Evening Star Newspaper, May 21, 1940, Page 3

Invasion Foe Can Be Halfed By Preparedness, Beaverbrook Says Supply Minister Will Broadcast Appeal To Rush Production By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 21.—British home defenses were pressed at “war speed” today as the German lightning drive toward France's north coast brought steadily nearer the double threat of air attack and actual Naz in- vasion. “Invasion of Britain is perfectly feasible,” declared the Daily Ex- press, published by Lord Beaver- brook, Minister of Aircraft Produc- tion. “But it cannot be successful if we are prepared.” Col. J. J. Llewellin, parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Aircraft Production, said production of war planes had been hampered to some extent—but not seriously—by calling to the colors of skilled workmen. He said steps to protect this vital industry against the inroads of con- scription were considered. Price Controls Arranged. A Food Ministry spokesman told the House of Commons that price control$ and greater imports of food were being arranged. Public clamor echoed Prime Min- ister Churchill's demand Sunday that “we must have quickly more tanks, more airplanes, more shells and more guns” as reports indicate a lack of material had caused re- peated withdrawals in the vast *“de- fensive battle” in France. Supply Minister Herbert Morrison is to broadcast a “call to arms” to- morrow, urging the nation to mo- bilize its industrial man pewer and drop internal quarrels to speed sup- ply output. Britons found some cheer in the Germans’ wastage of airplanes and trained crews at a ratio Mr. Churchill placed at “lhree or four to one,” but it was recognized thal this was not a decisive factor in the attempt to break the Nazi spear- head. Lord Beaverbrook's newspaper warned that British sea power, with- out air parity, could not resist an invasion of the British Isles “with absolute certainty.” Compared With Norway's Plight. It compared Britain's plight with that of Norway, should the Ger- mans reach the channel, and paint- ed this picture: “Ii Hitler conquers the French coast his planes could escort tmop-! ships and drop a curtain of bombs to | screen a point of landing. “Land batteries could cover the | channel. A sea passage for trans- ports might be mined on both| sides. * * * “Hitler landed troops in Norway's | western ports by detoy, which de- | ceived the British Navy. “The lesson of Norway is this: Invasion of Britain is perfectly feas- ible. But it cannot be successful if | we are prepared.” Defense (Continued From First Page.) can be sold and delivered without imperiling” our national defense, provided that the governments to which such aircraft, aircraft parts or equipment are sold and delivered agree to assign if, as, and to the | extent requested by the President, any and all contracts that they may have with manufacturers in the| United States for aircraft, aircraft | parts or equipment.” | Opening debate on the $1,820,000,- 000 Army supply bill, Senator Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma,| said the Appropriations Committee found that even the additional $545,- 000,000 being given the Army as part of the President’s defense message, ‘would not bring the military estab- lishment up to the status Army offi- cials believe essential. For that rea- son, he said the committee went further by adding $50,000,000 to the President’s figures to bring the en- listed strength up to the full peace- time limit of 280,000, by enrolling 53,000 volunteers. ‘Would Remove Restrictions. Meanwhile, it was forecast that the House Military Committee would vote to remove, for a prescribed pe- riod, all limits on the number of planes the Army may procure. TAis action, committeemen said, ®ould be in line with President Roosevelt's proposal for a 50,000- | plane Army and Navy air force. The Army has asked only that the Air Corps’ present limit of 6,000 planes be raised to 10,000. But committee members said that in view of President Roose- velt's recommendation and because of the uncertainty of world condi- tions, the Army should not be ham- pered by legislative restrictions. ‘The committee was closeted with ‘War Department officials for almost two hours today. Members said it had approved tentatively a provision to permit the Army to discharge civilian employes suspected of sub- versive activities, without regard to civil service requirements. Meanwhile, Chairman Walsh of the Senate Naval Committee an- nounced he expects early Senate ac- tion on the Vinson naval expansion bill, already passed by the House. ‘This measure is merely the basic authorization to guide the Appro- priations Committee in making the annual allotment of funds. Actual appropriations for the Navy are in charge of the subcommittee headed by Chairman Byrnes of South Carolina, who called Admiral Stark, chief of naval operations, as the first witness this morning to outline how enlargement of the Na: can be speeded up by the additional money asked for by the President. Meanwhile there were signs that the administration was reconsider- ing its decision to defer the question of extraordinary defense financing until the next session of Congress. Indications were that Congress soon might receive a request to increase the $45,000,000,000 Federal debt limit —possibly by $1,000,000,000. The