Evening Star Newspaper, July 26, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Mostly cloudy, continued warm tonight: local thundershowers late tonight or tomorrow morning; Temperatures Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales, Page 14. 88th YEAR. No. Off Coast of North English Warplanes Streak Out to Engage Attackers BULLETIN, LONDON (#)—O01l supplies at gix points in Germany were set afire by R. A. F. bombers carry- ing out “extensive operations over a wide area” last night. says the nightly Air Ministry com- munique. B the Associated Press LONDON, July 26.— German bombers made a daring thrust at Britain's “back door” today by at- tacking a convoy off the North Irish Coasts al battle for control of the English Channel by striking again at the southeast coastal towns. Observers heard heavy gunfire and saw flashes of ships’ guns as the British replied to the attack on the convoy off the North Irish Coast— the first made in that area since the start of the war. British planes streaked out to en- gage the Germans, and soon one bomber was scen to fall Early reports indicated the South- €ast Coast attacks were not as se- vere as vesterday when Britain fought off combined plane and tor- pedo boat raids. Claim 28 Planes Felled. The British rep d shooting down 28 raiders and driving off a fleet of nine German mosquito boats which attacked a 2l1-boat convoy Just off the mouth of the Thames Her own losses, Britain said. were five small merchant ships. totaling 5104 tons. In addition. five other small boats totaling 5.133 tons. and two destrovers. were damaged. German claims of 43.000 tons of boats sunk by aircraft in this raid were called “grossly exaggerated.” The German high command also announced 1n a special communique that her speedboats sank three other merchantships totaling 22.000 tons in an attack off Brighton The planes attacked the convoy in guccessive waves of 30 planes each. the Admiralty said. but were driven off with great losses The speedboat flotilla, which also rought to attack the convoy. was put to flight behind a smoke screen by two destroy and two British motorboats. The destroyers were damaged, the Admiralty added, when dive bombers attacked them twice as they re- turned from chasing mosquito boats. The British also announced the loss of a trawler, the Fleming, when it and another trawler were at- tacked by four dive bombers. The Fleming’s companion trawler, the Berberis, made a direct hit on one of the planes’ bomb racks. ex- ploding it in the air. the Admiralty £31d. so that only pieces of a rubber boat and bits of wood could be re- covered. The Fleming's crew was rescued by another trawler. Bomber Jettisons Load. One German bomber, hotly pur- gued by British fighters. jettisoned its bomb load over a Southeast Eng- land town today. The explosives caused some casualties and damaged &everal houses. In Southwest England this morn- ing a German bomber was shot down and three crewmen killed. An English farmer dashed out and cap- tured the pilot. British pursuit planes chased off a flight of Nazi raiders winging over & southeast English area. German planes were reported over various Southwest England locali- ties and a town in Wales reported the drone of enemy planes overhead, but no bombs were dropped there. The Air Ministry and the Ministry of Home Security issued a com- munique saying that “in an attack on a town on the southeast coast this morning enemy aircraft stroyed some houses and damaged others. The casualties were small. Qne person was killed.” Record Day's Bag. The 28 German warplanes shot down by Royal Air Force fighters and anti-aircraft batteries in yes- day’s British Isles were a record 3 bag” for R. A. F. operations from Britain. After these losses. only a few Nazi planes ventured over the islands during the night “Slight enemy activity” was re- ported last night over Southeast and Southwest Engiand and Wales, and gome bombs were dropped near a town in East Anglia, but no damage was reported from any area, the Alr Ministry of Home Security said. It was the second successive night of lulls in aerial activity—attr.buted the previous night to unfavorable weather—and the third since Ger- many began large-scale daily bomb- ings June 18. Until , twilight, however. massed Nazi air raiders thundered over the English Channel in repeated waves yesterday, striking at British ship convoys. 2 Trawlers Are Lost. The British admiralty acknowl- edged loss of two naval:trawlers— the Kingston Galena and the Ro- dino—but did not say where they were sunk or give any casualty totals. The Admiralty also disclosed that 57 were killed and 23 wounded in the torpedoing and sinking of the Brit- ish destroyer Whirlwind, which it announced was sunk on July 8. An Air Ministry communique last night, admitting that five British planes were lost during the day, said that “hour after hour from dawn to late this evening” British fighter planes—Spitfires and Hurricanes— tackled large forces of German bombers. In one instance, the communique gaid, six Spitfires attacked a forma- tion of 30 bombers escorted by at least 50 fighters, A cocler tomorrow. today—! 