Evening Star Newspaper, May 21, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Partly cloudy tonight; tomorrow mostly cloudy, followed by showers in afternoon or night; lowest tonight about 60. Tem- peratures today—Highest, 77, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 62, at 4 am. From the U“lted States Weather Bureau report. Full details on Page A-2. Closing New York Markets, Page 20. 88th YEAR. No. 35,084 @ _WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION e Foening Star WASEING‘TON, D. C., TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1940—FORTY-TWO PAGES. #** ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every (P) Means evening and Sunday morning. Associated Press, THREE CENTS. NAZIS CLAIM DRIVE HAS REACHED COAST, REPORT FRENCH ARMY ON MEUSE CRUSHED Gen. Giraud and Staff Capfured erlin Says; Arras and Amlens Fall Failure to Blow Up Bridges Blamed by Reynaud for Collapse in Belgium BULLETIN. SKOPLIJE, Yugoslavia, between Yugoslavia and May 21 (#).—The frontier Italian-held Albania was closed late today by Italian order. PARIS (#.—Small detachments of German motorcycle troops have penetrated in the outskirts of the Abbeville region, near the English Channel, admitted tonight. By the Associated Press. a French spokesman Nazi blitzkrieg columns slashed to within sight of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, 69 miles away, and swept across the northern plains of France to a point 12 miles from high command announced today. Premier Reynaud of France taken Amiens and Arras—west of in their race to the sea. the English Channel, the German admitted that the Germans had the St. Quentin-Cambrai sector— “We must take immediate decisions,” Reynaud told the French Senate, freely confessing that the classical French concept of war had been jarred by swift-striking Nazi mechanized raids and parachute troops. The German high comman d also declared its forces had smashed their way to Abbeville, 12 miles from the English Channel. sl ¢ L Reich Drive to Coast, (Page of War Pictures, A-5.) By the Associated Press. BERLIN, May 21.—In 2 lightning | break through, the Nazis declared today that they had stormed to within 12 miles of the English Channel while their vanguards on the southern front pushed within sight of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Germans reported these suc- cesses: 1. Capture of Abbeville, Amiens and Arras in the drive toward the English Channel. 2. Crushing oi France’s 8th Army and the capture of a French com- mander, Gen. Giraud, with his staff. 3. Elimination of the last allied resistance in Rethel, the capture of Laon and an advance to the Aisne- Oise Canal on the southern edge of the “bulge” in Northern France. 4. Capture of the last fort in Bel- | gium’s Namur fortifications, attacks east of Ghent and frustration of an | “enemy attempt to force a way out | southward from Valenciennes.” 5. Heavy damage by air attack to transports, merchantment and war vessels on the French-Belgian coast; bomb hits on a British battleship | and heavy cruiser off the Norwegxan; coast. Allies Appear to Be Cut Off. ‘The racing plunge to Abbeville, about midway between the French Channel ports of Dieppe and Bou- | logne, was said by Nazis to have| put Adolf Hitler's army in -position for a battle which might bring de- struction to the British expendition in France, as well as to a large segment of the Belgian-French de- fenses. Opposing the German march, Nazis have estimated, are about 300,000 British, 250,000 Belgians and 1,000,000 French troops. In the drive westward, called by the Germans a march of unprece- dented magnitude, the Nazi armies apparently had succeeded in cutting off the mass of allied troops fighting for the past 12 days on Belgian soil. | They said the developments of the past 24 hours—apparently carrymgv the Nazis farther at some points | than the German armies pushed throughout the World War—indi- cated the allies were on the verge of paralyzing losses in Belgium and Northern France. The Germans seemed confident that they had bottled up the whole Britisn expeditionary force. Acidly. these sources asserted that the English were fleeing to the chan- nel ports to embark for home “in the century-old conviction that the British Isles are invincible.” In the dozen days since crossing the Belgian border May 10 the Ger- mans have raced a total of 240 miles, first toward Paris and then in a strategic shift toward the coast. Their speed averages about 20 miles (See BERLIN, Page A-3.) A Useful Map Suggestions have been re- ceived by The Star that the large relief map of France— showing the battle lines— printed in Sunday’s Star, be made available on heavy paper for Star readers who may find it useful in follow- ing day-to-day progress of the war. The map, enlarged, and printed on stiff paper, is now being reproduced. Copies will be available this afternoon and will be on sale at The Star business counter for 3 cents each. The number of these maps 'Why Line Broke By the Associated Press. PARIS, May 21.