debt now is approaching $43,000,000,000. Major Problem in January. ‘The alternative of new taxes at the present session was largely dis- counted, because of the desire for adjournment in advance of the na- tional political conventions. Law- makers were agreed, however, that the revenue problem would be a A o VY| and anti-tank weapons, and a $14, THEIR FIGHTING OVER FOR THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, 'D. C, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1540. A WHILE—German prisoners, taken in western front battles by the French Army, shown in this picture, radioed from Paris a prison camp “somewhere i France.” | industry enlisting in the national to New York, as they arrived in —A. P. Wirephoto. major issue when the new Congress meets in January. The question of financing the | preparedness program was raised in the House by Republican Leader Martin. Democratic Leader Ray- burn replied that the administration was giving “serious consideration” to the problem, and predicted the people would be “pleased” with the solution. In a few days he said he | | expected to have more knowledge' | on the President’s recommendations. | | Of the $318.000,000 being consid- | ered for the Navy at today’s execu- | | tive session, $250,000,000 would be | | made available to the Secretary of the Navy to move faster on the pro- gram already authorized. It is ex- | pected $100,000,000 would be used | to hasten completion of ships under | | way, $100,000,000 to buy more au- | thorized planes and $50,000,000 for | guns and munitions. | $68,000,000 Check for President. The remaining $68,000,000 is the discretionary fund to be placed in the President’s hands, for use where most needed in promoting national | security while Congress is in recess. Half of it—$34,000,000—would be cash and the other half contract authorization. The Army bill now before the Senate would give the President a corresponding lump sum fund of $132,000,000 to be used as he deems best in strengthening land defenses. The President indicated in his mes- sage last week he expects to use the bulk of this money to build up air defenses, which the present Euro- pean war has shown to be the driv- ing power of present-day fighting tecehnique. ‘These presidential lump sums seem likely to provoke the only major controversy over the defense pro- gram in the Senate, but indications are the opposition will not succeed | in eliminating them. The defense drive had gained such momentum today that Majority Leader Barkley was optimistic over the chances of winding up the ses- sion before the middle of June, as planned before the trend of the war in Europe prompted the admini tration to put forward the new pro- gram. Both Passed by House. The enlarged naval bill may be ready to come from committee by the time the Senate passes the Army measure. Both measures have passed the House, so that Senate action will send them to conference. Before the trend of the war began to go against the democracies in Europe, the Army and Navy funds for the year commencing July 1 had been cut sharply below budget esti- mates as the two bills went, through the House originally. The new esti- mates now being considered as a result -of the President’s personal appeal at last week’s joint session will offset those reductions and add considerably more. The House showed its willingness to expedite the new program when it agreed late yesterday to the Sen- ate’s request for reopening of the original naval bill, which had al- ready passed both houses and gone to conference. If this had not besen done the House Apprpriations Committee would have had to bring out a new bill to carry the added funds for the Navy, a course that would have delayed action for a week or more. Act After Hearing Stark. Instead the House Subcommittee on Deficiencies, after conferring in- formally all day yesterday with Admiral Stark, recommended that the House return the original Navy bill to the Senate for inclusion of the presidential increases. High lights of the big Army bill, to which the President’s program resulted in adding $596,000,000 to the original 1941 estimates, include: A proposed total increase in the num- ber of Army planes from 5668 to 8,086, increase of 53,000 in the en- listed strength of the Army, bringing it up to the full peacetime authori- zation of 280,000; sharp expansion of the 'motorized equipment, such as tanks, combat cars, anti-aircraft 250,000 fund for educational orders, to prepare peacetime industries for the changes. necessary to swing over to wartime production in the event of emergency. Masaryk Says U. S. Is- Not Out of War By the Assoclated Press. LONDON, May 21.