2 pm.; lowest. 76, at 6 a.m. From the United States Weather Bureau report. Full details on Page A-2 Others kept up the continu- | de- | Highest, 97, at 35,150. L3 ah WASHINGTON, Nazis Strike at ‘Back Door’ Of Britain, Raiding Convoy Ireland 'Nazi Raider in West Indies 'Reported Disguised as Swedish Germans Sank Britis h Ship in U. S. Zone And Set Captives Free, Sailors Say BT the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Julv 26.—Members of the crew of a Norwegian ship which rescued 25 survivors of the British freighter Davisian declared today a new fast 10.000-ton German raider disguised as a Swedish ship and named the Narvik was operat- ing in the West Indies. She car- ried disappearing 6-inch guns. Survivors of the 6.433-ton Davisian said their ship was attacked July 10, 240 miles east of the Virgin Islands. in the American neutrality zone. Capt. Holm Brynilsen of the rescue i ship, the Norwegian freighter Lief, said survivors of the Davisiang told | him the German raider threw a piece of canvas bearing the Nazi swastika over her side and started firing from two 6-inch guns which suddenly appeared from side ports. The Davisian replied with her | single 4-inch gun. but a blast from the raider wounded the gunner and four seamen and the Davisian was forced to surrender. The Germans took the Davisian's |ecrew on their ship and sank the British vessel with shell ish sailors told Capt. Brynilsen the | | raider could make 19 knots and car- ried 300 men. Three days later. the sailors said., the raider spotted the King John, 5.228 tons. which surrendered after shells wrecked her lifeboats. The Germans set 66 captives adrift in three leaky lifeboats with water and hard tack. the sailors said, keep- ing only the captain and chief officer of each ship and the five wounded men. Forty-one men in two lifeboats reached St. Barthelmy Island, but the 25 from the Davisian drifted on | and on. They were only a mile | from Samana when the Leif sighted | them. They were “more dead than | alive,” Capt. Brynilsen said, and | had drifted, sailed and rowed a leaky ‘ boat 640 miles. The Lief landed the survivors at Samana | Germany announced July 13 that | a Nazi raider had sunk 30.000 tons of shipping and the British Ad- miralty sent out a warning to all | ships at sea The presence of a Nazi raicer in the West Indies area was reported a week ago, but the Norwegian sailors brought the first description its operations. 0il, Mefal Confrol | Needed for Defense, | President Declares Roosevelt Cites Absence | Of Any Real Surplus | Of High-Octane Gasoline By JOHN C. HENRY. Reasons of national defense alone were cited today by President Roosevelt for yesterday's action in extending export licenseing control to petrcleum and scrap metals. While addition of these vital war- | time commodities to the long list of materials which may be shippedf out of the country only on Gov-| ernment permission indicated that | discontinuance of indirect American aid to the war machines of Japan and Germany is imminent, the President emphasized the action is not in itgelf an automatic embargo. Principal concern of this Gov- ernment, he said today, is the absence of any real surplus of high- octane gasoline in this country. Amendments to Proclamations. Specifically, yesterday's proclama- | tions were amendments to procla- ! mations issued on July 2. and added petroleum and petroleum products, scrap iron and scrap metals to the list of materials for which export | licenses are required. A supple- mentary order probably will be issued soon. redefining some of the categories. the President said today. | While heavy Japanese purchases !of scrap metals have been under- way in this country for many months, suspicion that German in- terests have been obtaining Amer- ican oil through Spanish purchases has arisen only recently. Yester- day’s action was preceded by refusal of the Maritime Commision to per- | mit use of two tankers under its control for transport of oil to Spain. | Asked this morning if there had | been any reaction from the Japanese government to the threat of a ban on metal shipments, Mr. Roosevelt said he had heard nothing, and that he understood the Japanese Am- bassador had been informed in advance that the proclamations were pending. Quota System Possible. He said he did not know at this | time whether the shipments might | be continued under a quota system rather than stopped completely. A few minutes later. Ambassador | Kensuke Horinouchi