Evening Star Newspaper, June 2, 1940, Page 13

Germans Have As Air Base, Says Stefansson + Island Is Important Stepping Stone to U.S., Explorer Declares By IRA WOLFERT. NEW YORK, June 1 (N. A. N. A) —With a British garrison now set- tled on it, Iceland’s character as a powder barrel in an exploding world | becomes more discernible. It is a power barrel with fuse at- tached and Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the explorer, historian and geogra- | pher whose most recent book is called “Iceland: The First American Republic,” explained in an interview today about the fuse. Dr. Stefansson made it clear that the Germans have their eyes on Iceland and that the island’s major value is as a stepping stone between North, America ‘and Europe for airplanes. President Roosevelt, in his first defense message to Congress, men- tioned that Greenland is only six hours by air from New England. Iceland, an island about as large as Ohio and with a population of 120,- 000—90 per cent of whom are Nor- wegian or Irish descent—is less than one hour from Greenland. All-Year Air Base. “It is, also, because of its temper- ate climate, an excellent all-year- ‘round air base,” said Dr. Stefans- son. “Its average temperature for its coldest month is about that of Philadelphia. In addition, the latest maps of the Danish Geodetic Sur- vey, which would be the most ac- curate, show tthat Greenland ex- tends 50 miles further east than | the most easterly point of Iceland.” That would be what makes it a powder barrel. The fuse is an ancient, but now more than ever aggravated, difference in concept between the United States and Ger- many as to the place Iceland occu- pies in world affairs. “Not many seem to be aware of this,” said Dr. Stefansson, “but Sec- | retary of State Seward, at the time of the purchase of Alaska. advo- cated the simultaneous purchase of both Iceland and Greenland—Alaska to dominate the North Pacific, Greeland and Iceland to dominate the North Atlantic. He was acting on a report, complied at his request by Benjamin Mills Pierce, then head of our Coast Survey. Prof. Pierce offered evidence to prove that ‘by location, it (Iceland) belongs to the ‘Western Hemisphere, and is an in- sular dependency of the North American continent. . . .’ Called Nazi Holy Land. “On the other hand, high Nazi officials in the course of their at- tempt to oust Christianity from Qermany have described Iceland as their holy land, and in a speech last summer, one of them—Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propa- ganda, I believe—said that Ger- mans of the type who had once made pilgrimages to Jerusalem should make pil; ages to Iceland to see the shrine of the Teutonic religion.” The Nazi have not let it go wnh: ’Flfth Column’ that. In Iceland, they have prac- ticed what is now a familiar tech- | nique of penetration. Here it can be described as an attempt to make | sure that if the god they worship ! cannot be on the side of the heavi- | est battalions, the heaviest battal- jons can be put on his side. “Under Hitler,” said Dr. Stefans- son, “Germany began to send teach- ers—paid by Germany—to lecture at the university and the technical colleges. After that they sent over many athletic instructors who | formed classes and vereins and in- itiated friendly international com- petitions. Iceland foot ball teams | toured Germany and German foot ball teams toured Iceland. “Suddenly the Nazis took to en- couraging the sport of gliding—fly- ing with motorless airplanes. They | sent over instructors and tools and materials. Two years ago they sent over two airplanes which proceeded | carefully to survey and map all of | Iceland and its innumerable har- | bors. Their announced purpose was | to aid the sport of gliding. The newspapers became alarmed and pointed out at that time that Ice- land had confidence in the British Navy. | Good Raiding Base. | “Iceland is the best raiding point, | next to Ireland, against shipping | between the United States or | Canada and Northern Europe. Its harbors offer wonderful probection! for seaplanes and submarines and destroyers, and that very likely is why Great Britain garrisoned it during the Norwegian campaign.” Dr. Stefansson, who is consultant on northern operations for Pan- American Airways, pointed out that it was only the outbreak of war which has interfered with the adop- tion of Iceland as the way station en route across the Atlantic. He said Pan-American has maintained a meteorological station there for a Vyear now and that the country’s “indefinite number of ice-free har- bors” offer better opportunities for on-schedule operations all year ‘round than the Azores. “The fact that the Germans are alert to this is indicated by the in- teresting history of a certain lost For the past 28 years the nome “Shah” has been associated with the optical profession in Washington. This signifies