Evening Star Newspaper, May 28, 1940, Page 1

Conferees Agree on 3 Billion U. P Weather Forecast Increasing cloudiness tonight; showers, bey late tonight or tomorrow; lowest tonight about 55. Temperatures today—Highest, 76, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 55, at 5 am. From the United States Weather Bureau report. Pull details on Page A-2. Closing New York Markets—Sales, Page 18 88th YEAR. No. 35,091 ch . WASHINGTON, ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star D. C, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1940—FORTY-TWO PAGES. #*%* ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their evening and Sunday morning. homes every (®) Means Associated Press, THREE CENTS. BELGIANS OUT, FRENCH MASS TO ATTACK King's Surrender Is 'Disowned’ By His Government in Paris Forts Taken, Trapped Armies Fight Fiercely to Escape By the Associated Press. With the surrender of the Belgian army under a sur- prise order by King Leopold III—whose own government quickly “disowned” him as ruler of Belgium—a huge Allied force estimated at between 450,000 and 600,000 men was reported massing tonight on never” offensive. The desperation-inspired Allied counterattack, it was reported, will be launched in the vicinity of Rethel, 95 miles north of Paris, in an attempt to rescue the British and French troops trapped in the Germans’ “squeeze” pocket in Flanders. King Leopold’s command to his troops to lay down their arms after an 18-day defense came as a crushing blow to the Allies in the north, depriving them of app_roximately 300,000 Belgian soldjers protecting their left flank. Prime Minister Churchill told the House of Commons, however, that despite this setback the Allies would continue the fight with “full vigor.” With the German high command declaring that the Allied armies “pocketed” in Flanders were doomed, British naval spokes- | men hinted that the British Expeditionary Force was preparing to | withdraw from the battle in Belgium. The naval spokesman said the British troops in Belgium attempting to retire across the Channel. ‘The German high command announced a new series of smash- Hitler's mechanized columns brokg through strong French border fortifications “on a broad front,” the high command said, and captured numerous towns and villages in the | giant “squeeze” movement on the trapped Allied armies. The high command reported its armies had driven to within | 6 miles of Bruges, Belgium, and had partly broken Allied resistance in the battle of Artois and Flanders. ¢Broad New Break Ing Nazi successes. Blow to Allies Heavy (Text of Reynaud Speech on Page A-15.) By the Assoclated Press. PARIS, May 28.—The Belgian army surrendered unconditionally to the Germans today under orders from King Leopold III, breaking the back of the Allied armies of the north and bringing the battle of Flanders to its culminating point. That blow was as heavy as the collapse of the army of Gen. Andre Coraps in the battle of the Meuse May 15, which permitted the Ger- mans to break through France to the English Channel and split the northern and central Allied forces. ‘The French and British remnants of Gen. Blanchard’s northern army carried on the Flanders fight, but a military spokesman acknowledged their resistance was “extremely dif- ficult.” The outcome of the war now turns on the central front along the Somme and Aisne Rivers and down the main Maginot Line defenses. Capitulated Before Dawn. The Belgians, battered back al- most to their Western shore by 18 | days of blitzkrieg, capitulated before dawn today. The Belgian government, now in France, rejected the King's leader- ship, “disowned”—in effect, de- posed—him a%id conferred on a “new Belgium” to continue the fight. But how effective Belgium now can be as an ally is problematical. King Leopold himself was com- mander in chief of the Belgian Army. His order to lay down arms in unconditional surrender ended the resistance of the great body of his forces. ! 18 Divisions Lost. The decision of Belgian leaders here to reorganize an army to continue fighting referred presum- ably only to whatever Belgian troops are in France, a few units at most, and to Belgian refugees, some of whom already are under- taking military training in this couatry. By the Belgian surrender the Al- lies have lost an army of at least 250,000 men in 18 divisions. The way to Dunkerque, the French Chan- nel port througn which supplies have been reaching hemmed-in Allied Armies, has been opened to the Nazi legions. (A German announcement (See PARIS, Page A-8) Nazi Atfack on British Expected Near Narvik By the Associated Press, STOCKHOLM, May 28.