of Japan called on Sumner Welles, Acting Secretary of State, and was understood to have discussed the licensing system. | Afterward. Mr. Horinouchi would‘ tell reporters only that he and Mr. Welles talked about matters of “mutual interest” to their govern- ments. The Ambassador added that he had not received any instructions from Tokio concerning the licensing system. | While the export control policy | may result in materially decreasing American shipping to Europe, the President said today that the Gov- | | ernment hopes to keep the Portugees | ‘kand Spanish coast open to vessels as long as possible. | Virtually the last point of Euro- | pean coast line not already barred | to American shipping, this south- | western corner of Europe might also | (See OIL. Page A- | Churchill Discusses China LONDON, July 26 (£ —Prime Minister Churchill and Dr. Quo Tai- chi, Chinese Ambassador to London, have reviewed the Far Eastern situ- ation “in a frank and friendly spirit.” British sources reported to- | day. The two held a long conver- | sation last night. Woman Shot at Prayer COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 26 (#).— | A mysterious assailant shot Mré. Beulah Wofford. 49, while she knelt | in prayer at home. A bullet passed through her hands, raised In wor- | ship, | ! the vice presidency in 192v Wallace to Resign i After Nofification, Roosevelt Indicates President Says Secretary May Follow Precedent Set by Him in 1920 BULLETIN 3 Secretary Wallace said today he planned to resign or take a leave of absence without pay from his cabinet post as soon as he begins active political cam- paigning for the vice presidency. Secretary of Agriculture Wal- lace, Democratic vice presidential nominee, probably will resign his cabinet post late in August after re- ceiving formal notification of his nomination, it was indicated President Roosevelt at a press cone ference today. Mr. Roosevelt had an hour’s con- ference with his campaign running mate yesterday. and it was in con- nection with this meetiiiz thet the Chief Executive today nciceted the cabinet officer’'s eventual d cision. To tell the story, the President described to the press cont:rence his own conduct when nomiuated for At that time he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy and. following the conven- tion, returned to Washington for a conference with President Wiison. President Cites Precedent. Mr. Roosevelt asked when he wanted his It happened. the President ex- plained today. that President Wilson had made some considerable study of precedent and tradition in this situation and on the basis of this had suggested the resignation might be held until active cam- paigning began. Since Mr. Roose- velt's program at that time was to receive his formal notification in August. he said he cleaned up his departmental duties and made his resignation effective on the day prior to the notification. | Asked if Secretary Wallace might | instead ask a long leave of absence, his chief | resignation | Mr. Roosevelt indicated an outright resignation would be more in order. The President said today that no progress has yet been made on plans for replacing James A. Farley as Postmaster General and Democratic national chairman. While the possibility of Mr. Wal- lace remaining in the cabinet al-| ready had prompted Republican criticism, a counter-attack was launched last night at Senator Mc- Nary, Republican vice presidential nominee, for retaining his Senate post. A rap at the Senator was is- sued by the Democratic National Committee in the name of Senator Minton of Indiana. Meanwhile, the Republicans con- tinued to report an “avalanche of sentiment” for their presidential ticket and to add to the list of Dem- ocrats who are indicating favor for the Republican cause. The latest reports to this effect were brought by Whlter B. Hallanan, Republican National Committeeman for West Virginia, who quoted John J. Corn- well, publisher and former Dome- cratic Governor, in opposition to a third term for President Roosevelt. | anese-American incidents at Tsing- WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C, Japanese Halt U.S. Trade in North China Import Licenses Denied; Oil-lron Curbs Rouse Tokio By the Associated Press. SHANGHALI July 26—Coincident with United States action licensing all oil and scrap iron exports it was | reported today that Japanese re- strictions have halted all activities of American traders in North China. As a result of Japanese pressure | British authorities were reported | to have ordered the United States marine radio station at Tientsin closed effective August 20. Since the trade restrictions at Tientsin went into effect June 26, Japanese have issued no permits to import American goods and Amer- icans said all signs pointed to a freeze-out of American business