—Jan Masaryk, former Czecho-Slovak Minister to London, told the American Chamber of Commerce today that, “while certainly are not out of it.” “We must realize,” Masaryk said, “there is no stopping this ag, unless we pool together to do it.” Americanis are not in the war, they|. . Berlin (Continued From First Page.) a day, while on some days there have been break-throughs of as much as 45 miles. “In the German drive on Amiens, French and Belgian troops fought bravely,” an authorized source said, | “but sheir technical equipment was no match for the German Army. “We recognize that the French are bending every effort, psycho- logically and militarily to stave off —in vain, however—the German ad- vance. “It is a tragic collapse of the time- | honored French democratic system.” | The high command called the swift advance northward to the Channel “the biggest attacking op- eration of all time.” “The 9th French Army, which was | on the Meuse between Namur and Sedan to hold and maintain connec- tion between strong enemy opera- tion groups in RBelgium and the Maginot Line south of Sedan,” it said, “has been crushed and is about to be dissolved.” It said that “Gen. Giraud, hitherto commander of the f7th French Army, who assumed command over the 9th Army,” had been captured with his army staff. (This may refer to Gen. Henri Honore Giraud, whom British sources Saturday identified as commanding “groups of armies” in the “battle of the bulge” in | Northern France, attempting to | roli back the Nazi tide.) | The drive toward the coast was| the spearpoint of a general German advance which widened the pocket in Northern France and pushed for- ward the conquest of Belgium. On the southern boundary of the | bulge, the high command said, Ger- man forces have overcome the last French resistance in Rethel, have captured Laon and pushed on to the Aisne-Oise Canal over the Chemin des Dames, famous World War battlefield. Attack East of Ghent. In Belgium, it said, the Ger- mans attacked east of Ghent and farther south on the Scheldt River and blocked “enemy attempts to force a way out southward from Valenciennes.” The German progress was so swift that the communique described Nazi forces as ‘crowding toward the Channel coast all the French and Belgian armies still to be found north of the Somme.” “German divisions flow into the breach forced by the German thrust,” it said. “German armored cars and motorized troops at their head took Arras, Amiens and Abbe- ville.” The German advance from St. Quentin forked westward to Ab- beville, about 63 miles west of St. Quentin and northwestward to Ar- ras, about 38 miles beyond St. Quentin, The high command also reported heavy naval blows during air opera- tions in which, it said, it lost only 15 planes to 47 lost by the allies. It said German fiyers had: Sunk—Six transports and a tank- er, totaling 43,000 tons, before dawn today in the Straits of Dover. Severely damaged—Four addi- tional ships of about 13,000 tons, & French destroyer, the French Navy tanker Niger of 5482 tons, the French {freighter Pavon and two additional freighters. A battleship, probably of the 20,150~ ton Resolution class, was hit twice near the forward turrets and a heavy cruiser also hit with heavy bombs yesterday off Narvik, Norway, the high command reported in a special communique, The class, which the British call the Royal Sovereign class, was com- posed of five dreadnaughts each of 29,150 tons, with normal comple- ments of about 1,100 officers and men. Paris (Continued From First Page.) River was easy to defend because of the way it winds and because of the woods which are about it,” M. Reynaud said, adding that it is “Just because of these things that it is difficult to defend.” Defense also was difficult, he con- tinued, because of “faults which will be punished,” and went on amid cheers to explain that bridgeg across the Meuse had mot been demol- ished. “When I took over the war office” . the Senators interrupted with loud cries of “Finally!” ., . that was the situation,” M. Reynaud said. “We must take immediate deci- sions,” he declared. “This is not the first trial we have met and sur- passed. “But we will reply to the enemyu—but this only if each soldier realizes his enormous task and the millions of sons of France realize their future is at stake. Lauds Weygand, Petain. “Two of these sons can be proud they came forward to serve the country. I speak of Gen. Weygand and Marshal Petain. “Petain, the winner of Verdun, and Weygand, the man of Foch who stopped the Germans in 1918! “Weygand is on the field of battle today. “Between Petain and Weygand‘ and myself there is complete ac- cord.” Over last week end M. Reynaud appointed Gen. Maxime Weygand to replace Gen. Maurice Gustave Gamelin as the allied commander in chief and brought Marshal Philippe Petain, France's first Ambassador to Nationalist Spain, into the war cab- inet as Vice Premier, “France cannot die!” M. Reynaud shouted. “If a miracle is needed to save France, I believe in miracles, because I believe in France!” As he concluded, M. Reynaud told the Senators: “There you are, gentlemen. Ihave told you the truth, because it alone can save the fatherland.” He praised the “admirable” British air force and “the full aid Great Britain has offered.” “These two great peoples (France and Britain) are united,” he said. “France cannot die.” Indicts War Department. M. Reynaud bluntly indicted the manner in which the War Depart- ment directed operations before he took it over. Speaking of “incredible faults,” he | cited as an example that a reduced number of French divisions was thinned out along the Meuse River because it had been considered in itself a “redoubtable obstacle.” French divisions, “badly en- trenched and badly trained to bear such attacks,” were forced to combat the mighty thrust of the German armored divisions because bridges were not blown up, M. Reynaud cried. “You understand now the disaster, the total disorganization of the Corap Army!” 62-Mile-Wide Break. This, in detail, was the