—German troops landed from planes were reported today to have crossed Rombakfjord in collapsible boats for an atatack on British flanks | near the Arctic ore port of Nar- vik, Norway. ‘The newspaper Aftonbladet said dispatches from across the border indicated the action was intended to relieve German forces hard pressed at Bjornfjell, near Narvik. ‘The dispatches said the Germans parachuted from planes a mile east of Narvik and crossed the fjord under “difficult conditions,” tected by fire from their own pur- suit planes, Reports reaching here were .that past two days. Twelve large trans- port planes, each carrying t 50 men, were reported to be making two trips daily to the Narvik region. 4 “4 L Berlin Says; the Aisne River for a “now or | would face terrific obstacles in By the Associated Press. BERLIN, May 28.—A fhew break French border fortifications “on & broad front” was ansounced by the German high comménd to~ day as Belgium’s army laid down its arms on command of its King. The communique reported heavy fighting against the Allies’ “embit~ tered resistance,” which, it said, was partly broken with Nazi legions ad- vancing within 6 miles of the Bel- gian city of Bruges, crossing the Scheldt Canal west of Valenciennes and capturing the French towns or Orchies and Douai. south of Lille. Capitulation of King Leopold left an estimated 700,000 Allied soldiers trapped in a space hardly bigger than a good sized Western cattle ranch. Flank Left Exposed. Into this crowded area today waves of German dive bombers were unloading lethal cargoes of bombs and machine-gun bullets, determined to paralyze all organized resistance. With the flank exposed by the Belgian surrender, it seemed that only a miracle could save the trapped men from destruction. “The big battle in Flanders and Artois rasreached a climax,” it said. “Our troops, in a sharp attack, partly broke the embittered resist- ance and hemmed in the encircled enemy armies into an even narrower area, into which the air force also, with strong units, worked de- structively. “The fight continues against the encircled English and French.” Rapid Gains Reported. Nazi forces had “gained ground rapidly” against the Belgians, the communique said, and “in recogni- tion of its hopeless situation, the Belgian Army, under the leadership of its King, in strength of about 400,000 to 500,000 men, laid down arms.” Renewing raids on harbors at the back of the trapped British and French Armies, the Germans said they bombed the water fronts of Zeebrugge, Nieuport, Ostend and Dunkerque during the night. The German gains, accompanied again by sharp air and naval blows, included the French towns of La Bassee, Bourboug, Hazebrouck and | Merville. | French Allied resistance on the | southern front was indicated by | the high command’s report that in |one repelled attack 30 Allied tanks were destroyed. A Nazi torpedo boat was credit- ed with sinking a 3,000-ton trans- port. Germans generally hailed King Leopold’s decision as a prelude to collapse of the main line-of re- sistence of the Allied army of 1,000,- 000 men in Flanders. The Puehrer’s headquarters said (See BERLIN, Page A-10.) Lead Nats, 8_-2, LINE-UP (First Game). Pro- | Biood: By BURTON HAWKINS, Star Staft Correspondent. NEW YORK, May 28.—The Yan- kees piled up an 8-to-3 lead over the Nationals in the sixth inning * 30 Allied Divisions Reported Moving to New Offensive By the Associated Press. BERN, Switzerland, May 28— Thirty allied divisions were re- ported moving into position to- night south of the Aisne River near Bethel for a “now or never” offensive to rescue French and British forces trapped in the German’s Lille pocket. Reports reaching here from both sides of the war zone indi- cated that Allied Generalissimo Maxine Weygand had placed a major part of this force in position before the Belgians surrendered Allied divisions range from 15,000 to 18,000 men—450,000 to 640.000 in the 30 divisions re- ported massed for attack. Leopold and Weygand In Stormy Tilt Before 'Surrender, Nazis Say Berlin Claims Allies Wanted King to Fight Without Assistance By the Associated Press. BERLIN, May 28.—German radio| accounts of the capitulation of King Leopold of the Belgians said today he made his decision after stormy meetings with Allied Generalissimo Maxime Weygand and his own gen- erals and after the French had pleaded with him to postpone sur- render for at least a week. Thé King, § to one ac- count credited to the Btefani (Ital- 1an) news agency, declared that the Belgian Army already had suffered greater casualties than in the World War and that, in view of its “hope- less position,” further shedding of blood was useless. Gen. Weygand, this account said, was unable to lend further assist- ance to the Belgian northern army, yet wanted the Belgians to resist fur- ther to permit the French to re- organize their Somme-Aisne front