—Premier Rey- naud announced in the Senate to- day that the Germans had taken Amiens and Arras and freely con- fessed that the classical Prench concept of war had come up against something new in deep motorized raids and parachutists. Telling the Senators “the truth” because it alone “can save the fatherland,” the Premier declared “we must take immediate decisions.” M. Reynaud spoke about 10 min- utes, after which the session ad- journed, leaving the government free to call another when it deemed it necessary. He explained the disorganization of the army assigned to hold the line of the Meuse River in Belgium by disclosure that French divisions “were less numerous” in that sector. Best Troops in Belgium. “The best troops had been sent farther into Belgium,” the Premier continued, declaring that made it “easy” for enemy mobile units to penetrate into the Meuse region. The Premier laid part of the blame (here three words censored) for the Nazi advance on the failure of French defenders to blow up bridges across the Meuse. ‘These faults “will be punished,” he | shouted and the Senate, which had | been listening in somber silence, | broke into cheers. The Premier’s announcement in- dicated a 25-mile German advance within the past 24 hours. At the same time, a semi-official French news report said “the whole region behind Cambrai,” east of the German thrust through Arras and Amiens, “is being burned sys- tematically by incendiary bombs.” M. Reynaud told the Senators that the French withdrawal started when the army of Gen. - Andre George Corap (here one word cen- sored), famed in France as the con- queror of Abd-el-Krim, was forced to fall back from their advance po- | sitions in Belgium to the line of the Meuse River. Explaining the first phases of the operations, M. Reynaud said that when the Germans invaded Hol- land, Belgium and Luxembourg, the French were forced to move for- ward to meet them out of théir line of prepared fortifications along the Belgian frontier. It was then, M. Reynaud said, that the enemy launched its attack, forcing Gen. Corap’s advancing army to withdraw. “One would think the Meuse REPORTED CAPTURED— Gen. Henri Honore Giraud, identified Saturday as com- manding “groups of armies” in the “Battle of the Bulge,” may be the Gen. Giraud re- ported captured with his staff by German Armies advancing in Belgium. —Wide World Photo. Nazi Troops Gaining Second Wind for Drive for Channel One of War's Hottest Actions Fought in Town On Edge of Salient By DREW MIDDLETON, Associated Press War Correspondent. WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDI- TIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE, May 20 (Delayed: Passed by military censor.) —British troops fought stub- bornly today along one side of a German salient thrusting north- westward toward English Channel ports. (Note: This dispatch was writ- ten before Mr. Middleton re- turned to London with other correspondents, on ‘orders of the B.E.F) The Nazi salient, driven at head- long speed after the Sedan break through, is many miles wide at its mouth and many miles deep. Tonight it lies like a broad bayonet pressed to the heart of the British and French Empires and is the gravest factor in the allied military situation. Even if the status is no worse than it was 24 hours ago, it remains ex- tremely grave. One of the war’s hottest actions was fought by the allies against the Germans in a town on the edge of the salient, which is tactically important as a junction of the roads leading north and west to the Low Countries and sout and east to the center of France. . Gaining Second Wind. German. troops: in the salient, buttressed and screened by hundreds of tanks and armored cars, appeared to be gaining their second wind voday. Execept for a big battle at the town mentioned above, there were no other large-scale engagements along the front, which is still as in- (See PARIS, Page A-3) (See MIDDLETON, Page A-4) Hint London Is By LOUIS P. LOCHNER, Assoclated Press War Correspondent. WITH THE GERMAN WESTERN ARMIES, May 21.