in North China similar to that which occurred when Japan took over Manchukuo. These sources said the new restrictions were being enforced in such a manner as to exclude all FRIDAY, but officially needed imports, which | were being diverted into the hands of Japaneses dealers. As a result, American exporters are unable to obtain foreign ex- | change to cover their shipments to the United States. Incidents Settled. A Japanest Embassy spokesman declared today that two recent Jap=- tao involving United States sailors had been settled with American The first incident was a clash be- | tween United States sailors and Japanese policemen reported last Monday, which Domei. Japanese of- ficial news agency, said started when two sailors left a cafe without paving their bill. The United States consulate at | Tsingtao accepted Japanese de- mands for an apology. compensa- tion and steps to prevent a recur- rence, the spokesman announced. He said the other incident oc- | curred at a beach July 20. when an | intoxicated sailor seized a 16-vear- old Japanese girl, who was rescued by Japanese petty officers. A letter was received signed by the senior American naval officer expressing regret for the incident. the Embassy spokesman continued and the sailor involved personally | apologized. The spokesman said there recently had been four other Japanese-American incidents at Tsingtao. Deportation of Six Demanded. The Central China Daily News, organ of Wang Ching-wei, head of the Japanese-dominated Nanking :regime, reported that Mayor Fu“ Siao-en had asked the American consulate here to deport “without delay” six Americans whose banish- ment Wan grecently ordered. A similar letter regarding a Brit- ish subject, Sanders Bates, was sent to the British consulate, the news- paper said. Other pro-Wang Ching-wei news- papers described the seven for- eigners as “wicked visitors in China who are conspiring with rebels in an attempt to overthrow the Nanking government.” A mandate of July 15, in which Wang Ching-wei ordered arrest of the Americans at once, grew out of | a cafe scuffie the previous night in | which Japanese were involved. The Americans are Carroll D. Al- cott of the Shanghai China Press: Norwood F. Allman, lawyer, member of the municipal council and & di- rector of the pro-Chiang Kai-shek newspaper Shunpao: C. V. Starr, publisher of the Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury; Hal P. Mills, publisher of a Chinese language local newspaper; J. B. Powell, pub- lisher of the China Weekly Review, and Randall Gould, a correspondent of the Christian Science Moniior. Japan Orders Envoy To Probe Export Curbs TOKIO, July 26 (#.—The Japa- nese Foreign Office instructed its Ambassador to Washington today to investigate the United States curb on oil and scrap iron exports after a spokesman had described Japanese reaction as likely to be “very great.” Domei, Japanese news agency, said that while the presidential or- der requiring licenses for such ex- ports “may be aimed at Germany and Ttaly,” it was evident it also was “intended to curb Japan.” | The Embassy, besides making a " (See FAR EAST, Page A-5) ‘Clipp;r Brings Children Of Empress Zita to U. S. By the Associated Press. | LISBON, July 26—The trans- Atlantic clipper took off for the United States today with four chil- !dren of former Empress Zita of | Austria. They will join | mother in the United States. | The clipper carried 44 passengers and 3537 pounds of mail. their Dutch Appeal to Roosevelt To Seek Peace By the Associated Press. LONDON, July 26.—The Ger- man-controled Dutch radio at ‘Helversum announced today that a committee in the Netherlands had cabled President Roosevelt a request to arrange a discussion for “establishment of an honor- able peace between Germany and England.” President Roosevelt said at his press conference today that he had never heard of an appeal from a committee in the Nether- lands that he urge that England and Germany negotiate a peace. Reported broadcast promptly were disa- vowed by Netherlanders in Lon- don. The committee was described by the radio announcer as “the Netherlands Committee for Or- ganization of an international Peace Conference at thé Hague.” It asked the President to do everything possible “in the name o fhumanity to prevent annihila- tion of either of these brother nations.” Netherland sources here said they had never heard of the committee and that it was in no way connected with the Dutch Both the committee and the ] government. b JULY | ‘From Pres 26, 1940 —THIRTY- ¢ Foening Star TWO PAGES. *%* THEY DONT KNOW WHAT Most people i Star delivered (#) Means Accord on Mandates Expected Many U. S. Bureaus ‘As Hull Sees Argentinian The Brit- of the German ship and details of expressions of regret. | Secretary of State Also Talks With Delegates From Brazil