to the south and “enable England to protect herself against invasion.” Pierlot Reported in London. Belgian Premier Pierlot went to London to tell British Prime Minis- ter Churchill of the King's atti- tudee, and Churchill called French Premier Reynaud to London, the story continued. A German radio report credited to reliable sources in Geneva said Gen. Weygand came back to Paris Sunday after a visit to Belgian gen- eral headquarters under the im- pression that Leopold was about to capitulate. “Stormy scenes are reported to have occurred between the King of Belgiun and Gen, Weygand Sun- day,” said this account. “The King, in strong words, voiced his disap- pointment concerning the effec- ;i‘ven‘:ss of allied help to ) e said to have bitt - phasized. in reply to weyg 'i’rn- quest that Belgians should go on fighting, that Belgian troops fought 12 'Fifih Column’ Suspects Are Seized Near Dublin By the Associated Press. DUBLIN, May 28.—Twelve per- sons suspected of “fifth colum” ten- dencies have been seized since Sun- day in the mountains surrounding Dublin and seven still are in custody. This became known as the Dail Eirrean (lower house of Parliament) prepared to discuss defenses tonight. One alien of undisclosed nation- ality was among those detained. The Dail meeting tonight is at Premier Eamon de Valera’s call for unity. The opposition party, the Fine Gael, led by William T. Cos- grave, met today to formulate plans. It is believed De Valera may ask for limited martial law, blackouts, a larger army and defense meas- ures to cope with some Irish and alien elements considered inimicable to Nrish neutrality in the European war. Yanks Pound Two Hurlers, in Sixth here this afternoon In the first game of a double-header. Haynes and Hudson were in- effective, Gordon hammering out a 415-foot homer with Selkirk on base off the latter, who went to the mound as a relief hurler. The game was twice halted be- cause of rain. FIRST INNING. WASHINGTON—Case flied to Di M . Lewis singled to left. We- laj forced Lewis, Crosetti to Gordon. ~oe BAREBALL P A L 4 Heavy Losses Seen If British Attempt Channel Retreat (Text of Churchill Statement on Page A-4.) By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 28—Great Brit- ain and her gravely endangered army in Flanders were pledged to- day by Winston Churchill to fight Nazi Germany's might to the last ditch “through disaster and grief,” despite the capitulation of King Leopold of Belgium and perhaps half a million of his fighting men. Neutral military observers expect- ed the encircled British army in Belgium and Northern France, with its left flank exposed to the fury of German attack by the Belgian King’s surrender, would try to fight its way southward through the Ger- man iron corridor to the French armies on the Aisne. Cries of “Shame!” echoed through the deep vault of the House of Com- mons as Prime Minister Churchill told of Leopold's capitulation. Cheers roared to the rafters when he said the British and French would fight on despite the King's action, that the Belgian government had in effect deposed him and that the Allies would continue “to defend the world cause to which we have bound ourselves.” Withdrawal Considered. Although naval spokesmen ad- mitted that attempted withdrawal of the British army by sea from Bel- flm‘) was under consideration, neu- tral observers were of the opinion that such an operation, under the overpowering punighment of the German air force st channel ports, would produce more casualties than the desperate fight southward. “Nothing whieh may happen to 8,” the Prime Minister said solemn- , “Int this battle can in any way re- us of our duty to defend the world cause to which we have bound ourselves.” A thunder of cheers arose then in the House. Surrender of the Belgian Army, Mr. Churchill went on, had appre- ciably added to the “grave peril” of the British Expeditionary Force in Flanders, but the troops were never- theless in good heart, although beset on three sides and from the air. House Cries “Shame.” Cries of “shame!” went up in the old halls of the House on the an- nouncement of the capitulation. The Prime Minister began his speech by telling the House that Belgium had asked an armistice with Germany. The British and French govern- ments instructed their generals im- mediately to dissociate themselves from this procedure and to perse- vere in operations in which they now are engaged, Mr. Churchill in- formed the House. “I have no intention to suggest to the House that we should attempt at this moment to pass judgment on the action of the King of the Belgians in his capacity as com- mander in chief of the Belgian Army,” Mr. Churchill declared. Belgium's Army had, he said, fought “very bravely” and “suffered and inflicted