situation M. Reynaud said he found when he went to the War Ministry with Marshal Petain and Gen. Weygand to take over yesterday from M. Daladier: “A brach 110 kilometers (62 miles) wide has been opened. Into that breach surged a Germany Army made up of armored divisions, fol- lowed by motorized divisions, which, after having opened a large pocket in the direction of Paris, launched out to the west toward the sea. “They were thus taking in the rear our entire fortified system along the French-Belgian frontier and menacing the allied forces still engaged in Belgium who were not given the order to retreat until the evening of May 15. “The day before yesterday, an armored division had reached the line of Quesnoy-Cambrai-Peronne and the Somme River to Hamm. “For the last 48 hours, the Ger- man advance has continued. “This morning at 8 o'clock the high command informed me that Arras and Amiens were occupied.” Laon Also Lost. The French announced withdraw- al from Laon, straightening out the southern end of the line around the Nazi “bulge” into France, and de- clared the Germans were meeting furious resistance in their drive toward the English Channel. _A War Ministry spokesman said PSIX—!IGHT—TOIPIDOC H. J. BROWN PONTIAC, ac. | ireet Factory Deals Bossirn’ Var Jist Aoress Kes Bridse) A BETTER DEAL ON Your i Medical Bills or Dental Bills Paid by Medical-Dental that in a still confused situation the indications were that the Germans’ western drive had been slowed up. Heavy fighting continued north- west of Laon. The southern end of the German pocket in France, the French spokes- man said, now runs 35 miles along an almost straight line just north of the Aisne River, a natural barrier | to hinder a further advance south ; toward Paris. Naval (Continued From First Page.) |40 hours. It also would vest dis- cretion in the President to lift the | 48-hour limit, with overtime pay, if he finds a national emergency to Jjustify it. Authorize the President to suspend | application of the Walsh-Healy Act where he finds it prejudicial to the defense program. This act applies only to private concerns holding Government contracts, and enables the Secretary of Labor to prescribe the working conditions. Civil Service Amendments: The committee also adopted ten- tatively two civil service amend- ments. One provides that whenever the Secretary of the Navy finds sub- versive influences in navy yards, he may order dismissals without filing charges. | . The other amends the retirement law to permit retired experts in navy yards or the Navy Department to re- turn to work, resuming their pay roll contributions to the retirement fund. When the emergency is over, they could either withdraw these new contributions with interest or use them to obtain a higher retire- ment annuity. The House bill also contains pro- visions designed to speed ship con- contracts without competitive bid- ding under certain conditions and making other changes in the laws governing payments to contractors. Union “Will Go Along.” N. P. Alifas, president of District No. 44, International Association of Machinists, representing many navy yard workers, said today his or- ganization is “going along” with the section lengthening the hours in Government yards for the period of emergency. “We are not asking for overtime,” said Mr. Alifas, “and would rather see more men put on, but if skilled men cannot be found quickly enough we agree to changing the hours, with overtime.” The hour amendment is necessary primarily because of the eight-hour law of 1892, which provides that me- chanical groups in the Government cannot exceed that limit except in time of extraordinary emergency, the definition of which would not fit the present situation. Asked to the White House meeting were Chairman Walsh of the Senate committee, Chair- man Vinson of the' House com- mittee, Admiral®’Harold R. Stark, chief of naval operations; Rear Ad- miral John H. Towers, chief of the Navy Aeronautics Bureau, and Rear Admiral Ben Morell, chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks. RUG BLeairy Our €LEANED AND $7O Pyle wna.1357 SANITARY CARPET & RUG-CLEANING €O. 106 INDIANA AVS. How can WATER aid in ARTHRITIS 7 ihe water is Mosniain Valley system, h the hidneys, readers Buanaid in treating arthritis. - . Thie i or impairs its Immedietely, you'l Bk s pure, good Saste, But for Mountain Yelley really to Belp you, you shouid drink 6 o § glessas @ duy ever @ peried of Hime. Ask your doctor about Moun= “tain Valley. Many recommend .. it—many drink it regularly. Phone ME. 1062 for a Case Today . Write 1405 K N.W. L4 ) struction and repair by permitting | Full Credit Pledged To Industry by U. S. In Defense Drive Ample Capital Reported Available to Finance Warplane Program By thie Associated Press, The Government - pledged full credit backing today to American defense drive, while administration leaders tackled the job of financing the huge preparedness am. As Congress forged ahe: with legislation that would give the in- House-Approved Army Promofions Bills Go fo Senafe Lieutenant General Rank For Canal and Hawaii . Department Heads Asked By the Associated Press. The House passed yesterday and sent to the Senate a bill to grant the title of lieutenant general in the United States Army to major generals assigned to command the Panama Canal and Hawaiian de- partments, or