Evening Star Newspaper, May 28, 1940, Page 3

Shelling— Nfiy_Be Ruse To Relieve Pressure On Other Fronts Cannonading Could Pave Way for Dash Over Rhine Into Baden By the Associated Press. BASEL, Switzerland, May 28.—The fourth successive day of systematic blasting at German West Wall fortifications and railroads by France's great Rhine forts aroused speculation among foreign observers today over the possibility of a French smash across the river into Germany. The continued shelling, coupled with the French engineers’ action in dynamiting their own floodland dikes last Friday, accented the ques- tion whether the French might mean business—laying the ground- work for a dash into Baden. Balanced against this was con- Jecture that the French move was more make-believe, like the Nazis'} maneuvering of a fortnight ago—to | keep enemy forces from being with- drawn for action elsewhere. Germans Worried Swiss. Then the Germans had Switzer- land's observers worrying over a possible swoop around the southern end of France's Maginot Line. A German Army of more than 20 divisions, including motorized troops, gathered near the Northern Swiss frontier as the blitzkrieg against Holland and Belgium began. Several days ago almost all of these units vanished while trainloads of German wounded started moving into hospitals around Lake Con- stance. Then, without preliminaries, the French Maginot forts north of Basel opened fire. Their big guns have been directed mainly against the German forts of Istein, the “Gibral- tar of the Rhine.” Military observers pointed outt that the French activity, which has brought little reply so far Iromi German guns, might mean an at-| tempt to cover up reported shifting | of troops from that area into the| western battle zone, or an effort to| force the Germans to strengthen| their defenses“with troops needed on their side of the northwestern| fronts. Locks May Be Dynamited. They agreed that at least two things must precede any French drive across the Rhine: 1. Weakening of the German Rhine communications and smash- ing of many German fortifications —objects of the renewed cannonad- ing. 2. Dynamiting of the Rhine- Rhone Canal locks to permit di- version of enough Rhine water so that troops could wade across cer- tain points of the boundary river. In blowing up many of the locks, French engineers left the main locks and gates partly standing to give partial control of the water level. Despite relaxing of Switzerland's tension following the German con- centrations, Gen. Henri Guisan has kept the Swiss citizen army under his command fully prepared. Road patrols of militarized po- lice troops continue a strict check on all vehicles and armed guards remain posted at all strategic pub- lic buildings and factories. Strangers touring frontier zones and even important central areas have found blank signboards from whi¢h all names of villages and all distance figures have been removed. Arrives From lfaly By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 28 —The United States Liner Washington arrived today from Genoa and Naples with 1,068 passengers including 500 Jew- ish refugees traveling on Swiss pass- ports. The ship was held up by British contraband control officials at Gi- braltar for nine hours and 400 sacks of mail taken off —a procedure avoided with recent Italian liners. United States Ambassador to Rus- sia Laurence A. Steinhardt returned after a year in Moscow, on what he described as a leave of absence and purely a personal trip, although he said he was hurrying to Washington to talk with President Roosevelt. He left his wife and daughter, 14, in Moscow. Mrs. George Earle, wife of the former Pennsylvania Governor, now Minister to Bulgaria, returned with two sons, Larry, 17, and Ralph, 11, because, she said, “My husband couldn’t conscientiously urge other Americans to go home and keep us there.” Colby Charges New Deal ‘Botched’ Job of Defense By the Associated Press. BUFFALO, N. Y., May 28.—The “paramount duty” of the American people is to “build up the national defenses” and “curb, or at least post- pone expression of resentment,” in the opinion of Bainbridge Colby, Becretary of State urider President ‘Wilson. Mr. Colby told Buffalo Sons of American Revolution last night the “duty” of defense “has long been de- Jayed, much neglected, fearfully botched and bungled by an adminis- tration of which we were told to ex- pect better things.” Chamberlain’s Munich Pilot Killed, Wife Told By the Associated Press. / ATCHISON, Kans, May 28—In r, 1938, Comdr. Douglas King of the British Air Force flew Neville Chamberlain to Munich, Germany, for his “peace in our time” conference. A year later came the European war. Now Mrs. King has been informed her husband was killed in action ‘weeks ago. Mrs. King, an American, had lived 16 years in England before coming here to visit relatives. A BETLEI DEAL N ONTLAC H. J. BROWN PONTIAC, Ine. D