—The famous Eif- fel Tower of Paris was clearly visible to the advance guards of Adolf Hit- ler's forward-dashing army this morning, but it was by no means certain that the Fuehrer would en- deavor to capture the French capital in a hurry. He seemed more concerned with routing Belgian, French and English troops headed for the French coast of the English Channel. No less a man than Gen. Walther von Reichenau, commander of the 8th Army, was selected to perform this task. Yet even Gen. von Reichenau was not too busy to offer a welcome 1s limited. to American correspondents visiting Eiffel Tower in Sight, but Nazis First Goal Hitler More Interested in Channel Drive Than in Quick Capture of Paris the German western armies as Hit- ler’s personal guests. Gen. von Reichenau is credited with knowing every detail of Ger- many’s famous pincer tactics. He covered himself with glory during the Polish campaign by a practicgl illustration of how these tactics can be applied. London Hitler’s First Goal. With Gen. von Reichenau’s army on the right wing apparently head- ing in the direction of the PFrench and Belgian coastal points and with the left wing gradually moving southward, Hitler could afford to let the center take care of itself, as in- dicated in YQMIYI high com- mand comm Pariy will nu into his lap, he feels, like & ripe apple from & tree (Bee Brmsh Admit Loss Of Cruiser and Minelayer By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 21.—Loss of the 9,550-ton cruiser Effingham and the minelayer Princess Victoria was an- nounced today by the Admiralty on the darkest day of the war for Britain, menaced by threat of Nazi invasion. Intense anti-aircraft fire off the southeast coast was heard twice this afternoon, mingled with the drone of airplane engines high over- head. Seacoast residents described the firing as so intense that “every- thing shook and trembled.” The Effington was lost “as a re- sult of damage sustained through striking an uncharted rock off the Norwegian coast.” It was the first cruiser the British have reported officially lost since the war began. Commander Lost, ‘The minelayer Princess Victoria was sunk by a German mine with four officers, including the com- mander, and 31 men missing and feared lost. Eighty-five survivors were landed at an east cost port yes- terday. Twenty-four required hos- pital treatment. Latest reports reaching London said the British expeditionary force is fighting it out on assigned posi- tions—determinedly and in good spirits. On the line south of the British positions the situation was de- scribed as obscure. London sources said German claims of deep pene- tration were based on limits reached by small, fast-moving mechanized units left “dangerously open to flank action.” Geérman claims that their drive to the sea had captured Amiens, Arras and Abbeville, 12 miles from the English Channel, were charac- terized as “grossly exaggerated.” The average Londoner received the news with the comment: “It's bad—but it was bad last time and we won.” Air Attacks Continue. Meanwhile, continued air attacks at bases behind the German lines were pictured in vivid terms. A government spokesman told of Brit- ish fighter planes clashing with tremendous waves of the enemy’s air force, shooting down bombers in fierce fighting in the clouds. German fuel storage depots at Rotterdam were the target again of British night bombing attacks. The government spokesman said the bombings threw behind-the-lines communications into confusion and wrecked many gasoline storage tanks. Direct hits at Rotterdam that sent yellowish smoke columns 7,000 feet into the air were described. Despite heavy shrapnel fire from ground batteries, damage to the raiding bombers was termed slight. Four British merchant ships to- taling 8,995 tons and one allied ves- sel of 316 tons admittedly were sunk “by enemy action” during the week ended May 10. Reich Steamship Sunk. The Admiralty, at the same time, issued a report that the 4,541-ton German steamship Campinas was sunk by a mine May 10. It said this brought the total known German mercantile losses to approximately 630,000 tons. An additional five German ships totaling about 25,000 tons were “con- sidered sunk as a result of submarine operations,” it was said. The source estimated the total sinkings of enemy ships, whose names and exact tonnages have not been ascertained, alounted to 190, 000 tons, and the total German losses at 820,000 tons—approximately 20 per cent of Germany’s pre-war ton- nage. Since the war started up to May 14, the source said, 267 officers and men from Nazi U-boats have been captured. The spokesman said German mines reported by the South African government last week off the Cape “might have been laid” by a German surface raider, submarine or mer- chant ship which escaped from port. Allies Near Victory At Narvik, Sweden Hears By, the Assoclated Press. STOCKHOLM, May 21.