and Cuba Br the Associated Press HAVANA, July 26—Prominent delegates to the Pan-American Con- ference optimistically predicted to- day an agreement on the trouble- some question of trusteeship of European possessions in the West- ern Hemisphere after Secretary of State Hull conferred with Leopoldo Melo of Argentina in an effort to iron out their divergent views. The Argentine delegate has op- posed Mr. Hull's espousal of Cuban and Brazilian ideas for joint man- dates over European possessions which may be threatened with a change of ownership as a result of the war. | Pollowing the conference. Mr Hull joined the Brazilian delegate, Mauricio Nabuco, and the Cuban Foreign Minister. Miguel Angel Campa in Campa’s office. presum- ably to inform them of his (Melo's) views. Melo joined them later. and it was when this conference broke up that Nabuco, who usually wears a stern ond taciturn expression smilingly declared: “I believe we still have a chance to agree.” The belief among observers that a compromise was shaping up also was bolstered when an Argentine (See HAVANA. Page A-T.) House Unit Approves Sending U. S. Ships For Child Refugees Foreign Affairs Group Acts on Bill Backed | By the President Bt the Associated Press Chairman Bloom said today the House Foreign Affairs Committee had approved unanimously a bill to permit the use of United States vessels to remove refugee children from European war zones—an ar= rangement President Roosevelt de- | scribed as possible. Under the bill each vessel so used shall ghave painted plainly on both sides an American flag “and a statement that such vessel 15 a refugee-child rescue ship of the United States or under United States registry. so that night or day there can be no mistake as to | the identity of such vessels.” Also any American vessel to be used for child rescue work must have its safe conduct granted by all nations at war. Refugee Transfer Discussed. Meanwhile the problem of the transfer of intellectual and political refugees fro mEurope to this country was discussed at the State Depart- ment with Acting Secretary Welles by two members of the President's | Advisory Committee on Refugees— James G. McDonald, the acting chairman, and George Warren. The committee wishes that these adult refugees could be admitted | on visitors’ visas. ! Mr. Welles said the committee suggested that it act as a channel to the State Department on par- ticular refugee cases. The Acting | Secretary told the press that he | approved this proposal heartily. | At the present time the depart- ment is receiving requests for action from many individuals and groups. May Ask Safe Passage. Asserting that the United States had a deep desire to do everything possible to help remove children | from England, President Roosevelt | said today the administration even- tually might ask for reasonable as- surances that refugee children could " (See REFUGEES, Page A-3) 100 Believed Killed In Chilean Landslides By the Associated Press. ANTOFAGASTA, Chile, July 26. —More than 100 persons were feared today to have been killed by land- slides which followed rare rain- yesterday. Reports by radio from the north- ern nitrate port of Tocopilla said almost 100 were killed in that region | alone. Sides of sandy hills tumbled down | upon towns in Antofagasta Prov- ince, burying many persons and rendering hundreds homeless. Numerous mines were flooded in the nitrate and copper-producing desert between the Andes and the ocean, where rainstorms are un- usual. Broken communications prevented damage from being known imme- diately, storms along. Chile’s nitrate coast | the full extent of the casualties and | Joint Committee iWiII Launch Drive 'For Cleaner City Commissioners Vote For Co-operation With Association The Commissioners voted today to establish a joint committee repre- senting the city and the District Outdoor Cleanliness Association to study existing anti-litter regulations and determine if any new ones are needed to make Washington a cleaner city. The six-man committee was sug- gested by Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen at a meeting of the Commis- sioners with members of the Dis- trict's recently organized clean-up 1+ group in the District Building today. | At the same time, the three Com- missioners applied for membership in the association which pledges them to observe the anti-litter ordi- nances themselves. After hearing Jesse C. Suter, vice | president of the association. outline | the purposes of the organization and state that on the basis of articles | appearing in The Star there ap- | peared to be some ‘“passing the buck” between the various city agencies responsible for keeping the city clean and free from health menaces, Commissioner Hazen said he believed a great co-ordination of the services of these agencies