Fi a Roustyn Vi ot Aerens B eides) * NGLAND DOVER ot oV DUNKERQUE 0’ OSTEND EEBRUGGE® N 4. ®BRUGES THOUROUT ‘ GRAVELINES (4 DIXMUDE ALLIED “POCKET” STILL SHRINKS—This map presents the situation in Belgium and Northern France today. Although definite results of the Belgian King's capitulation have not developed, the front has 3 points: 1. Germans claim advance at Bruges. and Douai past French border defenses and at Labasse at other side of triangle tip. 2. Nazis claim gains at Orchies 3. Berlin reports this side of pincers has moved to Bourbourg and down to Hazebrouck. Broken line is approximately the battle line in face of fast-changing conditions. Forts along Northern French frontier face peril in front and from the rear. —A. P. Wirephoto Map. Television Is Held Up Pending Agreement On One System Prompt Action Seen, However, for District Experimental Station By WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY. Television broadcasting on a reg-i ular commercial basis was put off for an indefinite period by action of | the Federal Communications Com- | mission yesterday. | In a 29-page report theé commis- sion left the decision on unification of the several transmission systems up to the engineers of the industry. The commission said, however, that it would take prompt action on pending applications for television broadcast stations on an experi- | mental basis. These include a sta- tion for Washington, sought by the National Broadcasting Co. “As soon as the engineering opin- ion of the industry is prepared to approve any one of the competing systems of broadcasting as the standard system,” the report says, “The commission will consider the | authorization of full commercializa- | tion.” Agreement’s Extent Unspecified. | The commission did not indicate whether it will insist on unanimous or majority agreement in-the in- dustry. There are several systems of transmission, each of which must have appropriately designed receiv-1 ers to pick up the signal of the particular transmitter being pro- moted, and sponsors of each insist theirs is the best. Previous action of the commission in suspending its original approval of limited commercialism caused a furore in the industry and in Con- gress. The step was taken on the ground that promotional work of the Radio Corp. of America in sell- ing television receivers would freeze television on R. C. A. standards. The commission in its current report hit again at this corporations, when it said: “It is obvious that the industry as a whole does not share the R. C. A. view of forging ahead regardless of the untested possibilities of improve- ment on the horizon. It further ap- pears that the industry was not prepared to accept Sarnoff's (David Sarnoff, president of R. C. A.) premise of ‘We live on obsolescence’ as a basis for justifying a heavy public investment at current levels of efficiency.” . Patent Interests Involved. “The positions of the different companies on this whole problem cannot be viewed with total disre- gard of the patent interests of || competing manufacturers which find expression in a desire to lock the|| scientific levels of the art down to a single uniform system based in whole or in part upon such pat- ents,” the report says. “The func- tions of this commission are not to be usurped and utilized as a means of monopolizing this im- portant industry either through this or other devices.” The commission has just granted || full commercialization for frequency modulation broadcasting, the new system of sound transmission, the || patent rights for which are al- leged to be held by one individual. || The commission indicated it would give the industry until fall to com- pose its differences and attempt to agree on a single television system. “No time limit,” the commission said, “can now be set for the adop- sion will continue its study and ob- servation of . television develop- ments and plans to make a further inspection and survey in the fall. Meanwhile, the commission stands ready to confer with the industry and to assist in working out any problems concerned with television | broadcasting. Taxes (Continued From First Page.) tions for the coming year, except defense and debt payment. Senator Byrd estimated the taxes would produce $600,000,000 and the economy plan would cut $500.000,000. After pointing out that the na- tional debt has gone from $20,000,- 000,000 to almost the $45,000,000,000 statutory limit since 1920, without countink collateral obligations and the current defense program, Sena- tor Tydings said: “I said in the beginning that we were neglecting to prepare for one of the most serious aspects of our national defense, the financial front. That flank is dangerously exposed and if it remains exposed, the re- sults may be fatal or tragically serious in the years that are to come. We should not delude our- selves with the thought that simply by passing appropriations