—A short- age of ammunition in the German garrison at Narvik, Norwegian ore port besieged by strong allied and Norwegian forces, is reaching a crit- ical stage and occupation of the city by the attackers is imminent, re- ports from the Swedish frontler said These reports indicated that the Germans might resist to the last man rather than surrender or re- treat inlo Sweden. Reporters Leave Front LONDON, May 21 (#).—American correspondents who had been with the British Army in Belgium re- turned today to London. Among them were Drew Middleton of the Associated Press and Arthur Mann of Mutual Broadcasting System. Roosevelt Phones Landon, Confirming Parley Tomorrow No Coalition Rumors Heard at White House, Early Declares By JOHN C. HENRY. Following a personal telephone call early today from - President Rossevelt to former Gov. Alfred M. Landon of Kansas, 1936 Republican presidential candidate, the titular heads of the Nation’s two major po- litical parties will lunch together at the White House tomorrow. The subject of their conference has not been disclosed, and frequent rumors of a Democratic-Republican coalition effort in the face of the war crisis were scouted today by Stephen T. Early, secretary to the President, who declared he had heard nothing around the White House to substantiate such specula- tion. The final confirmation of the luncheon appointment followed 24 hours of confusion arising, accord- ing to the White House, out of the President’s desire to postpone his meeting with Mr. Landon until Thursday. Since the Wednesday date originally had been made through a third person—a New York Republican named Frank Altschue— the White House called Mr. Altschue to arrange the postponement. Original Date Confirmed. At this point some misunderstand- ing arose in the negotiations, and the story was published that the White House desired cancellation of the meeting. Informed of the situa- tion this morning, the President at once called Mr. Landon in Chicago and confirmed the original Wednes- day date. Meanwhile, the White House made an effort to have Representative Wadsworth, Republican, of New York, a supporter of the administra- tion’s foreign policy, lunch with the President today. It was found, how- ever, that Mr. Wadsworth is out of the city. The subject of the Landon confer- ence has never been disclosed, but its $cheduling followed a meeting last week between Mr. Roosevelt and Col. Frank Knox, Chicago publisher and vice presidential candidate with Mr. Landon in 1936. As talk of Democratic-Republican joint defense efforts spread, Mr. Landon declared on Sunday in an interview at Topeka, Kans,, that he was opposed to any suggestion that his party “lend it- self to any coalition which would tend to decrease party respon- sibility.” Willkie Favors Third-Term Bid. Meanwhile, on the political front, Wendell L. Willkie, a late but fast- running starter in the present race for the Republican presidential nom- ination, called for renomination of Mr. Roosevelt because “there are millions of Democrats who will vote Republican if he runs.” Mr. Willkie’s views were contained in an an‘article in Look Magazine, It contained the following: “It might be that Mr. Roosevelt is the only man capable of beating the Republicans, but there are millions of Democrats who would like to see -somebody else try. And there are millions of Democrats who will vote Republican if he runs. “Mr. Roosevelt is the champion New Dealer, the outstanding advo- cate of the philosophy which holds that the Government'’s control over the individual shall be extended and intensified, That is what the New Deal means, and it is the most vital issue of the national campaign ahead. “With Mr. Roosevelt in the fight, obtain a clean-cut verdict. If any other candidate is named by the will be clouded by other (See E LITICS, Page A-4) ) S defending this philosophy, we can| ope- Democrats, the big, important issue [ considera Germans Held Giraud For Three Years In World War By the Associated Press. The Germans' assértion that they have captured a “Gen. Giraud” of the French Army recalls that Gen. Henri Honore Giraud was a German prisoner for three years in the World war. Giraud, then a was wounded and captured in the battle of Guise in 1914. He in the attack on Malmaison in 1917. Now 61, Gen. Giraud re- ported commanding allied forces in the “battle of the bulge” in France. The Chicago Daily News re- ported from London that the German report was regarded in authoritative circles as an at- tempt to establish the location of Gen. Giraud and his staff headquarters. Stock Market Breaks $1 10 $13 or More in Heavy Selling Steels and Aircrafts Hard Hit; Wheat And Cotton Down By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 21.