was | necessary. [ Education Not Enough. | He also insisted that education of the public alone would not correct | the evils of the present situation. | “You have to take offenders into | court,” he declared. “That's the only way to make them obey the | regulations.” Commissioner J. Russell Young. suggesting immediate action to go | hand in hand with the joint com- " (See CLEANUP. Page A-5) 'Close as Mercury Reaches 96 G. A. O. Branch Releases Workers at 10:30 After 14 Are Overcome Thousands of Gevernment wo ers in buildings without air-coolinz svstems were being relieved of their duties ahead of schedule today due to the excessive heat. which was expected to send the mercury up to at least 97 degrees, the high mark for the year. Scores of heat victims had been treated in various building clinics throughout the city by 1 o'clock. At that time the temperature registered 96 at the Weather Bureau and was rising steadily. The intense heat today promised to be a prelude to a much cooler week end. Thundershowers are ex- pected tonight. with even more pleasant temperatures in prospect | for tomorrow afternoon and Sunday. | More than 600 employes of the General Accounting Office. housed in the low-ceilinged Moses Building at Eleventh and F streets N.W.. were released at 10:30 o'clock after 14 workers had collapsed from the heat in less than an hour. One official said that. to his knowl- edge, the hour was the earliest the employes ever had been released bhe- cause of the heat. None of those pros- trated was seriously affected Approximately 12.000 Agriculture Department emploves were let out at 12:30. From 300 to 500 emploves of the Reconstruction Finance Corp. who work in non-air-conditioned quar- ters of the agency were released. as were employves of the Federal Com- munications Commission *in The Star and International Buildings Board of Education officials at the Franklin Administration Build- ing said as many employves as could be spared were released at noon More than 100 civilian employes were given the afternoon off at police headquarters. A thousand of the 1200 employes " (See WEATHER, Page A-2) Mexico Orde;SVCIOSing Of 55 Struck Schools By the Associated Press MEXICO CITY, July 26.—The De- partment of Public Education, by authority of President Lazaro Car- denas, ordered today the closing of 55 rural schools where about 6.000 students have been on striks since | June 20. The department said it was unable | to meet the strikers' demands be- | cause they would require an ad- ditional outlay of 1200030 pesos | ($240.000). The strikers asked the government, to provide their books, increase the | daily food allowance from 50 cen- i tavos to 75, build dormitories and | supply drinking water and electric | lights. Summary of Page. | L4 Page. s, | Radio_.._..B-14 B-16 | Serial Story A-15 Comics B-14-15 | Society - B-3 Editorials_.. A-8 | Sports B-6-7-8-9 Finance ____A-13 | Woman's Page, Lost, Found , B-9 B-2 Obituary____A-10 Amusement: | Foreign | Battle between ships and planes seen | off North Ireland. Page A-1 Japan is reported halting U. S. trade in North China. Page A-1 | Havana parley may act despite Ar- gentine stand. Page A-1 Gibraltar is bombed again by Italian planes. Page A-3 Germans claim. | Paris resuming normal life six weel | __after Nazi occupation. Page A. Hitler receives Rumanian emissaries at Berchtesgaden. Page A-4 | National. | President says defense needs prompt- | ed oil export control. Page A-1 | Dutch Committee appeals to Roose- velt to seek peace. Page A-1 La Guardia indorses conscription for defense of Nation. Page A-6 | 15 British ships destroyed by planes, | Page A-3 k:]chnr]es G. Ross. Today's Star Washington and Vicinity 97-degree weather forecast again; relief in prospect. Page A-1 Million women's aid in D. C. suf- frage fight is seen. Page A-1 One dies, seven burned in boat fires on Potomac River. Page B-1 * Man injured in storm accident dies; traffic toll now 39. Page B-1 | District schools opened to refugee children. Page B-1 ‘ Editorial and Comment | This and That. Answers to Questions. Letters to The Star. | David Lawrence. | Alsop and Kintner. Page Page Page Page Page Page A-9 Page A-9 Page A-9 A-8 A-8 A-8 A-9 A-9 | Frederic William Wile. | Constantine Brown. | Miscellany | vital Statistics. Service Orders. | Bedtime Story. Letter-Out. Winning Contract. Uncle Ray’s Corner. Cross-Word Puzzle. {Nature's Children. 