for the increase of the Army, Navy and air forces, and by taking other measures to provide ourselves with |an adequate national defense, we have suitably prepared this country for the future. Most decidedly we have not. Most decidedly we shall not, unless we change our handling of the financial arrangements of this Government. “I believe the American people realize this. They want this de- fense and they want it quickly, on every front vulnerable to attack. I would label this the ‘sixth column,’ which may in the end undermine and undo all that we hope we are doing to make the United States secure. If this sixth column, an unbalanced governmental financial condition, is not dealt with we will face all the dire consequences of such neglect in an utterly in- excusable state of unpreparedness. Favors ‘Pay as You Go.’ “As soon as we have provided the ways and means of money and the methods to put the Army, Navy and air forces in a condition for our adequate defense at the earliest possible moment, this Congress, be- fore it adjourns, should write a tax biil embodying the policy of ‘pay as you go’ as nearly as we can and put our financial defenses in equally strong condition. We will need this financiay preparedness whether we g0 into war or stay out of it. In any case, can we escape the consequences of the world chaos which will result when the last cannon has fired its last shot on European battle fields? The inter- national chaos and desolation, the bitterness, the disillusionment, the moral backwash which follows in the wake of every war, the increased unemployment at home and abroad, the disruption of world trade, the loss of America’s markets, the inter- national barter system, the decline in the value of securities, the long dreaded walk up the road of recon- struction and rehabilitation of the belligerent countries, the complete | change in international economics of the last two decades, will all leave our flank exposed and subject us to terrific losses and the burdens of anguish and despair.” Senator Tydings closed with a warning that even if we escape the war, “the Four Horsemen who ride in the wake of every war will be upon us.” He listed them as unem- ployment, trade “disruption, poverty and disease, disillusionment and dis- trust. He said “our financial front must not give way before these enemies.” Used U. S. Sport Planes Are Sought by Allies By the Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, May 28.—Second-hand American sport planes are being sought by the Allies for observation work at the front, it was learned today. Guarded inquiries have been made in flying circles here about 1939 models of a certain type of three- place monoplane. The search for used planes apparently is due to the absence of mass production of this type of plane. ANAMAS CLEANED—BLEACHED BLOCKED BACHRACH 733 11th 8t. N.W. Your Medical Bills or Dental Bills Paid by Medical-Dental Exchange « « . without interest or extra charge. For full information call REpublic 2126 or visit 725 Albee Building, 15th and G Sts. N.W. tion of standards. The progress of the industry itself will largely de- termine this matter. The commis- “TOPS” WITH ALL THE FAMILY Dupont Circle q i SMALL'S HOME FLOWER MARKET Annual Sale Cut¢ Peonies All Colors —3 Dozen for $2°°° s Cemetery Vases—25¢ & up No Charges—No Deliveries All day Wednesday, Thursday till noon. This is our 12th an- nual sale of peonies for. Memorial Day. You_ will remember that now, as in the past, they are priced at the lowest figure consistent with high quality, fresh cut peonies. 1503 Conn. Ave. 50 Planes Downed, 29 Damaged by R. A. F., London Says Series of Heavy Attacks On French and Belgian Coasts Reported By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 28—The Air Ministry announced today that units of the fleet air arm operating with the coastal command of the Royal Air Force made a series of heavy and effective attacks yesterday on enemy positions on the French and Belgian coasts. “Batteries and transports were destroyed by bombs and troops were scattered by machine-gun fire,” it said. “None of our aircraft was lost in these operations. “Royal Air Force medium bombers continued their attacks on enemy concentrations in Northern France during the evening. Two of these bombers are missing. “Throughout last night R. A. F. heavy bombers,, again without loss to themselves, delivered further at- tacks on enemy communications in the Rhineland and the Low Coun- tries. Claim 50 Planes’ Downed. “In the course of yesterday our fighters destroyed 50 enemy aircraft and seriously damaged 29 others. “Fourteen of our fighters are missing.” ‘The Air Ministry said British fighters patroled the battlefield for 16 hours and brought down 22 Ger- man Messerschmitt fighters and put nine others out of action. Messerschmitts escorting Dornier bombers hid in cumulus clouds and “made surprise dives” on Royal Air Force