who have commanded those departments since August 5, 939, dustrial machine the “go-ahead” to| 1939. turn dollars into tanks, warplanes and fighting ships, Jesse Jones, Ped- eral loan administrator, assured businessmen the R. F. C.’s extensive resources were virtually at the com- mand of industries which required capital for production expansion necessary to handle defense orders. Calling on the country’s banks to furnish “the fullest co-operation,” Mr. Jones said late yesterday that the R. F. C. stood ready either to take up 75 per cent of loans secured in connectjon with the defense pro- gram, or to underwrite them up to that amount, leaving the banks to carry the other 25 per cent. Contrary to original expectations, the R. F. C. offer of credit help on defense orders appeared most likely to benefit small business. Capital Declared Ample. The aircraft industry, key unit in preparedness plans, served notice that it had ample capital to finance the expansion necessary to step up | plane production to the annual mark | of 50,0000, as recommended by Mr. Roosevelt. | ‘The belief at first was that avia- | tion would require considerable help, | and Government plans already were being drafted to make it available. The steel and oil industries have in- | dicated that they can speed up to| meet any demands, and the same is| believed true of the automotive plants, Aircraft received a lion's share of | yesterday's discussions here. The meeting of more than 100 leaders in the aviation industry with Gaovern- | ment officials produced the assur- | ance that sufficlent capital and | skilled labor was available to expand production to 50,000 planes a year. Military chieftains urged the in- | dustry to realize that goal “as quick- ly, as efficiently and as cheaply as | possible.” Other Developments. Other air defense developments were: 1. Maj. Gen. Henry H. Arnold, Army Air Corps chief, told the| House Military Committee that a 50,000 plane force would cost more than $3,500,000,000 to build. | 2. Gen. Arnold also disclosed plans | for four new npilot-training cen- ters, to handle 1200 fledglings an- | _ nually. 3. Gen. George C. Marshall, Army chief of staff, sasid the Army’s im- mediate aim was an air arm of 10,000 planes. Its present legal lim- it is 6,000. 4. President Roosevelt asked Con- gress to vote $2,000000 for a new | airplane engine research laboratory. 5. Gill Robb Wilson, president of the National Aeronautical Associa- | tion, testifying before a Senate sub- { committee on a bill for spending | $150,000,000 on airport development, urged adoption of a national airport policy. It is as essential as planes | and pilots, he said, because “we | have learned airports can be sunk | as effectively as battleships.” LVERN ICE CREAM Consistently WHOLESOME and DELICIOUS ‘The committee reported the two territorial commands were of vital importance to the national defense and recent steps to improve the de- fenses in the two departments had added materially to the responsibili- ties of their commanders. ‘The House also approved and sent back to the Senate with amend- ments a bill to increase the number of brigadier generals in the Regular Army from 46 to 50 and providing that hereafter upon appointment of an officer below the rank of brig- adier general.to be chief of in- fantry, cavalry, field artillery or coast artillery he shall at the same time be made a permanent brigadier general. Naturalization Bill Passed. ‘The House also passed and sent to the Senate a bill to extend for three years the time limit for certain en- listed men of the Army to complete their naturalization. gress prohibited further payment of but granted a three-year extension for those who had declared their in- tention to become citizens or who were in the process of naturaliza- tion. The pending bill grants another three-year extension tomen who were unable to complete their naturali- 2ation within the time set. About 200 would be affected. Another bill passed and sent to the White House would give the n In 1937 Con- | enlisted men wWho were not citizens, | #% A-3 Threat Spurs British to Strengthen Home Defenses rank of captain in the Army to the leader of the Military Academy Band. The leader now has rank of first lieutenant. . Other Bills Sent to Senate. Among other bills passed by the House and sent to the Senate were one to place the Coast Guard on a parity with other military services in respect to the care and disposi- tion of the remains of its military and civil personnel. The bill would also amend vari- ous Coast Guard laws to adjust the retired rank and pay of officers who serve as engineer in chief and as- sistant commandant; clarify laws relating to discontinuance and re- establishment of light stations and Coast Guard stations, and 'define expenses to be borne by the Coast Guard in operation of vessels be- longing to the Coast Guard Reserve. Maryland Health Unit Urges ‘Crisis Gardens’ By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, May 20.—Mary- land’s State Health Department yes- terday urged citizens to plant “crisis gardens’—a back-to-the-soil move- ment involving scientific planting of home-grown vegetables. Going beyond a routine depart- ment bulletin describing selection of home-grown crops for best nutri- tional values, Dr. R. 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