4 Page A-12 Page B-14 Page B-14 Page B-14 Page B-15 Page A-16 Page A-12 | Page B-15 s to Home Within the Hour’ n Washington have The to their homes every evening and Sunday morning. Associated Press. THREE CENTS. Rayburn Sees 'House Passing D. C. Vote Plan t Predicts Sumners Proposal Will Go to States for Action House Majority Leader Rayburn today predicted the House would pass, without any considerable vote in opposition, the Sumners resolu- tion which proposes an amendment to the Constitution empowering Congress to give national represent- ation to residents of the District of Columbia. Mr. Ravburn also said he believed the amendment subse- quently would be put before the State Legislatures for ratification. Mr. Ravburn made his statement after conferring with Chairman Sumners of the House Judiciary Committee. who told him he believed the resolution would be favorably reported to the committee. which meets in special session Tuesday to | consider the resolution | His statement followed one made by Minority Leader Martin, who pledzed that the Republican mem- bership of the House would vote with the Democratic majority in passing the Sumners resolution Mr. Ravburn explained the Sum- ners resolution providcs for a con- stitutional amendment to be ratified by 36 States and that the Federal interest is protected because after he States have acted. the degree or method of suffrage to be permitter! residents of the District is left to Conaress—which retains the control over the District of Columbia. Civic Leaders Favor Resolution. Whatever differences there are in their views as to the form of suf- frage the District should have, civic leaders are agreed that the Sum- ners resolution should be backed as the first step toward enfranchise- ment of the District. Speaking as president of the Vote- less District of Columbia League of Women Voters. which has long sup- ported suffrage for the District, Mrs M. O. Lorenz was enthusiastic about recent developments in the long battle for the vote. She told The Star “I am gratified to see the interest now being displaved in the move for onal representation for the Dis- It has been the most hopeful we've seen in many vears. I personally hope it will not be a partisan issue ot Hope Voiced for Approval. “Both Democrats and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, how- ever. have voiced expressions in favor of the Sumners resolution. Apparently, then, neither party is opposed to it and I trust the reso- lution will be favorably reported to the House. ‘It seems to us that the Sumners resolution 1s more likelv to receive favorable action than some of the other proposed plans for national representation.” Mrs Louis Ottenberg. former president of the Voteless D. C. League of Women Voters, who for 25 vears has led her organization in battling for the franchise, said steps uld be taken without delay to have 1.000.000 women. though their re= spective organizations. appeal to the House Judiciary Committee to act favorably Tuesday on the resolution of Chairman Sumners providing for national representation for the Dis- trict. Mrs. Ottenberg explained that the | 1.000.000 women who will aid the people of the District to get the privilege of voting are connected with national organizations which already have gone on record in fa- vor of the franchise for the people here. They include the National League of Women Voters. the National Women's Trade Union League. the American Federation of Teachers. the National Council of Jewish Women and the National Service Star Legion. “We have fought for a ®vote for the District for 25 years but never gave up hope.” said Mrs. Otten- berg. “We were waiting for a green light, and it seems to me we have got it now. We are going to move—and in high gear.” Meanwhile, prominent members of Congress who had not heretofore given particular attention to the voteless plight of the residents of the District indicated they are pre- pared now to give serious thought jto the subject. These include Sen- ator McNary of Oregon, Senate "7 (See FRANCHISE, Page A-3.) Nazis Disclaim Blame For Transport Sinking & the Associated Press BERLIN, July 26—DNB, official German news agency, last night | disclaimed responsibility for the | sinking of the French transport Meknes while taking 1.300 French- men from England back to France on grounds that the German gov- | ernment was not informed of any | British request for safe transport. The agency did not say whether Germans sank the ship, as the Brit- ish said. Quoting authorized sources, DNB | said sinking of the liner was in keep- | mg with “the ruthless tradition which started with the Athenia.” | 383 Missing From Liner. LONDON, July 26 (#) —Official figures today showed 9 officers and | 374 men missing from the French liner Meknes, which the British said was sunk Wednesday by a German torpedoboat while engaged in re- \pamanng French saflors. | "It was believed by authorities, however, that some of the passen- | gers made for the French coast in the ship’s boats. | In addition to 1,179 French naval | officers and men, there were two | women and one child aboard, and a | crew of 99. The women and child and 893 | officers and men were landed In Britain.