heavy losses.” “Desperate Situation.” The hard-pressed British army of Flanders can drive southward toward the Prench forces massing along the Aisne or grope blindly toward the Channel ports with its left while the right fights off the German onslaught. These alternatives appeared to- day to confront the B. E. F. in a desperate situation. British military sources viewed the position as of “the utmost grav- ity. Neutral military attaches de- clared either movement would mean Britain must sacrifice considerable stores of ammunitions, materials and even 3 * Either alternative would produce (Bee LONDON, Page A-14) Six Die as Army Bomber Crashes in California BY the Azsociated Press. MARCH FIELD, Calif., May- 28 — Two officers and a crew of four in a Douglas bomber were killed last night in a crash near Mojave, Calif. One man, Sergt. John B. Stewart of Midway, Ala., survived the crash, but was injured seriously. He was flown to the General Hospital in San Francisco early today. Those killed were: Second Lt. Jess A. Smith, 30, Riverside, Calif. Second Lt. Charles A. Nisbett, 25, Riverside, whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. Leonard N. Nisbett of Alton, Il Sergt. Thurman T. Owens, River- side. Pvt. Wayne G. Kaufman, whose mother is Mrs. Rita L. Kaufman of Burlington, Towa. Pvt. Doyle H. Bean, Kirbyville, Tex. mmmmmsmnu,mm ‘The plane was on a night bombing mission. The crash occurred at Muroc Dry Lake, which is the Army’s bombing range in the Mojave desert, ‘ \ ALY 4 NN~ Italy’s Peace Price Called Maritime Alps And French Riviera African Claims Reported Included, All Being Too Dear for Allies By CONSTANTINE BROWN. The price Premier Mussolini is reported to have asked from the Al- lies now to maintain Italy’s hon- belligerent status is so high that the Allies cannot meet it. According to reliable information received todsy in Washington, Mus- solini is asking France to cede to Italy the whole Alps maritime and the Haute Savoie east of Grenoble, as far as Chambery. This region contains some six de- I partments, including the world- famed French Riviera. The cession of this region would enable Italy to hold the whole important strategic frontier of the Alps and give Italy both slopes of the mountains. In Africa, I1 Duce is repotred to desire the immediate cession of Tu- nisia and a rectification of frontier in East Africa to include the port of Jibuti—Ethiopa's outlet to the sea—and the two Somalilands—the French and the British. ‘Whether other demands have been made by Il Duce is not known here yet, but there apparently is little hope of success in further discus- sions between the French and the Italian governments. Under the pressure of the situa- tion in Flanders, the French had agreed to approach 'Italy to see whether an understanding to' keep that country out of the war was possible. A few months ago certain concessions in Africa, it is said, would have satisfied I1 Duce— temporarily at least. Now the price has gone up. While it is admitted that Italy’s definite non-belligerent status would be of tremendous help to the French because they could withdraw im- portant forces which are now sta- tioned in the Alps, the price set by Il Duce is reported to be so high that the French may decide to face the worst rather than give up a frontier which is by far more im- portant for defense than any other border they have. Germans Free U. S. Ship | Defained at Bergen By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 28.—The Amer- ican freighter Charles R. McCor- mick, which was caught at Bergen, Norway, during the German inva- sion, has been released by German authoritiés and will sail for New ‘York June 1, her operators, Stockard & Co., were informed by cable by their Bergen agent today. Her cargo, bound for Finland, will be unloaded and held for disposition by a prize court, the agent said. ‘The ship, with a crew of 32, reached Bergen just before the invasion and, with the American freighter Plying Fish, was slightly damaged during the fighting. She moved for safety to Vakstal, 60 miles away, and re- turned to Bergen May 22. Her op- erators believed her crew had been left aboard and not interned. She is expected to reach New York about June 17. The vessel, owned by the McCor- mick Steamship Co. of S8an Fran- cisco, was chartered by Stockard & Co. for the Stockard Steamship Corp. GUIDE FOR READERS Page. Page. Comics ._B-18-17 | Society 12 | Sports _. A-20-28 _A-17-19 | Woman's Page, Found B-12| B-10 Defense Taxes Over Five-Ye OH,MY POOR DEARS! ! THERE'S THAT MaN IR {{ AT Canada Will Enlarge Army and Air Force | By the Associated Press. | OTTAWA, May 28—Immediate | expansion of Canada’s army and air force is the first objective in the Do- minijon’s war plans resulting from