that our aim to satisfy is well founded. NVISIBLE KryptOkIBIFOCAL Yes, genuine Kryptok in- visible bifocal lenses. One pair to see far and near. Complete with high-grade frame. Eyes examined by Eyes on Iceland DR. VILHJALMUR letter,” he said. “Long before Hitler, Lufthansa, the German aviation company, was engaged with |Icelanders in the operation of a commercial air service in Iceland. The company went bankrupt in 1932, | I believe, and the Prime Minister | of Iceland, out of gratitude for Lufthansa’s efforts, sent a letter promising Germany ‘most favored nation’ treatment in the establish- ment of commercial air bases. Few Land Air Fields. “In March, 1939, a report came to the attention of the German government that another country was preparing to set up a base in |Iceland. The Germans promptly |sent & note reminding Iceland of | the promise contained in the let- | ter from its former Prime Minister. | They sent the note in the cruiser Emden, and two other warships | were reported to have come along, perhaps to help carry it. “The filing system in Iceland. no | doubt, is not the best. The Prime Minister was no longer in office. | In fact, he was dead. The Icelandic | government could not find the let- {ter at all. It reported that and | added politely that the information jof the German government anent the establishment of an air base ‘b_v another nation was erroneous. The Germans withdrew.” Dr. Stefansson said that while the great number of harbors were | perfect for big flying boats, of the |type used as long-range bombers | now, there were few land airports in Iceland. “The Icelanders were deterred | | from building any by the natural| feeling that land airports would | merely make their country all the | more desirable to a foreign nation.” | Hoboes Join Fight Against By the Associated Press. PITTSBURGH, June 1.—An army of hoboes is joining the fight against | “fifth column” activities in this country. The International Itinerant Work- ers Union, Hoboes of America, called upon its claimed 1,025,000 members today to help protect their | country by furnishing tips of un-| dercover movements of saboteurs and spies The order came from Union Sec- retary George Siebert who said he felt certain the Federal Bureau of Investigation would find “my boys” a likely source of assistance to the Nation’s defense program. Coincident with Siebert's action came an announcement from Charley Williams, 32, crack rifle shot of the Pittsburgh Fire Depart- ment, that he would organize a “fifth column defense corps” among the 850 city firemen. Regular rifle | practice and drills are planned. Food prices have increased 20 per cent in Italy since last August. GRADUATION Gifts for Catholic Gradustes. Gallery & Co., 718 Eleventh St. NW. 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The amendment offered Friday by Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir- ginia, would apply a horizontal 10 per cent slash to the appropriations for the regular expeditures of the Government for the next fiscal year, exclusive of fixed charges, national defe:se and trust funds. In response to a query by Sena- tor McCarran, Democrat, of Ne- vada, Senator Byrd said it would hit salaries unless the various estab- & 'Co. D. C, JUNE 2, 1940—PART ONE. lishments could retrench in other directions. The pay of mem - of S:;m would be reduced like- “Although the Byrd proposal does not say so in so many words, in effect its objest is to bring about & universal wage cut of 10 per cent in the Government” said Mr. Baker, “Administrators cannot re- duce fixed or committed costs and would therefore have to slash per- sonnel and wages. To meet the fiscal needs of the defense program, & 10 per cent additional tax on all citizens is contemplated. 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PHILADELPHIA, June 1—The Atlantic Refining Co., has awarded to the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corp. the contract for the cargo discharge and condenser circulating pumps for a 19,405-ton all-welded tanker to be built for the Atlantic Refining Co. at the Sun Shipyards, Chester, Pa. Delivery is scheduled for the summer of 1941. Bougquet Kills Girl A bouquet of flowers tossed from a high-flying airplane during a patrictic celebration at La Paz, | Bolivia, struck and killed an il- year-old girl. Bed Only, Complete With Box Spring and Mattress, $59.75 A Bedroom Group Complete With Good Box Spring and Innerspring Mattress * A-—13 Horseshoe Pitching Fatal ST. JOSEPH, Mo., June 1 (P).—-A horseshoe pitching game ended in tragedy today. Phillis Blanton, 2, was struck on the head accidentally by a horseshoe while watching older children play, and died of a skull fracture, BLUE,SPRUCE Bomeitics vbe. 2 Iris o 100 varieiles at other prices in bloom . Yonauil ‘Buibs. 2¢ each. Lily of Valier.'70c. 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