Spitfires which more than| held their own, it was stated. | One Spitfire attacked by four German planes downed two of the enemy, the Air Ministry said. Nazi Craft Over England. | Two new Royal Air Force De- flants brought down two Messer- schmitts and five Heinkels in two | short fights, it added. { Enemy aircraft appeared off the | southeast coast of England today jand one was believed to have | crossed the coastline over a town. | Anti-aircraft guns quickly opened fflre and witnesses said one raider | | was hit and fell into the sea. | Air-raid warnings were sounded’ | and Royal Air Force fighters roared | jout to sea. The all clear signal was | given 30 minutes later. |Fitzgerald to Speak | SALISBURY, Md., May 28 (®. |of nellrly | know it . Norwegian Denfisi’s Seizure of Nazi Ship Told in London Stories of Strange Heroics By Fighting Norse Filter to England By WILLIAM H. STONEMAN, Chicago Dally News Poreign Correspondent. LONDON, May 28—Stories of strange heroics in the frozen north continue to filter down from the fjords and mountains of Norway. None of them is more heroic than the one about Dr. Maehre, the vil- lage dentist of Honningsvaag, a fish~ ing hamlet, northwest of Hammer- fest, and his great naval expedition. When the German hosts invaded Norway, Dr. Maehre decided that something must be done about it, and quickly. So he got together two fishing smacks, concealed 15 brawny, well-armed and very eager fisher- men beneath the hatches of each, and set sail looking for the enemy. The super-modern armed German trawler Malangen, built at the cost 1,000,000 reichsmarks earlier this year, was unlucky enough to be in the neighborhood. Sudden- ly, two shabby fishing boats came alongside and even more suddenly 30 friends jumped aboard, fists flying and revolvers banging. It all hap- pened so suddenly that nobody even had time to touch off the scuttling bombs with which the trawler was equipped. Since then, Dr. Maehre and his crew have been parading up and down the fjords looking for more Germans. They have rechristened their ship the Honningsvaag, and Dr..Maehre, according to a friend of ours, who has just arrived from Hammerfest, has become very un- bearable indeed. There are other more gargantuan, but unconfirmed, stories going | around daily, destined some day to | take their place in a new and greater era. They tell, for example, of a peasant sharpshooter who has shot | down 11 German planes single- handed, of tiny bands roaming the mountains, pouncing on the Ger- lating their fierce forbears in the | Middle Ages. i Norway may be beaten to a pulp but the Norwegians apparently don’t | (Copyright, 1940, Chicago Daily News, Inc.) Bonus for Speedy Unloading French railways may offer a bonus | to all those receiving freight if they | will unload the car immediately on | arrival, | James B. Fitzgerald of Bethesda, Maryland department commander | and national vice commander of the American Legion, will be the speaker at Memorial Day services here Thursday. . Finland is compelled to import potatoes because of .a shortage. Quality Since 1865 0 Bm . 8186 ART MATERIALS THIS VACATION . . . ‘\ The vacation sesson with gay outdoor parties and dances is almost here. This summer will find the Rumba, Congs and other new steps all the rage. You'll be amazed how quickly, and easily, you can learn sll these new steps st the Arthur Murray Studio, You'll have more fun this summer if you start teking lessons. Call for a trial lesson today. Ethel M. Fistere’s ARTHUR MURRAY STUDIO 1101 Connecticut Ave. DOWNTOWN This Colonial style, solid brass Ensemble. Choice of urn or ball pattern. Regularly $27.00. Spe- cial during this sale— $19.95 Practical Gifts Something for the fire- place makes unusual most _acceptaole gifts for your friends’ or the Bride's home. District 2460 INC BRIGHTWOO District 2715 [ Select a Gift for the Bride | LOCATIONS NORTHEAST ONE THAT WILL ADD TO THE BEAUTY OF HER HOME. LAST 3 DAYS Wednesday—Friday—Saturday SALE...FIREPLACE FURNISHINGS Your final opportunity to obtain at low prices our regular quality merchan- dise in EVERYTHING FOR THE FIREPLACE. BUY NOw FOR FALL Experienced Advertisers Prefer The Star TOP-QUALITY GENERAL / SILENT-GRI © The tire with the original Silent-Safety windshield wiper tread. One of the greatest mileage tires of all time. Super quality throughout—not an ounce of reclaimed rubber in tread or carcass. « « « Factory List Price $14.35 14.80 16.18 18.90 20.40 23.10 Other sizes 5:5016 5:50n7 6:0016 6:256 6:5016 70016 ® When a battle for Sale price $ only Trade-In Discount $4.50 4.61 5.03 6.40 6.90 27 7.80 32 proportionately low. 2% Cash Discount $.20 <21 22 25 You Pay NEW STOCK~—FRESH FROM FACTORY more 90 6:00/16 SIZE ‘with yoor oid Hre Fighting the Fight for First-Line Tires Before You Buy Any Tire Get the Answers to These Questions: I Is this a first-line tire? 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