the critical situation in Europe. Prime Minister Mackenzie King informed the House of Commons yesterday that expansion was neces- sary. Some 30,000 recruits are to be enlisted as quickly as possible, with an additional 5,000 for the air force. Other new steps will be the organ- ization of reserve companies of vet- erans to be attached to militia units for training and the institution of special training for certain veteran officers. Panama Bridge Blast Report Is Denied By the Associated Press. COLON, Panama, May 28—Pro- | vincial Gov. Inoencio Galindo quoted Federal Government sources today in denial of reports that a Tetas River bridge had been blown up in a series of pre-election disorders. He declared all was quiet. | (An N. B. C. broadcast heard in | New York had reported serious dis- turbances during which a strategic bridge over the Tetas River, on the highway between the Panama Canal | Zone and the United States Army base at Rio Hato, was destroyed.) $500,000,000 Crop Loan Fund Hike Increased By the Associated Press. The Senate Banking Committee approved . unanimously today a $500,000,000 increase in Government funds for crop loans intended to protect American farmers from war- time price shocks. Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of South Carolina, who sponsored the legislation, which was advocated by Secretary Wallace, said he would seek prompt Senate action on the bill, which would add $500,000,000 to the authorized lending powers of the Government’s Commodity Credit Corp. Officials of the crop loan agency said the present lending limit of $1,000,000,000 was nearly exhausted and that the additional funds were needed to cushion 1940 crops against wartime disturbances. 41 Dead and 200 Wounded In Raid on Chungking By the Associated Press. CHUNGKING, May 28.—The for- eign quarter of Chungking—a new residential district—was severely bombed by Japanese planes today in the first aerial dttack on the city proper since August 5, 1939, taking a heavy toll of Chinese ci- vilians. Forty-one bodies were counted shortly after the raiders passed, and at least 200 were wounded. Membership of By the Associated Press. PARIS, May 28—Honorary mem- bership in the La Fayette Escadrille conferred on Col. Charles A. Lind- bergh after his 1927 Atlantic crossing was withdrawn today by order of the Trench and Air Association of American Volunteer Combatants in the French Army in 1914-1918, rep- mfln( former pilots of the Esca- The association announced its La Fayette Escadrille Revokes Benching Politicians \Declared First Move For Planes Program Redesigning Also Stressed as Need As Experts Gather By ROBERT BRUSKIN. American warplanes must be re- designed before mass production can be begun, a pioneer designer in all-metal airplanes declared today 88 executives fromn the aviation in- dustry pondered théir problems in forums, Willam B. Stout of Detroit, who designed the Ford tri-motor plane of & decade ago, predicted in an in- terview today new materials and new methods will be found before the United States can attempt to turn out 50,000 planes a year. “You cannot go into mass pro- duction on things made by hand,” he declared. “The average big plane has 300,000 rivets which have been put in by hand, and the costs go up | with quantity production instead of down.” Would Oust “Screwballs.” The only method to advance the output is by “getting technical men to do it instead of screwballs.” Ger- many, he said, created her air force by permitting technically trained men to plan production “and poli- ticians or Senators’ sons had noth- ing to do with it.” He recommended that a research group made up of the best engi- neers in the industry be put to work immediately without being bothered by political interference. = They would plan the design and models. A production group, made up of industrialists acquainted with the mass production industries should then be given the problem of out- put. “Politicians” should have nothing to do with it, he asserted, and both the research and produc- tion groups should be .answerable only to the President. . Standardization on a very few models would not provide the answer for large output, he said. Competition must be continued even if it is only by three or four companies so that “advancement will continue.” Each factory, how- ever, should be standardized on one.| type of plane but not the whole in- dustry, he said. Urges Mechanical Progress. “Mechanical progress wins wars,” he. said. “Wars need a new aerial generation every six months. When (See PLANES, Page A-14)) Churchill Changes Residence LONDON, May 28 (#).