—Leading stocks broke $1 to more than $13 a share today as new selling waves toppled security and commodity markets on news of the continued German push into France. Steels, ircrafts and other- shares tagged “war babies” in recent months, were hard hit. Wall Street sources reported sizable selling or- ders from Shanghal, Far Eastern speculative center. The share market genenlly was the lowest in two years. Trading was at the pace of about | 4,000,000 shares for the full session, the largest since last September’s war-buying wave. Wheat at Chicago yielded part of the previous session’s gains, show- ing losses of about 2 cents a bushel after a partial recovery of initial de- clines ranging to 4 cents. Cotton at New ‘ York fell back about $1.50 a bale, and raw hides around % of a cent a pound. In the bond market German and Danish issues advanced. Pepper Would Allow U. S. fo Sell Part Of Air Force fo Allies Bill Gives President Discretion in Transfer Of Any Ships, Parts By J. A. O'LEARY. A resolution to authorize Presi- dent Roosevelt to sell part of this country’s air force to the allies at once was offered in the Senate today by Senator Pepper, Democrat, of Florida as that body began debate on the new defense program. Calling attention to the critical position in which the democracies find themselves on the western front, Senator Pepper declared “the best way to insure our own defense is to see that Hitlerism does not dominate the world.” Senator Minton, Democrat, of In- diana interrupted to say the Presi- dent already has authority to per- mit the allies to purchase planes in process of construction in this coun- try. Senator Pepper said he realized | | that, but explained his proposal would let Mr. Rogsevelt send them | planes already a part of the Amer- ican Army and Naval Air Force. He offered it as a move to “hel; stem the tide of barbarism,” he said. Bill Sent to Committee. His resolution, which was sent to the Foreign Relations Committee, reads: “Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in Con- gress assembled, that the President be authorized to sell and deliver ‘within the United States to the rec- -ognized governments of Great Britain, France, Austria, Czecho- Slovakia. Poland, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and such other countries in Europe as may be subject to un- provoked invasion, upon payment of such purchase price as the Presi- dent may fix, such aircraft, aircraft parts or equipment belonging to the United States as in his judgment (See DEFENSE, Page A-3.) Farm Credit Revamping Held Dead for Session By the Associated Press. Chairman Jones of the House Ag- riculture Committee said today that administration legislation to revamp farm credit machinery apparently was dead for this session. ‘The bill would reduce F. C. A. in- terest rates and liberalize many re- ‘quirements for loans in order to help farmers. Washington Navy Yard Plans To Push Production to Limit Commandant Will Increase Forces by Adding To Day Shift and Filling Skeleton Crews ‘The Washington Navy Yard M‘y was ordered to speed the umn. as part of a general order 1l commandants of naval dis- mm heads of navy yards and naval stations, all bureaus and of- fices, Navy headquarters and the Marine ‘The Washington yard at present is on a three-shift basis, including a full day shift and two skeleton evening und night forces. Accord- ing to yard officials, under today’s order, the day shift of 4500 me- chanics will be considerably in- creased and the two skeleton staffs brought. to full strength. No imme- diate estimate of the new employ- ment forthcoming here was avail- nwuu.upum-nmgmu out for immediate expansion mmuwmnmmmrmum Secretary of the Navy Compton, to expedite national defense. § The commandant of the Wash- 10 | ington yard was directed to increase lllll:hworklnc force as rapidly as pos- “All pmticnble a'.eps shall be taken to eliminate the bottleneck where three shifts are now being worked,” the letter said. “It is di- reeted that steps be taken at once to expedite the naval shipbuilding pro- gram and all other work relating to national defense.” ‘The ary work at the Wash- ington establishment is the produc- tion of armament. At present, guns for the fleet con- stitute the major portion of the work of the Washington Navy Yard. ‘These include rifles ranging in size