to close with losses of 2.4 to 2.9 cents. Raw hides finished about a cent low- er and crude rubber around % cent. Raw sugar virtually regained an early selloff. Wheat Prices Break Nearly Ten Cents CHICAGO, May 18 (#).—Wheat prices collapsed again today, falling almost 10 cents a bushel, the limit permitted by trading rules, as the market was deluge¢ with another wave of heavy selling orders in- spired by reports of German suc- cesses on the Western Front. Later the full 10 cent limit drop was reached with July contracts tumbling to 74%, the lowest for any contract quoted on the board of trade since September 1, 1939, the day the German invasion of Poland began. At this point the price of wheat showed a maximum loss this week of around 34 cents a bushel, marking the sharpest and swiftest collapse of value ever witnessed in the market in the memory of veteran traders. After the sharp break, wheat prices rallied almost 5 cents as trade rose to fever pitch but the market continued to churn excitedly and turned lower later. Wheat closed 5% to 7% cents a bushel lower. Corn lost 112 to 23 cents. Chinese Claim Recaplure Of Japanese Base By the Associated Press. HONG KONG, May 18—Central News, Chinese government agency, announced today the main Japanese force in Central China had been crushed with the recapture of Tsao- yang, which had been a Japaness base in Northern Hupeh Province. ‘The Chinese were said to have taken the city after day-long, hand- to-hand fighting in which no quarter ‘was given by either side. The Chinese earlier had reported recapture of the Japanese hase, say= ing 7,000 Japanese were killed wounded and others southward “ineutter confusion.”