—Prime Minister Winston Churchill belatedly took up residence at No. 10 Downing street today. Strenuous war duties since Premier May 10 de- layed his moving. Col. Lindbergh The association’s announcement said the title of honorary member was conferred on Col. Lindbergh “in & moment of enthusiasm—mis- taken but understandable.” *The former pilots of the Lafay- ar Period Debt li—miI—Boosi To Be Asked In Congress Plan, Ratified by President, Drafted At 3-Hour Parley By the Associated Press. The administration and congres- sional leaders agreed today to raise $3,000,000,000 of new taxes in the next five years to pay the costs of national defense. The plan, ratified by President | Roosevelt, was drafted in a three- hour conference by Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau, Chairman Doughton of the House Ways and | Means Committee and Chairman | Harrison of the Senate Finance Committee. It calls for immediate financing of defense costs by the sale of $3,000,000000 of special “national defense obligations.” It also calls for levying of additional taxes, amounting to between $600,000.000 and $700,000,000 annually for the next five years, the proceeds to be used to retire the “national defense obligations” and pay interest on them. To Ask Debt Limit Increase. The conferees agreed to ask Con- gress to increase the Treasury's $45,000,000,000 debt limit to $48,000,~ 000,000 to’ make possible the bor- rowing of the new defense funds. The administration’s budget, pre- pared before the defense program was laid down, already had pro- vided expenditures which required borrowing up to the present debt limit by about June 30, 1941, A joint statement issued by the conferees said “the Secretary of the Treasury communicated to the Pres- ident the conclusions reached by the | conferees and the President ex- pressed his approval of the proe gram.” Committees to Meet Soon. ‘The statement also explained that Chairmen Doughton and Harrison would call their committees together immediately to work out the details of the tax program. There was no indication of what kinds of taxes might be imposed. The statement also did not make it clear whether enactment of the new taxes would be sought at the present session of Congress. Its only reference to the present sese sion was a statement that the ine crease in the national debt limit would be asked immediately. Accord Announced. The conferees, the announcement said, “have agreed to ask Congress at this session to consider legisla= tion to provide funds for the paye ment of the national defense pro=- gram. “Chairman Doughton and Chair- man Harrison stated that they will convene their committees immedi- ately to formulate a plan. “They will propose an increase in the national debt authorization by $3,000,000,000 to provide for the issuance of national defense obli~ gations to be sold with maturities not to exceed five years, and they will also propose the levy of addi- tional taxes, the details of which are to be worked out by the com- mittees.” Tydings Demands Action Now. Meanwhile, Senator Tydings, Democrat, of Maryland labeled the present state of Government finances “a sixth column” that may under- mine national security unless action is taken now. He declared the un- balanced budget remains an ex- posed flank of the national defense system. Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir- ginia, long an opponent of deficit spending, joined Senator Tydings in demanding revenue legislation now. He gave the Senate a specific pro- gram to raise at least $1,000,000,000 by a combination of taxes and re- duction of all Government expenses except national defense and debt payment, starting July 1. Senator Byrd proposed: A 10 per cent horizontal increase in the existing tax on 1939 income, payable during 1940, raising $230,- Germany attacks England she will| 000,000. A 10 per cent increase in miscel- laneous revenues, which would raise $125,000,000 for the remaining half year, and $250,000,000 for a full year. A 10 per cent cut in all appropria- (S8ee TAXES, Page A-3) Embassy Goes for Hours Without Surrender News By the Associated Press. Many hours after announcement of King Leopold’s surrender to Ger- many the Belgian Embassy here re- mained today without any official word of it. At the State Department, officials said they had had no advance in- dication that the King had decided to capitulate. Some foreign rela- tions experts speculated that .the status of the Belgian Ambassador, Count Straten-Ponthoz, would not be affected by the surrender. They argued that the King had the field of honor of the 3 o0- [Ratiit G 'ar, who Legion in H, Page A-4) suwrrendered his army and not his commander in chief of the army, and that he did not have constitu- tional authority to surrender the nation. It was considered significant that Paris dispatches reported that the Belgian government opposed the King’s action. - ]