from light 3-inch pieces up to the largest 16-inch battleship arma- ment. In between are guns for light | gt and heavy cruisers of 6 and 8 inch (8¢e NAVY YARD, Page A-4) 4 Navy Will Speed Program With Extra Shiffs 15,000 Increase In Shipbuilding Forces Ordered By the Associated Press. All navy establishments were or- dered today by Acting Secretary Lewis Compton to speed up defense preparations by working additional shifts and by increasing civilian shipbliding forces by at least 15,000 within three months. Mr. Compton sent a letter to the commandants of all naval districts, yards and stations, all bureaus and offices of the Navy Department and to headquarters of the Marine Corps. The proposed increase in 15,000 in shipbuilding forces, the Navy said, would be distributed between the Portsmouth, New York City, Mare Island, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston, Norfolk and Puget Sound Navy Yards. The force at the gun factory at the Washington Navy Yard also will be increased. There are 66 warships under con- struction or projected, including eight battleships. May Discuss Labor Laws. Even as Mr. Compton’s order was announced, President Roosevelt con- centrated on Navy affairs, summon- ing ranking admirals and Senate and House Naval Committee chaire men to a conference at which the effects of Federal labor laws on ship= building were expected to be dise cussed. The House committee approved a proposal to authorize the Navy to dismiss, without regard to the civil service law, employes engaging in subversive activities. The commit- tee withheld final action on the legislation, however, until Chairman Vinson could take to the White House a set of amendments designed to relax the labor laws. Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Vinson said, had asked to see these amendments. This gave rise to speculation that the Chief Executive might turn thumbs down on the law modifica= tion suggestions and insist on keep~ ing intact such New Deal enacte ments as the Wages and Hours and Walsh-Healey Acts. ‘The Walsh-Healey Act permits the Government to fix the labor stande ards of private employers on Gov= ernment contracts. This has re- sulted in widespread application of the 40-hour week with time and one-half for overtime. Prefers Added Shifts. Mr. Compton ordered as the first move toward speeding up defense work, that where possible, plants should step up to a two-shift basis. | Where three shifts already are being worked “all practicable steps shall be taken to eliminate the ‘bottle necks.” “The shipbuilding yards,” he con- tinued, “should be able to increase their civilian forces by at least 15,000 within three months.” He expressed a preference for more shifts rather than overtime work, but authorized where necessary the working of a 48-hour week, with’ overtime pay where legally required. Mr. Compton also ordered that “all employes needed to expedite the completion of present and antici- pated work loads, particularly those in groups 2 and 3 (helpers and me- chanics) should be taken on and trained (if training be nedede) as rapidly as they can be obtained and absorbed.” In spite of the urging to press preparation, officers in charge of the various plants were ordered to “ex- ercise the utmost discretion in in- suring that the authority granted in this letter is not abused to the disadvantage of employes.” The naval conference was the President’s chief national defense meeting scheduled for the day. Move to Modify Law. The bill tentatively approved by the House Naval Affairs Com- mittee would modify application of wage and hour laws where neces- sary to speed up the Navy's ship- building program. It also would: Authorize navy yards or private shipyards working on Government contracts to go up to a 48-hour week, with time-and-a-half for all above (See NAVAL, Page A-3.) Long War Would Favor Allies, Soviet Paper Says By the Associated Press. MOSCOW, May 21.—If the Eu- ropean war is of long duration the “time factor” favors the allies be- cause of their huge resources, raw materials and also the economic backing of the United States, Trud, organ of the Russian trade unions, declared today. “The productive capacity of the American steel industry,” it said, “is twice as much as Germarny's.* * * A war of exhaustion, prolonged for years, would serve in the allies’ favor.” Hitherto, the Soviet press has re- corded the progress of the war as favorable to Germany. ‘The Soviet Union, since the sign- ing of the German-Russian non- aggression and trade agreements last summer, has been cited both in Berlin and Moscow as a Nazi source of supply. £